Kokia kauaiensis, the Kauai treecotton[2] or Kauaʻi Kokiʻo, is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae, that is endemic to Kauaʻi, Hawaii.

Kauaʻi Kokiʻo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Kokia
Species:
K. kauaiensis
Binomial name
Kokia kauaiensis

It inhabits coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests at elevations of 350–660 m (1,150–2,170 ft). Associated plants include ʻahakea (Bobea spp.), koa (Acacia koa), lama (Diospyros sandwicensis), manono (Hedyotis spp.), hala pepe (Pleomele aurea), aupaka (Isodendrion spp.), papala kepau (Pisonia spp.), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), ʻōhiʻa hā (Syzygium sandwicensis), hame (Antidesma spp.), maile (Alyxia oliviformis), ʻālaʻa (Pouteria sandwicensis), aʻiaʻi (Streblus pendulinus), alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata), uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis), aloalo (Hibiscus spp.), mēhamehame (Flueggea neowawraea), alani (Melicope spp.), palapalai lau liʻi (Asplenium laciniatum), ʻoheʻohe (Tetraplasandra spp.), ʻakoko (Euphorbia celastroides), nehe (Lipochaeta spp),[3] ʻaʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa), ʻiliahi (Santalum spp.), poʻolā (Claoxylon sandwicense), and ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha).

Kauaʻi Kokiʻo is a small tree, reaching a height of 5–10 m (16–33 ft). It is threatened by habitat loss.[4]

Today there are about 45 or 50 individuals remaining.[5] At one point there was only a single tree remaining.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Heintzman, S.; Nyberg, B.; Wood, K. (2020). "Kokia kauaiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T30934A83802016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T30934A83802016.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Kokia kauaiensis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  3. ^ Kepler, Angela Kay (1995). Maui's floral splendor : a friendly color guide to the island's native & introduced flowers. Honolulu, HI: Mutual Pub. p. 134. ISBN 1-56647-057-9.
  4. ^ "Kokia kauaiensis". CPC National Collection Plant Profiles. Center for Plant Conservation. 2010-03-04. Archived from the original on 2010-12-15. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  5. ^ USFWS. Kokia kauaiensis Five-year Review. August 2010.