Euphorbia herbstii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Euphorbia herbstii |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Euphorbia
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| Species: |
herbstii
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| Synonyms | |
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Euphorbia clusiifolia Hook. & Arn. |
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The Euphorbia herbstii is a very rare flowering plant. It is also known as Herbst's sandmat. This plant belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
It grows only on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaii. Sadly, it is quickly disappearing. Like other similar plants in Hawaii, people locally call it ʻakoko. The United States government lists it as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of becoming extinct.
Contents
What the Plant Looks Like
This plant is usually a tree. It can grow quite tall, up to 8 meters (about 26 feet). Its leaves are long and narrow. If you break a branch, a milky liquid called sap will come out. The flowers grow in special clusters called cyathia.
Where it Lives
You can find Euphorbia herbstii in mesic forests. These are forests that get a medium amount of rain. It lives specifically on the Waiʻanae Range on Oʻahu.
Since the year 2000, the number of these plants has dropped a lot. Some groups of plants have completely disappeared. The groups that are left have become much smaller. Scientists are not sure exactly how many plants are left. Each time they count, they find fewer wild ones. However, some new plants have been put into suitable areas.
Why it's in Danger
Several things threaten the survival of Euphorbia herbstii.
Feral Pigs
Feral pigs are a big problem. They dig up and walk all over the plants. This destroys the plant cover and the roots in the soil. When the soil is disturbed, it can lead to erosion, where the soil washes away. Pigs also carry seeds of invasive plants on their bodies. They spread these seeds to new places, which harms the native plants. To help protect the Euphorbia herbstii, fences have been built in important areas to keep the pigs out.
Non-Native Plants
Other plants that are not from Hawaii also hurt the Euphorbia herbstii. These are called non-native plants. Some examples include:
- Silky oak (Grevillea robusta)
- Corky-stem passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
- Strawberry guava (Psidium littorale)
These non-native plants can grow very fast. They take up space, sunlight, and nutrients that the native Euphorbia herbstii needs to survive.
See also
In Spanish: Euphorbia herbstii para niños
