Guaiacum officinale – Endangered (EN)
Guaiacum officinale is a species from the family Zygophyllaceae. Known as roughbark lignum-vitae, guaiacwood or gaïacwood, it is native to the Caribbean and the northern coast of South America. Today severely reduced populations are found only in Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Virgin Islands and Colombia. It is considered to be extinct or almost extinct in Antigua, Anguilla and Barbuda. Guaiacum officinale is the national flower of Jamaica.
This evergreen tree grows very slowly and reaches a height of about 10 m. The trunk has a diameter of 60 cm. The leaves are compound. They are about 2.5–3 cm long and about 2 cm wide. The Guaiacum officinale has beautiful blue flowers. Each flower has five petals and a star-shape. The tree yields bright-yellow-orange fruits with red flesh and black seeds.
Guaiacum officinale prefers lowland dry forest, woodland and thicket, as well as coastland areas.
Major threat for the plant is the overexploitation due to the utility of its timber and medicinal resin, which have been traded for hundreds of years as lignum-vitae.
Polygala sinisica – Critically Endangered (CR)
Polygala sinisica – Critically Endangered (CR)
Polygala sinisica is a species from the family Polygalaceae. It is endemic to the island of Sardinia, Italy.
The stem reaches a height of 15-20 cm and has an almost upright posture. The leaves are alternated on the stem. They are small in size and linear or lanceolate. The inflorescences are apical and consist of small groups of 15-20 small flowers, varying in color from pink to blue and equipped with a short stem. Three sepals are small and hairy while the other two take the elliptical shape. The petals are small, between 11 and 12 mm in length.
Polygala sinisica is a perennial herb that grows in a hot and dry region on a stony or sandy limestone hillside in vegetation dominated by spiny or aromatic evergreen dwarf shrubs. It occurs only in Sardinia along the coast at Capo Mannu, situated just north of Tharros in the Sinis region.
Major threats for the existence of Polygala sinisica are the agricultural practices, changes in land-use, the infrastructural development of the coast and the occurring constructions – all of those change the natural habitat and reduce the plant’s population
Viola ucriana – Critically Endangered (CR)
Viola ucriana is a species from the family Violaceae. Known as Viola di Ucria, it is endemic to the island of Sicily, Italy.
This perennial, evergreen herbaceous plant has elongated upper leaves. Its lower leaves are gathered to form a cushion at the base. The leaves of Viola ucriana are greyish green in color and are partially hairy. The flowers are yellow, with yellowish-green spur.
This species is only found on Mt. Rizzuta, near Palermo (situated in the north-west of Sicily). It grows at an altitude of 800 – 1300 m. This perennial plant prefers eroded sunny calcareous mountain slopes where rock outcrops or gravel substrates are sometimes covered by a garrigue vegetation.
Major threats for the existence of this little herbaceous violet are the periodic summer fires in the endemic region as well as the changes in the habitat due to new species introduction and human activity.
Parmentiera cereifera – Endangered (EN)
Parmentiera cereifera is a species from the family Bignoniaceae. Known as Palo de Velas or the Candle tree, it is native to Panama.
This evergreen tree reaches a height of approximately 6-7 m. The leaves are compound with 3 leaflets in mid-dark green. The flowers of Parmentiera cereifera are 5-6 cm across. They are tinted in greenish white and are marked with red line in the throat. The tree produces bizarre-looking fruit, which hang from its branches. They give the common name of this plant. These slim, waxy, yellow-ochre fruits look very much alike to freshly-dipped candles hung out to dry. They measure up to about 15-60 cm in length.
This species occurs on the Atlantic coast, either side of the Panama Canal, in Colón and Panamá Provinces. Wild populations of the species occur in lowland evergreen forest. The tree is cultivated in the West Indies and other tropical regions. It serves as an ornamental plant, but it is also often used for its edible fruit.
Major threat for the existence of the Candle tree is the indiscriminate logging activities.
Columnea flexiflora – Endangered (EN)
Columnea flexiflora is a species from the family Gesneriaceae. This is a rare epiphytic herb which is endemic to Ecuador.
The spectacular species has a height of about 50-60 cm. It has hairy foliage. The leaves are tinted in dark green, tinged with reddish-brown. Columnea flexiflora blossoms with cardinal red flowers. The floret has bright yellow veins radiating from its throat. They emerge from the leaf axils. The flowers are approximately 5 cm long. The species branches from the base and produces a berry like fruit.
This species is native to Ecuador and grows in the cool montane regions of Cordillera de Cutucú. Recorded along the Río Calagras, near Itzintza, and in primary forest north of Gualaquiza the Columnea flexiflora prefers altitudes of 1,500 – 2,000 m.