Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon is a rare species of tree in the family Icacinaceae known by the common name pincho palo de rosa.[1] It is native to Puerto Rico and Hispaniola (in the Dominican Republic).
| Palo de rosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Metteniusales |
| Family: | Metteniusaceae |
| Genus: | Ottoschulzia |
| Species: | O. rhodoxylon |
| Binomial name | |
| Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon | |
Description
This plant reaches up to approximately 49 feet in height. Its trunk can reach 16 inches in diameter. The leaves are alternate, elliptical or ovate, coriaceous and glossy with a slightly white margin. The flowers of this genus are small and composed of five sepals united at the base, and a corolla with a short tube in the shape of a cup and five lobes. The fruit is about 0.98 inches long and 0.86 inches wide, smooth and with a thin cover that turns dark purple when ripe.[2]
Conservation
When it was listed as an endangered species under the United States' Endangered Species Act in 1990 there were only nine individuals remaining on Puerto Rico.[3]
In Puerto Rico, the tree is known from Guánica Commonwealth Forest and one location near Bayamón, and there has been a sighting of one individual in Maricao Commonwealth Forest. Deforestation has reduced the amount of suitable habitat remaining for the tree.[3]
