Eligmocarpus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to subfamily Dialioideae.[2] It contains a single species, Eligmocarpus cynometroides. It is a tree endemic to southeastern Madagascar.[3] Currently, it occurs only on the edge of a relatively humid spiny forest in Petriky. The species is critically endangered, with only 21 adult trees remaining as of 2012, down from 23 in 2004 and 27 in 2001. The surviving trees do have high genetic diversity. The trees' wood is used as timber by local communities, which has contributed heavily to the species' decline. Prior to human colonization, the species had used streams and rivers to carry its seeds into new biomes, in dry or spiny forests on limestone or sandy soils in humid to subarid climates. The species likely originated in the Andohahela area, which is upstream of all remaining members of the species. The species has a very low rate of seed production (about 1 seed/kg of fruit) and its seed germination is limited (<5% if not treated with an increase to 43% when soaked in cold water for 48 hours).[4]
Eligmocarpus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Dialioideae |
Genus: | Eligmocarpus Capuron (1968) |
Species: | E. cynometroides
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Binomial name | |
Eligmocarpus cynometroides Capuron (1968)
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References
edit- ^ Buerki, S.; Devey, D. (2013). "Eligmocarpus cynometroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T21564953A21564955. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T21564953A21564955.en. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). (2017). "A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny". Taxon. 66 (1): 44–77. doi:10.12705/661.3. hdl:10568/90658.
- ^ Eligmocarpus cynometroides Capuron. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Devey, Dion S. (2013). "A snapshot of extinction in action: The decline and imminent demise of the endemic Eligmocarpus Capuron (Caesalpinioideae, Leguminosae) serves as an example of the fragility of Madagascan ecosystems". South African Journal of Botany. 89: 273–280. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.06.013. Retrieved 26 March 2024.