Goetzea elegans, also called beautiful goetzea, mata buey, or matabuey, is a species of plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family of flowering plants. It is endemic to Puerto Rico. Today it is limited to the northwestern corner of the island because of deforestation and other consumption of its habitat for human use.[2] It is federally listed as an endangered species in the United States.

Goetzea elegans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Goetzea
Species:
G. elegans
Binomial name
Goetzea elegans

This is a shrub or a tree which can reach 9 metres (30 ft) in height. The leaves are shiny dark green and oval in shape. It bears yellow-orange, funnel-shaped flowers. The fruit is a yellow-orange berry up to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long. It may be poisonous.[2]

Goetzea elegans fruit.

References

edit
  1. ^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Goetzea elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T30928A9593437. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30928A9593437.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b USFWS. Beautiful Goetzea Recovery Plan. April 28, 1987.