Prestonia parvifolia

Prestonia parvifolia
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Prestonia
Species:	P. parvifolia
Binomial name
Prestonia parvifolia (K. Schum. ex Woodson)

Prestonia parvifolia is a species of plant in the Apocynaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Apocynaceae Family

The definition of the Apocynaceae family is trees, shrubs, or vines, rarely subshrubs or herbs, with latex or watery juice.

There are about 155 genera and 2000 species distributed primarily in the tropics and subtropics, and poorly represented in the temperate regions . Of the 44 genera and 145 species present in China, one genus and 38 species are endemic, and nearly 95% of the taxa grow in the southern and southwestern portions of the country.

The fruit type is highly diversified in the family, and it is diagnostic of many genera. Some genera produce 1 to 2-celled berries from a flower, while others have mostly fleshy follicles containing deeply indented seeds. More detailed information can be derived from this source.

Plants of the Apocynaceae are often poisonous and are rich in alkaloids or glycosides, especially in the seeds and latex. Some species are valuable sources of medicine, insecticides, fibers, and rubber.

Habitat

Ecology: A vine or liana of dry coastal semi-deciduous forest(0–500 m).

Sources

• Romero-Saltos, H. & Pitman, N. 2003. Prestonia parvifolia. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 August 2007.
• zipcodezoo.com