Anacolosa densiflora
| Anacolosa densiflora | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Olacaceae |
| Genus: | Anacolosa |
| Species: | A. densiflora |
| Binomial name | |
| Anacolosa densiflora Beddome | |
Anacolosa densiflora, or commonly known as Malamkara, or Kaidi in Malayalam, is a species of plant in the Olacaceae family. Currently, it is an endangered species that is endemic to India.
Description
Anacolosa densiflora is a large tree with long, thin branches. These branches hold a very unique fruit that resembles a green plum that turn brown once it falls and is dried. This species grows to be around 25 meters tall and has leaves that have yellow, brown, white, and pink leaves. The leaves grow to be elliptical that ranges to 6–12 mm long. They pattern in a simple alternate rotation when growing on the Anacolosa densiflora.
Flowering
Flowers on the Anacolosa densiflora are white, fragrant, and contain 5-6 petals per flower. The plant flowers between the months of September and June. The flowers are bisexual and contain about 5-6 stamen and very small globosed anthers. The flower is conical in shape and contain 2-3 ovaries.
Distribution
Anacolosa densiflora is native and endemic in India. Specifically, the Anacolosa densiflora is found in the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This tree is not found anywhere else, and has a very small range of spread in the evergreen forests due to the endangered status.
Habitat
Anacolosa densiflora is found in tropical rainforest. This habitat generally lies close to the equator, and is extremely warm while experiencing much rainfall. Average rainfall lies between 168 cm to over 1000 cm. Temperatures may also exceed 18 °C (64 °F). The Anacolosa densiflora is also able to reside in the evergreen forest. The evergreen forests contain trees that stay green year round with unchanging factors due to the climate. The climate is rather temperate and moist. The Anacolosa densiflora exists in habitats that face a problem with deforestation.
Status
Due to the status as endangered on the list of conservation, overharvestation and destruction of Anacolosa densiflora habitat needs to be watched. Only one place in the world is home to these plants and the deforestation of the tropical climate is slowly resulting in the destruction of this species. Therefore, much care is needed in order to extend the life of this species.
References
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Anacolosa densiflora. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 20 August 2007.
- Walter K.S. and Gillett H.J. (eds) 1998. 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. Compiled by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
- Nayar M.P. and Sastry A.R.K. (eds) 1990. Red Data Book of Indian Plants Vol. 3. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, India.
- Parthasarathy N. 1999. Tree diversity and distribution in undisturbed and human impacted sites of tropical wet evergreen forest in southern Western Ghats, India. Biodiversity and Conservation 8: 1365–1381.
- Flora of Tamil Nadu, VOL. I, 1983; Gamble, 1957, Biodiversity Documentation for Kerala Part 6: Flowering Plants, N. Sasidharan, 2004
- IUCN 1994. IUCN Red List Categories. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The World Conservation Union, Cambridge, UK.
- Ganesh T., Ganesan R., Soubadra Devy M., Davidar P. and Bawa K.S. 1996. Assessment of plant biodiversity at mid-elevation evergreen forest of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. Current Science 71: 379–392.