Tambourissa cocottensis

Tambourissa cocottensis, commonly known as Bois Tambour[2] is a species of plant in the Monimiaceae family. The only population (less than 50 individuals and decreasing) is endemic to the summit Montagne Cocotte, Mauritius (with an average annual precipitation of 5000 mm).[3]

Tambourissa cocottensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Monimiaceae
Genus: Tambourissa
Species:
T. cocottensis
Binomial name
Tambourissa cocottensis
Lorence

Description

Small tree 4–5 m. A monoecious species. Leaves opposite to subopposite, petitolate, glabrous, petioles 7–20 mm by 1–2 mm, lamina subcoriaceous, elliptic, 45–105 mm by 15–40 mm, the apex shortly acute to shortly accuminate, the tip indurated, the base acutely cuneate, slightly decurrent. New growth glabrous. Androceous flowers, solitary or in fascicles of two, cauliflorous. Immature fruiting receptacle globose-urceolate, 15 mm in diameter by 12 mm long. Mature fruiting receptacle and carpels unknown.[3]

Ecology

T. cocottensis closely resembles T. tetragona in certain aspects such as cauliflory, leaf size, -margin, -texture, -shape or -venation. However, unlike T. tetragona, T. cocottensis' stems and petioles are winged. There are also differences in the flower structure.[3]

Threats

In 1979, there were only four individuals known. They were in different stages of growth, suggesting that regeneration took place in previous years. In August of the same year, the two largest plants were in bud, both being gynoecious. Unfortunately, there were no male (androecious) trees found in the species' natural habitat. A poor pollination rate[2] further decreases the chances for this species surviving without help from humans. Fruits were last recorded in 1979. T. cocottensis is now (together with T. tetragona) a relicted species, limited to the summit of Mt. Cocotte.

Despite by law being in a nature reserve, the forests of Mt. Cocotte have been highly degraded and thus are highly vulnerable to neophytes.[3]

See also

References
  1. Florens, D. 2000. Tambourissa cocottensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 August 2007
  2. "Tambourissa cocottensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  3. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden [electronic resource]. v. 72 1985 (scanned 01/27/2010). St. Louis :Missouri Botanical Garden Press,1914-: Henry Shaw School of Botany. Graduate Laboratory. Missouri Botanical Garden. pp. 144, 146.CS1 maint: location (link)
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