Biology:Exostema salicifolium

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Exostema salicifolium
Preserved specimen of Exostema salicifolium, consisting of a branch with light green leaves
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Exostema
Species:
E. salicifolium
Binomial name
Exostema salicifolium
Griseb.

Exostema salicifolium is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub or tree with subleathery leaves, a purplish corolla, and capsule fruits. The species is native to Cuba.

Exostema salicifolium is native to Cuba, and is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

Taxonomy

The species was described by August Grisebach in 1866.[2] The type locality is in western Cuba.[3]

Distribution

Exostema salicifolium is native to the wet tropical biome of Cuba.[4] It has only been reported from a single location.[1]

Description

Exostema salicifolium is a shrub or tree.[4] It grows to around 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. The branches are slender and greyish.[3]

The leaves are up to 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) long. The leaves are subleathery, oblong-oblanceolate or narrowly elliptical-oblong, 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) long, and 0.7–1.1 centimetres (0.28–0.43 in) wide.[3]

The flowers are solitary, and grow on 1–1.8 centimetres (0.39–0.71 in) stems. The hypanthium is oval-elliptic, and 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) long. The calyx has minute lobes. The corolla is purplish on the outside, and white on the inside. The corolla tube is around 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long, and has five lobes.[3]

The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule, measuring 1.2–1.8 centimetres (0.47–0.71 in) long.[3]

Conservation

In 2022, the IUCN assessed Exostema salicifolium as Critically Endangered. It may be extinct.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gómez Hechavarría, J.L.; González-Oliva, L.; Acosta, Z. (2025). "Exostema salicifolium". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS.T240913775A240917520.es. {{cite iucn}}: error: malformed |doi= identifier (help)
  2. "Exostema salicifolium Griseb.". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://www.ipni.org/n/748937-1. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Paul Carpenter Standley (1921). North American flora. 32. New York Botanical Garden. p. 119. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28761693#page/41/mode/1up. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Exostema salicifolium" (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:748937-1. 

Wikidata ☰ Q15442960 entry