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Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

(Mill.) I.M.Johnst. (1923)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malpighiales Family: Euphorbiaceae Genus: Cnidoscolus

chaya, spinach tree

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius subsp. aconitifolius

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Only found in cultivation

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Contr. Gray Herb. 68: 86 (1923)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Cnidoscolus aconitifolius Koloa District. Lawai Valley Preserved_Specimen Small tree of 10 ft. Leaves at branch tips, dark dull green above with yellow-green veins, below dull, paler w/whitish-green veins. Petiole green/white mottled. Peduncle & inflorescence branches w/white lenticels. Sap milky. [SEE COMMENT]. Flynn, T.W. 3319 Kauai BISH 1989-04-13
2 Cnidoscolus aconitifolius Cultivated by M.Emrick, Honua Farm, Kikala Rd., Kalaheo. Grown as an ornamental, but leaves reportedly edible [FROM DESCRIP] dull, very dark green w/bright yellow-green veins (vaguely mottled), below pale green, dull w/yellow-green veins; new leaves yellow-green, glossy both surfaces but esp. below. Inforescence: axes colored like petiole; [SEE COMMENT]. Preserved_Specimen Small, gnarled tree to 4 m. Stems drip copious white sap when cut. Young stem bright green, flossy, w/conspicuous white lenticels. Leaf: petiole pale green, slightly glossy, vaguely mottled, w/flossy horseshoe-shaped gland; blade above [SEE HABITAT]. Hume, L. 415 Kauai BISH 1989-09-07
3 Cnidoscolus aconitifolius Cultivated by M.Emrick, Honua Farm, Kikala Rd., Kalaheo. Grown as an ornamental, but leaves reportedly edible [FROM DESCRIP] dull, very dark green w/bright yellow-green veins (vaguely mottled), below pale green, dull w/yellow-green veins; new leaves yellow-green, glossy both surfaces but esp. below. Inforescence: axes colored like petiole; [SEE COMMENT]. Preserved_Specimen Small, gnarled tree to 4 m. Stems drip copious white sap when cut. Young stem bright green, flossy, w/conspicuous white lenticels. Leaf: petiole pale green, slightly glossy, vaguely mottled, w/flossy horseshoe-shaped gland; blade above [SEE HABITAT]. Hume, L. 415 Kauai BISH 1989-09-09
4 Cnidoscolus aconitifolius Honolulu: Nuuanu Valley; Foster Botanic Garden In full sun. Preserved_Specimen A tree 6 m. tall with a rounded crown. The sap is milky white. The flower is white and odorless (morning). Lau, J. 1400 Oahu BISH 1985-09-08
5 Cnidoscolus aconitifolius Purchased at the swap meet in Aiea by Betty Ho. Brought to Bob Hirano at Lyon Arboretum for identification Preserved_Specimen Flws minute; pure white; sap milky. Hoe, B. 737 Oahu BISH 1991-05-06
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