Jump to content

Nesohedyotis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Plantdrew (talk | contribs) at 18:52, 8 May 2019 (speceisbox). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

St Helena dogwood
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Subfamily: Rubioideae
Tribe: Spermacoceae
Genus: Nesohedyotis
(Hook.f.) Bremek.
Species:
N. arborea
Binomial name
Nesohedyotis arborea
(Roxb.) Bremek.

Nesohedyotis is a genus of flowering plants endemic to the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. It in the family Rubiaceae (the family that includes coffee).

It is a monotypic genus containing the single species Nesohedyotis arborea (Roxb.) Bremek., which grows on the central ridge of the island. It is known commonly as the St. Helena dogwood.[1] The vernacular name recalls the similarity between its inflorescences and those of Cornus species, the dogwoods of Europe and North America.[2] Although it is one of the commoner endemic species on Saint Helena its small population size and small geographical distribution make it endangered.

This species is a small, erect tree growing up to 7 meters tall. The leaves are oppositely arranged. They are lance-shaped with a pointed, downcurved "drip tip". The white flowers are 3 or 4 millimeters wide and the fruit is a brown or black capsule.[2]

This tree is a keystone species in the thickets of the island. The leaves collect mist, which condenses and falls from the "drip tips" into the vegetation below, providing water.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Cairns-Wicks, R. 2003. Nesohedyotis arborea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2003. Downloaded on 24 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Percy, D. M., & Cronk, Q. C. B. (1997). Conservation in relation to mating system in Nesohedyotis arborea (Rubiaceae), a rare endemic tree from St Helena. Biological Conservation, 80(2), 135-145.

Further reading

  • Cronk, Q.C.B. (1995). The Endemic Flora of St Helena. Anthony Nelson Ltd., Oswestry.


Stub icon

This Rubiaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nesohedyotis&oldid=896169995"