ʻAkoko
Chamaesyce celasroides
Prostrate groundcovers two feet tall or less or erect shrubs up to six feet with thick, glabrous leaves. This very attractive plant has light blue-green leaves with tiny, yellow, insignificant (for landscape purposes) flowers. It forms a very dense bush or nice looking ground cover depending on the variety.
Ulu papa ka ʻakoko, ʻelua kapuaʻi ka haʻahaʻa. A i kekahi manawa, kū pololei kekahi ʻano, he ʻeono kapuaʻi. ʻAʻohe heu iki o nā lau. He mau lau liʻiliʻi ʻōmaʻomaʻo a ʻāhiehie paha. He mau pua liʻiliʻi loa, he pua melemele. He lāʻau pūnohunohu a he lāʻau ulu papa. Aia naʻe i ke ʻano o ka ʻakoko.
This prostrate form of this plant is endemic to the islands of Maui, and Hawaiʻi, while shrub form shown is from Kaua’i, Ni’ihau and Nihoa. Both forms are found near or on the coast. Another form of this plant is an endangered subspecies which has narrower leaves, is a low crawling shrub and is found on O’ahu.
ʻO ke ʻano ulu papa o ka ʻakoko, he ʻakoko ʻāpaʻakuma no ka mokupuni ʻo Maui a me ka mokupuni ʻo Hawaiʻi. A ʻo ke ʻano pūnohu, he ʻano no Kauaʻi, Niʻihau me Nihoa. Pili nā ʻano ʻelua ma kapakai. ʻO kekahi ʻano ʻē aʻe hoʻi, he ʻano i ʻane nalowale. He ʻano no Oʻahu a he ulu papa ke ʻano, he mau lau wīwī.
This beautiful plant makes an excellent accent or specimen plant for around rocky areas. Its vivid, blueish color adds remarkable contrast. Its dense character also makes it good for a medium sized hedge. This type of ‘Akoko is very sun, drought, and wind tolerant once established in the ground and is bothered by few pests if any.
He lāʻau kēia e hoʻonaninani i nā wahi pōhaku. Nani i ke kū hoʻokahi ʻana i kona ʻano he uliuli, a nani nō hoʻi i ke kanu nui ʻana. ʻO kēia ʻano o ka ʻakoko, ʻaʻole i pilikia iki i ka lā, i ka makani, a me ka wā maloʻo ke paʻa. ʻAʻole hoʻi i pilikia nui i nā mū.
The name for this plant, ‘Akoko, is derived from its leaves which turn blood red before they fall off. The plant also “bleeds” a milky sap when damaged.
Ma mua o ka heleleʻi ʻana o nā lau, ʻulaʻula maila nā lau a kohu koko. A ke haki kahi lālā, kohu koko ka wai o ka lāʻau. ʻO ia ke kumu o ka inoa ʻo ʻakoko.