| Daucus edulis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Daucus |
| Species: | D. edulis |
| Binomial name | |
| Daucus edulis (Lowe) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Daucus edulis (Portuguese: Cenoura-da-rocha) is a critically endangered species of flowering plant in the celery family Apiaceae. It is endemic to Madeira. [2]
Daucus edulis is a long-lived perennial plant, up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height. It has a hard woody unbranched stem with annual flowers and light yellowish-green, markedly shiny radial leaves, broadly triangular at the edges with pubescent petioles. It has scattered, paniculate inflorescences. Its fruits are 10–14 by 5–7 millimetres (0.39 in–0.55 in × 0.20 in–0.28 in), oblong to ellipsoid, pubescent and pale when ripe. [3]
The species was previously known as Monizia edulis. [2]
The species is endemic to Madeira Island and Deserta Grande Island and was once native to the Savage Islands. [2] In 2008 its population was estimated to be around 50 individuals in a 226 square kilometres (87 sq mi) area. [4] It extends from the Central Mountain Massif of Madeira and occupies rocky cliffs and terraces with soil accumulations up to 300 metres (980 ft) a.s.l. in Deserta Grande [5] and up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in Madeira. [1] [3]
It is mainly threatened by the introduction of exotic species, human collection, fires, droughts, storms, and landslides. [6] [1]
