Drimys confertifolia is a species of flowering plant in family Winteraceae. It is native to Juan Fernández Islands off the western coast of South America.
| Drimys confertifolia | |
|---|---|
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| Specimen at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Canellales |
| Family: | Winteraceae |
| Genus: | Drimys |
| Species: | D. confertifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Drimys confertifolia | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
editDrimys confertifolia is an evergreen tree or large shrub, growing up to 15 meters tall. It flowers from November to January. It is hermaphroditic and wind-pollinated.[3]
Range and habitat
editDrimys confertifolia is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands. It is the dominant tree in lowland dry forest and lower montane forest on Robinson Crusoe Island (Masatierra) and Alejandro Selkirk Island (Masafuera).[1]
Drimys confertifolia is common on Robinson Crusoe Island, where it is a forest tree growing with Myrceugenia fernandeziana (Myrtaceae), Zanthoxylum mayu (Rutaceae), and Juania australis (Arecaceae).[3]
On Alejandro Selkirk Island it is found in small patches or as scattered trees rather than in large pure stands. It grows with the ferns Blechnum cycadifolium (Blechnaceae), Dicksonia externa (Dicksoniaceae), Histiopteris incisa (Dennstaedtiaceae), and Lophosoria quadripinnata (Dicksoniaceae).[3]
Conservation Status
editPrior to August 10th 2023, Drimys confertifolia was classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, but has since been moved to the Endangered category. The main threats to this species are invasive plants and livestock farming.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 2017. Drimys confertifolia (amended version of 1998 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T30468A116828447. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T30468A116828447.en. Accessed 8 November 2022.
- ^ Drimys confertifolia Phil. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 7 November 2022.
- ^ a b c López-Sepúlveda, P., Takayama, K., Greimler, J. et al. Progressive migration and anagenesis in Drimys confertifolia of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. J Plant Res 128, 73–90 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-014-0666-7