Mediusella

Mediusella
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Sarcolaenaceae
Genus:	Mediusella (Cavaco) Hutch. (1973)
Species:	M. bernieri
Binomial name
Mediusella bernieri (Baill.) Hutch. (1973) [2] [3]
Synonyms [2]
Leptolaena bernieriBaill. (1886) Xerochlamys bernieri(Baill.) H.Perrier (1931)

Mediusella bernieri is a species of flowering plant in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is the sole species in genus Mediusella. ^[4] It is a shrub or tree endemic to Madagascar.

Description

Mediusella bernieri grows as a shrub or small tree up to 3 metres (10 ft) tall. ^[1] It has a trunk diameter of up to 20 cm (8 in). Its bright green leaves are ovate in shape and measure up to 6 cm (2 in) long. The plant's flowers are usually in inflorescences of two or three flowers, each with white to yellow petals. The ovoid fruits measure up to 1.1 cm (0.4 in) long. ^[3] Mediusella bernieri flowers and fruits from February to July. ^[1]

Distribution and habitat

Mediusella bernieri is only found in the far northern regions of Diana and Sava ^[2] (the former Antsiranana Province ^[1] ). IUCN assessors identified nine subpopulations over an extent of occurrence of 3,055 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi). ^[1] Its habitat is dry forests, on various rocky formations, from 50–300 m (200–1,000 ft) elevation. ^{[1] [3]}

Threats

Mediusella bernieri is in decline due to habitat destruction ^{[1] [3]} from activities such as agriculture, mining, fires and wood harvesting. ^[1] In 2019, it was assessed by the IUCN as Endangered. Although four (of nine) subpopulations of the species are within the protected areas of Andavakoeira-Andrafiamena and Loky Manambato, the species' decline continues due to the above activities. ^[1]

References

1. Rabarimanarivo, M. (2021). "Mediusella bernieri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T70102206A194109415. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T70102206A194109415.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. "Mediusella bernieri". Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar. Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved 19 Oct 2016– via Tropicos.org.
3. Hong-Wa, Cynthia (2009). "Endemic families of Madagascar. XII. Resurrection and taxonomic revision of the genera Mediusella (Cavaco) Hutchinson and Xerochlamys Baker (Sarcolaenaceae)" (PDF). Adansonia. 3. 31 (2). Paris: Publications Scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle: 318–319. doi: 10.5252/a2009n2a7 . S2CID   84912526 . Retrieved 19 Oct 2016.
4. "Mediusella (Cavaco) Hutch". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 20 September 2024.