Origin and Habitat: Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Hawaiʻi islands, Hawaii, USA.
Habit: Euphorbia celastroidesSN|28904]]SN|28904]] var. amplectens is a fairy common drought-deciduous variety found in upland arid rocky slopes on all the main islands. The variety amplectens, a common plant, apparently hybridzes with Euphorbia celastroidesSN|28904]]SN|28904]] var. kaenana, an endangered species in the inland portion of var. kaenana range in part of Punapōhaku Gulch on the north side of Kahanahaiki Valley in the Mākua Military Reservation. This appears to be a hybrid swarm.

• Euphorbia celastroides var. amplectens Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. amplectens (Sherff) O.Deg. & I.Deg.

• Euphorbia celastroides Boiss.
• Chamaesyce celastroides (Boiss.) Croizat & O.Deg.
• Euphorbia celastroides var. typica Sherff
• Euphorbia annulata Nutt. ex Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. amplectens Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. amplectens (Sherff) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Euphorbia celastroides var. arenisaxosa H.St.John
• Euphorbia celastroides var. halawana Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. hanapepensis Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. hanapepensis (Sherff) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Euphorbia celastroides var. haupuana Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. humbertii Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. ingrata O.Deg. & Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. kaenana Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. kaenana (Sherff) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Euphorbia celastroides var. kealiana Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. kohalana Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. kohalana (O.Deg. & Sherff) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Euphorbia celastroides var. laehiensis O.Deg., I.Deg. & Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. laehiensis (O.Deg., I.Deg. & Sherff) Koutnik
• Euphorbia celastroides var. limahuliensis H.St.John
• Euphorbia celastroides var. lorifolia (A.Gray ex H.Mann) Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. lorifolia (A.Gray ex H.Mann) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Chamaesyce lorifolia (A.Gray ex H.Mann) Croizat & O.Deg.
• Euphorbia lorifolia (A.Gray ex H.Mann) Hillebr.
• Euphorbia multiformis var. lorifolia A.Gray ex H.Mann
• Euphorbia celastroides var. mauiensis Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. moomomiana Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. nelsonii H.St.John
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. nelsonii (H.St.John) V.S.Raju & P.N.Rao
• Euphorbia celastroides var. nematopoda Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. niuensis Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. odonatoides O.Deg. & Sherff
• Euphorbia celastroides var. saxicola O.Deg. & Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. saxicola (O.Deg. & Sherff) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Euphorbia celastroides var. stokesii (C.N.Forbes) Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. stokesii (C.N.Forbes) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Euphorbia stokesii C.N.Forbes
• Euphorbia celastroides var. tomentella (Boiss.) Oudejans
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. tomentella (Boiss.) Koutnik
• Euphorbia multiformis var. tomentella Boiss.
• Euphorbia celastroides var. waikoluensis Sherff
• Chamaesyce celastroides var. waikoluensis (Sherff) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
• Euphorbia multiformis var. celastroides A.Gray
• Euphorbia multiformis var. kaalana Sherff
• Euphorbia multiformis var. manoana Sherff
• Euphorbia multiformis var. perdita Sherff
• Euphorbia oahuensis Skottsb.
• Euphorbia rivularis A.Heller

Description: Euphorbia celastroidesSN|28904]]SN|28904]] var. amplectens, previously also known as Chamaesyce celastroidesSN|28905]]SN|28905]] var. amplectens is one of the several varieties of Euphorbia celastroidesSN|28904]]SN|28904]] distinguished by its pubescent leaves. The variety amplectens is a variable medium-sized evergreen shrub and can have a spread of 3 metres or more. This species develops into a sprawling shrub. The flowers are not attractive. The red or pinkish fruits, however, enhance the beautiful foliage.
Stems: Forms a loosely branching short trunk. The secondary or young branches are stiff, with short internodes.
Leaves: Distichous (growing in two vertical rows), pubescent (with hairs), grey/silverish to light green that may have a glaucous coating. Often the leaves in the summer assume a red-violet colouring. It does not lose its leaves in the winter, due to the warm climate of its range, but is drought-deciduous. Damaged or old leaves turn a blood red as they die.
Flowers (cyathia): Small, brownish to greenish-white, not showy, a few millimeters in diameter, located in short or open-branched cymes, or ungrouped in leaf axils. Female cyathia have a three-part pistil over a three-part ovary, usually producing three (or sometimes more) seeds. The pungent flowers of ʻakoko have been described as smelling like bad breath.
Fruit: Green or reddish-brown or pink, rounded 2 to 4 mm long. Within each capsule are two or three small seeds.
Phenology: Euphorbia celastroidesSN|28904]]SN|28904]] var. amplectens, produces flower and fruit sporadically throughout the year.
Seeds: Grey-brown seeds 0.5 to 2.5 mm long.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Forest & Kim Starr “Euphorbia celastroides var. amplectens (Akoko)”. Plants of Hawaii. <http://www.starrenvironmental.com>. Web. 27 Sep. 2014.
2) Wikipedia contributors. "Euphorbia celastroides." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 14 May. 2014. Web. 27 Sep. 2014.
3) Wagner, W.; D. Herbst; S. Sohmer “Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii.” Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press 1990
4) National Museum of Natural History “Flora of the Hawaiian Islands” <http://botany.si.edu/pacificislandbiodiversity/hawaiianflora/> Smithsonian Institution Web. 27 Sep. 20149
5) Andrew W. Mitchell “The Fragile South Pacific: An Ecological Odyssey” University of Texas Press, 1990
6)Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota “Reports of the Survey" Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota: Botanical series, Volume 2, 1898
7) John L. Culliney, Bruce P. Koebele “A Native Hawaiian Garden: How to Grow and Care for Island Plants” University of Hawaii Press, 1999
8) Warren Lambert Wagner, Derral R. Herbst, S. H. Sohmer “Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii” Volume 1 University of Hawaii Press, 1990
9) National Museum of Natural History “Flora of the Hawaiian Islands” <http://botany.si.edu/pacificislandbiodiversity/hawaiianflora/> Smithsonian Institution Web. 27 Sep. 2014.
10) Koutnik and Huft 4. “Chamaesyce.” In “Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii” Warren L. Wagner, D.R. Herbst, S.H. Sohmer, eds., University of Hawaii Press and BishopMuseum Press, Honolulu. Pp. 602-617. 1990
11) Robert Pearcy & John Troughton "Photosynthesis in Tree Form Euphorbia Species from Hawaiian Rainforest Sites" Plant Physiol. Jun 1975; 55(6): 1054–1056.
12) Beatrice Krauss "Plants in Hawaiian Culture" Univ of Hawaii Pr August 4, 2001
13) Marie C. Neal "In Gardens of Hawaii" by June 1, 1965
14) 10) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service “Chamaesyce celastroides var. kaenana” 5-Year Review Summary and Evaluation, page 5.
15) Native Plants Hawaii. “Euphorbia celastroides var. amplectens” Web. 27 Sep. 2014. <http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Euphorbia_celastroides_amplectens>

Cultivation and Propagation: Euphorbia celastroidesSN|28904]]SN|28904]] var. amplectens or akoko is an attractive tropical species that requires temperatures of 15 °C and full sun to light shade. This plant develops in a fashion similar to a shrub and is tolerant of heat and drought.
Growth rate: They can grow to half a meter a year and flowering and fruiting in optimal conditions.
Potting medium: A gritty, very free-draining compost is suitable, and clay pots help the plants to dry out between watering. Re-pot every 2-3 years.
Fertilization: Akoko respond well to liquid fertilizer (once every one to two months).
Waterings: They like only a short winter's rest and should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months. If the soil is allowed to be dry for too long root loss could follow but equally the same result would occur if the plants are both wet and cold. From March onwards the plant will begin to grow and watering should be increased gradually until late May when the plant should be in full growth. Water regularly during the summer so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water. During hot weather you may need to water the plants more frequently so long as the plant is actively growing. From late September watering should be reduced to force the plant to go in to a state of semi dormancy, by October you should be back in to the winter watering regime.
Pruning: Generally not necessary to prune plants except to remove dead branches and leaves for a cleaner appearance in the landscape. However this species do tend to get sort of leggy, which is particularly a problem if grown as a potted plant, and pruning is sometime necessary to shape. Repeatedly prunings also help to encourage new growth. A milky, sticky latex naturally oozes from wounds.
Hawaiian Uses: The milky sap was one ingredient of the paint used on canoe hulls.
Pest and diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases. Wet soil quickly causes root and stem rot, especially during winter months. Pests of akoko include whitefly, scale insects, and mealybugs. Often the scale in-sects and mealybugs are brought in and protected by ants. Spider mites can also can damage to leaves.
Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. It is best to collect seed just before or just after the capsules split open to be sure to have fresh but mature seeds. Because of the small size of the seedlings, place little or no cover over the seedbed. Take extra care to avoid letting the seedbed dry out. The seeds will begin sprouting in one to two weeks (sometimes take longer). Let the seedlings grow to about 5 cm in height before separating and transplanting to individual containers. You can also propagate Euphorbia celastroidesSN|28904]]SN|28904]] by stem tip cuttings. Take cuttings about 10 cm in length from actively growing tips with mostly green wood. Rooting time is variableas long as two to three months. After root growth and new stem growth are obvious, transfer the new plant to a standard potting mix.