Kauaʻi Conservation Atlas

Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_coprosma_elliptica

Pilo

Coprosma elliptica

Open this record in the interactive Atlas
Pilo (Coprosma elliptica) · whole-shrub ecological reconstruction with diagnostic structures.
Pilo (Coprosma elliptica) · whole-shrub ecological reconstruction with diagnostic structures. · Kauaʻi Conservation Atlas · AI-generated reconstruction · Kauaʻi Conservation Atlas community media · Primary ecological plate v1.5.3; visual and safe-area review passed · Image source

About Pilo

Pilo (Coprosma elliptica) is recorded as an established shrub on Kauaʻi. A compact, often very low shrub with closely spaced opposite leaves. Plants in forest around bogs can be more sprawling and larger-leaved. Stems may root at their nodes. Male and female reproductive structures occur on separate plants; habitat-linked variation is important for identification. Documented component of native vegetation; wild-population survival, recruitment and occupied vegetation cover provide measurable conservation endpoints.

Kauaʻi evidence

Established island occurrence follows the Bishop Museum checklist. Diagnostic morphology follows Smithsonian Hawaiian Flora; accepted identity follows Kew WCVP. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence. Proposed monitoring endpoints are not reported observations, measured effects or causal findings.

Names and classification

Scientific name
Coprosma elliptica
Hawaiian names
pilo · hupilo
Other names
Coprosma elliptica · pilo · hupilo
Record type
Species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence
Recorded on Kauaʻi
Origin
Endemic
Conservation status
Not yet assessed
Evidence date
2026-10-07
Evidence limits
Current extent and island effect sizes are unassessed. Public occurrence remains island-level only.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats
Montane bog vegetation · Forest bordering bogs
Food and resource needs
Not yet assessed
Reproduction
Local pollinators, flowering schedules, seedling establishment and recruitment rates are not independently assessed.
Shelter
Not yet assessed
Growth form
Shrub or subshrub

Threats and conservation

Monitoring
Occupied area and vegetation cover; Repeated counts of wild recruits and mature plants; Native vegetation cover in comparison plots. Proposed monitoring endpoints are not reported observations, measured effects or causal findings.
Data gaps
Current island population extent and trend · Quantified local environmental effects

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing
Not yet assessed
Seasonal description
Pilo (Coprosma elliptica) is recorded as an established shrub on Kauaʻi. A compact, often very low shrub with closely spaced opposite leaves. Plants in forest around bogs can be more sprawling and larger-leaved. Stems may root at their nodes. Male and female reproductive structures occur on separate plants; habitat-linked variation is important for identification. Documented component of native vegetation; wild-population survival, recruitment and occupied vegetation cover provide measurable conservation endpoints.

Sources and further reading

Suggest changes to this record