Coccothrinax torrida
Encyclopedia
Coccothrinax torrida is a palm
endemic
to southeastern Cuba
. It is known from a single isolated hill on the coast of the Guantánamo Province
. The climate of the area is described as semi-desert with 9 or 10 dry months. Like other members of the genus, C. torrida is a fan palm
. Trees are single-stemmed, between 2 and 8 metres tall with stems 2.5 to 3.9 (occasionally up to 4.5) centimetres in diameter. The fruit is creamy white, 4.8–6.3 millimetres in diameter.
The species was first described in 2006 from material collected in 2003. It is related to Coccothrinax pauciramosa
, and is characterized by the following features: narrow semiorbicular flat leaves that are covered on the adaxial surface by white wax; a small irregular palman; long and erect inflorescences; and small, white, smooth fruits. Coccothrinax torrida and Coccothrinax montana
are the only described species with white fruits in the genus Coccothrinax. Since it is known from a single population of about 5000 individuals, the species is considered Vulnerable
.
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to southeastern Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It is known from a single isolated hill on the coast of the Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo is the easternmost province of Cuba. Its capital is also called Guantánamo. Other towns include Baracoa. The province surrounds the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.-History:...
. The climate of the area is described as semi-desert with 9 or 10 dry months. Like other members of the genus, C. torrida is a fan palm
Fan palm
Fan palm as a descriptive term can refer to any of several different kinds of palms in various genera with leaves that are palmately compound...
. Trees are single-stemmed, between 2 and 8 metres tall with stems 2.5 to 3.9 (occasionally up to 4.5) centimetres in diameter. The fruit is creamy white, 4.8–6.3 millimetres in diameter.
The species was first described in 2006 from material collected in 2003. It is related to Coccothrinax pauciramosa
Coccothrinax pauciramosa
Coccothrinax pauciramosa is a palm which is endemic to Cuba. Like other members of the genus, C. pauciramosa is a fan palm. Trees are single-stemmed, between 2 and 5 metres tall with stems 4 to 8 centimetres in diameter...
, and is characterized by the following features: narrow semiorbicular flat leaves that are covered on the adaxial surface by white wax; a small irregular palman; long and erect inflorescences; and small, white, smooth fruits. Coccothrinax torrida and Coccothrinax montana
Coccothrinax montana
Coccothrinax montana is a palm which is endemic to Haiti.Henderson and colleagues considered C. montana to be a synonym of Coccothrinax miraguama....
are the only described species with white fruits in the genus Coccothrinax. Since it is known from a single population of about 5000 individuals, the species is considered Vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
.
External links
- Text and pictures of Coccothrinax torrida hosted by the Palm and Cycad Society of Australia