Ramosmania
| Ramosmania | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ramosmania rodriguesi in cultivation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Tribe: | Octotropideae |
| Genus: | Ramosmania Tirveng. & Verdc. |
| Species | |
|
Ramosmania heterophylla (Balf.f.) Tirveng. & Verdc. | |
| |
| Ramosmania is endemic to Rodrigues, Mauritius[1] | |
Ramosmania is a genus of two species of small trees in the family Rubiaceae; one is extinct.[1] Both species are endemic to the island of Rodrigues, Mauritius.
Species
[edit]The genus comprises two species:[1]
- Ramosmania rodriguesi Tirveng.
- †Ramosmania heterophylla (Balf.f.) Tirveng. & Verdc. (extinct)
Cytology
[edit]The diploid chromosome count of Ramosmania rodriguesi is 2n = 22.[2]
Conservation
[edit]The only remaining species, Ramosmania rodriguesi, was re-discovered by a schoolboy in 1979.[3] After its rediscovery, the local population repeatedly cut off branches of the only remaining tree. To prevent its extinction, cuttings were sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Vegetative propagation was successful, however generative reproduction was not possible, as only functionally male flowers were formed. Later, it was discovered that heat stress could induce the formation of female flowers, which were then successfully pollinated.[4] Cultivated plants have been reintroduced to Rodrigues,[3] but it is still classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Ramosmania rodriguesii (café marron)". Kew. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Kiehn, M., & Berger, A. (2023). "New chromosome counts on Rubiaceae from Africa and the Western Indian Ocean islands." Nordic Journal of Botany, e03732.
- ^ a b Smith, P. (2023, June 1). The loneliest tree in the world. Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Retrieved June 30, 2023, from https://www.bgci.org/news-events/the-loneliest-tree-in-the-world/
- ^ Seynsche, M. (2009, August 5). Kaffee mit Todessehnsucht. Deutschlandfunk. Retrieved June 30, 2023, from https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/kaffee-mit-todessehnsucht-100.html
- ^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1998. Ramosmania rodriguesii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1998: e.T33659A9801264. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T33659A9801264.en. Accessed on 30 June 2023.
External links
[edit]
Data related to Ramosmania at Wikispecies
Media related to Ramosmania at Wikimedia Commons
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