Dalbergia baronii
Species of legume
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dalbergia baronii [2] is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.[3] It is named after the English missionary and botanist Rev. Richard Baron.
| Dalbergia baronii | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Dalbergia |
| Species: | D. baronii |
| Binomial name | |
| Dalbergia baronii Baker. | |
Description
Vegetative characters
Dalbergia baronii is a shrub to large tree. The leaves are imparipinnate, 3–7.5 cm long, and have a hairy rachis. The 19–25 alternate leaflets are 0.5–2 cm long, mostly glabrous and glossy above, and with dense and long hairs beneath.[3]
Generative characters
It forms axillary inflorescences that are paniculate and distinctively shorter than the subtending leaves. The flowers are white, 4–5 mm long, and have a violin-shaped standard petal and pubescent gynoecium. The fruits usually contain one seed (rarely up to three seeds). The pericarp is "indistinctly veined, slightly thickened, corky and fissured over the seed".[3]
Similar species
Habitat and distribution
Dalbergia baronii inhabits evergreen lowland forests, marshes and mangrove stands along the East coast of Madagascar.[3] It occurs from sea level up to 150 m, rarely up to an elevation of 600 m.[3]
Uses
It produces a durable, black-striped heartwood[4] that is locally used for cabinet making, furniture and marquetry.[3] It was internationally traded, notably to produce guitar bodies and fingerboards,[4] amongst others.
Conservation status
The IUCN Red List lists Dalbergia baronii as vulnerable.[5] Its natural stands have drastically declined in response to both habitat loss and selective logging.[6] The natural habitat of Dalbergia baronii is among the most threatened Malagasy habitats.[7]
Due to overexploitation and the risk of confusion with similar species, Dalbergia baronii and other Dalbergia species from Madagascar were listed in CITES Appendix II[8] in 2013, currently with a zero export quota.[9]
See also
- Dalbergia maritima, also found only in Madagascar, and similarly threatened.