Cana gorda girdlepod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cana gorda girdlepod |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
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| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Rubioideae
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| Tribe: |
Spermacoceae
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| Genus: |
Mitracarpus
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| Species: |
M. polycladus
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| Binomial name | |
| Mitracarpus polycladus Urb.
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Mitracarpus polycladus is a very rare type of flowering plant. It belongs to the coffee family, just like the plants that give us coffee beans! People sometimes call it the cana gorda girdlepod.
This special plant grows naturally in only a few places. It is found in Puerto Rico, mainly in the Guánica Commonwealth Forest. You can also find it on a small island called Saba.
What Does Mitracarpus polycladus Look Like?
This plant is a type of perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It has many branches that grow straight up or spread out. These branches can reach about 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet) tall.
Its leaves are long and narrow, like a line or a spearhead. They can grow up to 4.5 centimeters long. The plant produces tiny white flowers. These flowers grow together in a round shape, almost like a small ball.
Where Does It Live?
Mitracarpus polycladus likes to grow in specific places. It lives in coastal scrub forests. These are forests found near the sea. It also grows in "dwarf forests," which are forests with smaller trees.
The plant prefers soil made of limestone gravel. This type of ground is often rocky and sandy. Other plants that share its home include Bucida buceras, Bursera simaruba, Exostema caribaeum, Coccoloba microstachya, Plumeria alba, and Pilosocereus royenii.
Why Is Mitracarpus polycladus Endangered?
Mitracarpus polycladus is considered an endangered species in the United States. This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever. When a species is endangered, it needs special protection to survive.
One big threat to this plant is new road construction. Also, keeping existing roads clear can harm its habitat. Because there are so few of these plants left, they are very vulnerable. A small event, like a storm or a change in their environment, could cause them to become extinct. Protecting its habitat is very important to help this unique plant survive.
