Martellidendron hornei

Martellidendron hornei
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Pandanales
Family:	Pandanaceae
Genus:	Martellidendron
Species:	M. hornei
Binomial name
Martellidendron hornei Balf.f. Callm. & Chassot (2003)
Synonyms [2]
Pandanus horneiBalf.f. (1877)

Martellidendron hornei (Vakwa parasol, or Vacoa parasol) is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, one of several species in this family that are endemic to the Seychelles.

Description

This species is an erect tree to 15 m (49 ft) tall. It has a single straight trunk, with a spreading, parasol-like canopy only near the top. Its branches usually divide into groups of three. This is not trichotomous, but probably the result of having three ranks of leaves.^{[ citation needed ]} The multiple fruit is up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter with large pyrenes, each up to 14 cm (5.5 in) long and containing one seed. They are mostly yellow with a green outer tip. ^[3]

It has stilt roots that are characteristically large but very closely packed.

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  Rosette detail
• 
  The close-packed stilt roots of two specimens

Distribution and habitat

Martellidendron hornei is endemic to the Seychelles, and was formerly common on all of the granitic islands. In valleys and on wetter slopes it was a dominant part of the original forests. It is currently threatened by habitat loss and invasive alien species such as Falcataria falcata . ^[1]

References

1. Ismail, S.; Huber, M.J.; Mougal, J. (2011). "Martellidendron hornei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T30508A9555288. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T30508A9555288.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
2. Martellidendron hornei (Balf.f.) Callm. & Chassot. Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 12 November 2023.
3. Wise, Rosemary (1998). A Fragile Eden. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Univ. Press. p. plate 75 with caption. ISBN   0-691-04817-7.