Cylindrocline lorencei
Encyclopedia
Cylindrocline lorencei is a small tree that was native to the island of Mauritius
, with only one specimen ever observed in the wild. By 1990 the species was considered extinct, and the only available seed could not be germinated
. Brest Botanic Gardens successfully performed in vitro
culture of a viable part of the seed embryo, saving the plant from extinction. Through further vegetative propagation at Brest and Kew Botanic Gardens, a small population of Cylindrocline lorencei has been grown and efforts are now underway to re-establish it in its native habitat.
. The oblanceolate
shaped leaf is 12 to 18 cm (4.7 to 7.1 in) long and 4.5 to 5.5 cm (1.8 to 2.2 in) wide, with fine hairs on the upper surface and heavily covered with fine hairs underneath.
in a region called the Plaine Champagne. The habitat is lower elevation ericoid shrubland, and the plant was found growing along with Helichrysum, in laterite
soil.
as of 1990, even though the IUCN Red List
for 1997 still classified it as Endangered—probably because they were unaware of the death of the single plant.
Several plants have been propagated and are growing at the Native Plant Propagation Centre at Curepipe in Mauritius. If those plants survive, attempts will be made to reestablish the plant in its native habitat in Black River Gorges National Park. Brest Botanic Gardens and Kew Botanic Gardens also continue to grow populations of the plant.
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, with only one specimen ever observed in the wild. By 1990 the species was considered extinct, and the only available seed could not be germinated
Germination
Germination is the process in which a plant or fungus emerges from a seed or spore, respectively, and begins growth. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm. However the growth of a sporeling from a spore, for example the...
. Brest Botanic Gardens successfully performed in vitro
In vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
culture of a viable part of the seed embryo, saving the plant from extinction. Through further vegetative propagation at Brest and Kew Botanic Gardens, a small population of Cylindrocline lorencei has been grown and efforts are now underway to re-establish it in its native habitat.
Description
Cylindrocline lorencei is a small tree growing up to 2 m (6.6 ft) high, with branches in the upper part that are densely covered in leaves in terminal rosettes. Leaves are olive-green colored with yellow-green veins, grow in spirals, and are attached directly to the stem or with a very short petiolePetiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. The oblanceolate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
shaped leaf is 12 to 18 cm (4.7 to 7.1 in) long and 4.5 to 5.5 cm (1.8 to 2.2 in) wide, with fine hairs on the upper surface and heavily covered with fine hairs underneath.
Distribution and habitat
The original specimen of Cylindrocline lorencei grew at 700 m (2,296.6 ft) elevation in Black River Gorges National ParkBlack River Gorges National Park
Black River Gorges National Park is a national park in the hilly south-western part of Mauritius. It was proclaimed on June 15, 1994 and is managed by the National Parks and Conservation Service. It covers an area of 67.54 km² including humid upland forest, drier lowland forest and marshy...
in a region called the Plaine Champagne. The habitat is lower elevation ericoid shrubland, and the plant was found growing along with Helichrysum, in laterite
Laterite
Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock...
soil.
Conservation
The material for the type specimen was collected in 1973 by botanist David H. Lawrence, who observed only one plant in the Plaine Champagne area. Fruit collected in 1980 confirmed the survival of the plant up to that time. Due to the death of that plant, the species was considered to be extinct in the wildExtinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa, the only known living members of which are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.-Examples:...
as of 1990, even though the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
for 1997 still classified it as Endangered—probably because they were unaware of the death of the single plant.
Several plants have been propagated and are growing at the Native Plant Propagation Centre at Curepipe in Mauritius. If those plants survive, attempts will be made to reestablish the plant in its native habitat in Black River Gorges National Park. Brest Botanic Gardens and Kew Botanic Gardens also continue to grow populations of the plant.