Dendroseris litoralis
| Dendroseris litoralis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Cichorieae |
| Genus: | Dendroseris |
| Species: | D. litoralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dendroseris litoralis Skottsb. | |
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The Cabbage tree, Dendroseris litoralis, is a species of evergreen, perennial species in the daisy and sunflower family (Asteraceae), with woody, tree-like stems, and rubbery leaves up to 18 inches long. It is found only on the Juan Fernández Islands, west of Chile, and threatened by habitat loss. Native only to tiny, volcanic Robinson Crusoe Island, one of the Juan Fernández Islands in the southeast Pacific, far off the coast of Chile, and home of the famed Juania australis and many other fascinating endemic plants, this strange, small tree from the daisy and sunflower family (Asteraceae) has literally been brought back from the brink of extinction. It had been reduced to only a few individuals by feral goats on the island and is still considered critically endangered. It grows into a small, gnarled tree with several somewhat palm-like crowns of very large, round leaves on whitish leaf stalks and bright orange flowers. It is easy to cultivate and enjoys a cool, humid climate. It is hardy to light freezes and coastal conditions. Also known as "The Cabbage Tree".
Hummingbird pollination
In their recent studies Anderson et al. (2001) studied the reproductive biology of D. littoralis. They concluded that the large orange corolla capitula of D. litoralis were hummingbird pollinated having observed hummingbird visitors on all plants observed. The same team also determined in 2000 that the nectar composition of Dendroseris litoralis has large quantities of sucrose (73%), 15% fructose and 10.9% glucose (Bernardello et al. 2000).[1]
References
- ↑ Dendroseris litoralis Compositae Plant in Peril 29, Nicholas Hind and Nick Johnson, Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Volume 23, Part 4, November 2006, Blackwell Publishing
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Dendroseris litoralis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 20 July 2007.