Trochetia
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Trochetia blackburniana , illustration |
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Trochetia is one of the Mascarene endemic plant kind from the family of mallow (Malvaceae). It was first described by Augustin-Pyrame de Candolle in1823. All six species of this genus areendangered in their existencedue to competition with imported plant species, such as the guavas from China, but also by monkeys and rats that eat the fruit. The name Trochetia was given in honor of the French botanist Henri Dutrochet .
description
Trochetia species are shrubs or small trees that reach a height of 2 to 8 meters. The leathery leaves are oval with thin hairs on the underside.
The flowers hang either individually or up to three together in racemose inflorescences . The hermaphrodite flowers are white, as in Trochetia triflora , pale pink as in Trochetia parviflora or red-orange as in Trochetia boutoniana . Some species have bell-shaped fused petals that can be 5 to 6 cm long (for example Trochetia boutoniana ). Trochetia parviflora has pale green fruits.
distribution
Five species are found in Mauritius and one in Réunion . Their habitat are moist forests with a high annual amount of precipitation or windward mountain slopes.
ecology
Trochetia are one of the few plants that produce scarlet nectar. Scientists, like the Danish botanist Jens Olesen, assume that this is due to the pollination of now extinct bird species. Today, the Mauritius spectacle bird ( Zosterops chloronothos ), the mascarene spectacle bird ( Zosterops borbonicus ) or geckos of the genus Phelsuma ensure the pollination of the plants.
species
The following six species belong to the genus Trochetia :
- Trochetia blackburniana Bojer - most common species in the genus Trochetia . Flowering period: April to May.
- Trochetia granulata Cordem. - endemic to Réunion . Occurrence: Cirque de Cilaos and Cirque de Mafate . Flowering period: March to June.
- Trochetia boutoniana F. Friedmann (local name: Boucle d'Oreille) - since 1992 the national flower of Mauritius . It was named after the botanist Louis Bouton . Occurrence: Le Morne Brabant . Flowering period: June to October.
- Trochetia parviflora Bojer - a very rare plant species (with around 63 specimens) that was thought to be extinct since 1863, but wasrediscovered in2001 at the Corps de Garde in Mauritius .
- Trochetia triflora DC. - Deposits: Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, Piton Savanne and Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire. Flowering period: April to July.
- Trochetia uniflora DC. - Occurrence: Trois Mamelles, Le Pouce and Letard Mountains. Flowering period: May to June.
literature
- John Gilbert Baker : Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles: A Description of the Flowering Plants . L. Reeve & Co., London 1877 (Reprint: Asian Educational Services, 1999, ISBN 81-206-1427-5 ), digitized .
Web links
- Botanists find extinct tree in Mauritius.
- Conservation ecology and evolution of reproductive systems in the island endemic plants of the genus Trochetia . (engl.)
- Mauritian red nectar remains a mystery. (English; PDF file; 222 kB)
- Mauritius Post Ltd. First day cover. (engl.)
- A Protocol for the Isolation of DNA from Trochetia boutoniana ( Memento of March 17, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) (English; PDF file; 186 kB)