Capa rose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Capa rose |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Callicarpa
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| Species: |
ampla
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The Callicarpa ampla, also known as the capa rose, is a special type of plant. It's a small tree or shrub that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. You can only find this plant in Puerto Rico, which is an island in the Caribbean. Sadly, the capa rose is in big trouble. It's a critically endangered plant, mostly because its home (habitat) is being destroyed.
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History of the Capa Rose
The capa rose was first found in Puerto Rico in 1827 by a person named Heinrich Wydler. However, it wasn't officially named the capa rose until 1847 by Schauer. Since then, only a few of these plants have been collected. Most were found in Puerto Rico. One was collected from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, but no others have been seen there since.
The capa rose used to be found all over Puerto Rico. Now, it only grows in the Luquillo Mountains. Specifically, it lives in a part of the forest called the palo Colorado region.
What the Capa Rose Looks Like
Plant Family and Features
The capa rose is a plant, which means it belongs to the plant kingdom. It's a vascular plant, meaning it has special tissues. These tissues are like tiny pipes that carry food and water through its roots, leaves, and stems.
It's also a seed plant and a flowering plant. When its seeds sprout, they produce two small leaves called cotyledons. This makes it a dicotyledon. The flowers often grow in tight bunches, making them look like one big flower. Its leaves grow in pairs, directly opposite each other on the stem.
Physical Description
The capa rose is an evergreen tree or shrub. This means it stays green all year round. It can grow quite tall, up to about 15 meters (50 feet). When its twigs are young, they look whitish. The branches have four distinct sides.
The leaves are shaped like an oval, wide in the middle and tapering at the ends. They can be 8 to 35 centimeters (3 to 14 inches) long. The top of the leaves is dark green and shiny. The underside is a lighter green with raised veins.
The flowers are white and shaped like a star. They are very small, about 1.7 millimeters (0.07 inches) wide. Each flower has both male and female parts. The plant produces small berries, about 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) across. These berries contain four seeds. When the seeds are ripe, they are purple. Unripe seeds are white.
Where the Capa Rose Lives
Where It's Found Today
Today, the capa rose is found only in Puerto Rico. It lives inside the Caribbean National Forest. This forest has different plant areas, and the capa rose is in the Palo Colorado region.
Scientists have found the capa rose in a few specific spots. Two sites were in the Rio Blanco area of the Nauguabo municipality. One site was found in the Mameyes II area. Two more sites were in the Jimenez area, both in the Rio Grande municipality.
Its Mountain Home
The Luquillo Mountains are about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the nearest coast. The highest parts of these mountains are over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level. It rains more in the higher parts of the mountains.
The palo Colorado region makes up about 17% of the national forest. It's found at elevations higher than 600 meters (1,970 feet). This area gets a lot of rain, usually 300 to 450 centimeters (118 to 177 inches) each year. The driest time is from February to April. The air is very humid, usually 90% to 100%. The average temperature is about 21°C (70°F).
The capa rose grows on the slopes of these mountains. This helps protect it from strong winds. However, hurricanes do hit this area sometimes.
Why the Capa Rose is Endangered
Threats to the Plant
The capa rose is at high risk of disappearing. It's found in only one small part of one country, and it's on an island. This isolation makes it very vulnerable.
Its home is also being lost due to deforestation (cutting down forests) and farming. The forest where it lives is managed by the USDA Forest Service. Activities like building trails, cutting trees, farming, and building shelters can harm the plant.
There are very few capa rose plants left in Puerto Rico. Losing even one plant can greatly affect its survival. The plant is also at risk of being collected because it is so rare and beautiful. Hurricanes are another big threat. They can destroy existing plants and damage areas where new seedlings might grow. The capa rose also doesn't reproduce or spread very well on its own. This makes protecting each plant and its habitat even more important.
Efforts to Protect It
The capa rose was officially listed as an endangered species in 1992. A plan to help it recover was put in place in 1995. This plan explains what needs to be done to protect the plant and help its population grow.
Here are some key parts of the recovery plan:
- Observation: Scientists watch the plant to understand how its population changes and how it reproduces. Not much is known about this yet.
- Protection: Rules are enforced to protect the plant and its environment. This includes penalties for collecting the plant. All construction plans in its habitat must be approved to ensure the plant's safety.
- Education: People are taught about the plant's endangered status. This helps both the U.S. government and the local government of Puerto Rico protect it. Educational materials help schools, developers, and others identify the plant and understand how to protect it.
- Research: A major part of the plan is to do more research. Scientists need to learn more about how the capa rose reproduces and spreads. They also search for new places where the plant might be growing. Studying these locations helps them understand what the plant needs to survive. This information can help choose good places to plant new capa roses if they are grown in special nurseries.
- Land Acquisition: The plan also includes buying any private land where the capa rose is found growing.
See also
