Leucocroton havanensis
| Leucocroton havanensis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Leucocroton |
| Species: | L. havanensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leucocroton havanensis | |
Leucocroton havanensis is an endemic species to Cuba. It is located on serpentine soils and limestone rock in the western and central part of the country. It is an evergreen tree that has dioecious flowering, meaning the species has distinct male and female individuals. The plant only grows on a small serpentine island.
Cultivation and uses
[edit]The uses by this plant are purely for studying and discovering because it is a newly discovered species and much research has to be done to find its uses. However, scientists have discovered that the genus Leucocroton is a nickel hyperaccumulator, which means it can absorb dangerous amounts of nickel.[1][2]
References
[edit]- ^ Reeves, R.D.; Baker, A.J.M; Borhidi, A.; Berazain, R. (15 December 1995). "Nickel-accumulating plants from the ancient serpentine soils of Cuba". New Phytologist. 133 (2). New Phytologist Trust: 217–224. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb01888.x.
- ^ Jestrow, Brett (12 November 2010). Phylogenetics, Conservation, and Historical Biogeography of the West Indian Members of the Adelieae (Euphorbiaceae) (Ph.D. thesis). Florida International University. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
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