Myrciaria una facts for kids

The Myrciaria una is a type of plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family. It was first officially described in 2019. This plant grows as a small tree or a large bush, and it produces dark, almost black, fruit. Before 2019, people often confused it with another similar plant called Myrciaria ferruginea.

What's in a Name?

The name una comes from the Tupi language. Tupi is a language spoken by some native people in Brazil. In Tupi, "una" means "black." This name was chosen because of the plant's dark-colored fruit.

What Does It Look Like?

The Myrciaria una is a tree that usually grows to be about 4 to 7 meters (about 13 to 23 feet) tall. Its leaves grow in pairs, opposite each other on the stem. Each leaf is typically between 3.5 and 11.5 centimeters (about 1.4 to 4.5 inches) long and 1.3 to 5.1 centimeters (about 0.5 to 2 inches) wide. The plant produces fruit that can be purplish or blackish in color. These fruits can grow up to 20 millimeters (about 0.8 inches) across and usually contain one or two seeds inside.

Where Does It Grow?

The Myrciaria una is a special plant because it is endemic to a specific area. This means it only grows naturally in one place in the world. You can find it in the lower parts of the atlantic coastal forest in northeastern Brazil. It grows in the Brazilian states of Ceará, Pernambuco, Alagoas, and Bahia.

Why Is It Important to Protect?

Experts have suggested that the Myrciaria una might be an endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. The main reasons for this risk are human activities. These include clearing land for farming, cities growing bigger (urban expansion), and the historical breaking up of the Atlantic coastal rainforest into smaller pieces. Protecting this plant helps keep the natural balance of its habitat.