Anthodiscus chocoensis explained

Anthodiscus chocoensis is a species of plant in the family Caryocaraceae family. It is an endangered species native to Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Distribution and habitat

A. chocoensis has a fragmented distribution across its range, which includes the Chocó and Valle del Cauca departments in Colombia, the Donoso District in Panama, and the south-western coast of Costa Rica (particularly on the Osa Peninsula and the area surrounding the Golfo Dulce). It primarily occurs in lowland tropical rainforests below above sea level, but may be found as high as above sea level. It is most common on hilly or otherwise irregular terrain.

Description

A. chocoensis is a tree growing to tall. The leaves are trifoliate with elliptic leaflets that are almost entirely hairless. The central leaflet is the largest, measuring long and wide, with the other leaflets somewhat smaller. The inflorescence is an elongate raceme with a sparsely hairy rachis measuring long. The flowers have yellow petals, approximately 150 long stamens with small anthers, and approximately 32 long styles. The fruit is a flattened brown and green drupe that measures long and wide.[1] [2]

Conservation status

A. chocoensis is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature under criteria B2ab(i,ii,iv,v), based on its fragmented distribution and low population density. This species is harvested for its timber, which is used locally and regionally for construction. Though it does occur in some protected areas, including Corcovado National Park and the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve in Costa Rica, illegal logging remains an issue.

Notes and References

  1. Prance . Ghillean T. . Ghillean Prance . 1980 . A New Species of Anthodiscus (Caryocaraceae) from Choco, Colombia . . 32 . 4 . 530–532 . 10.2307/2806165 . 2806165. 1980Britt..32..530P .
  2. Book: Weber . Anton . 2001 . An Introductory Field Guide to the Flowering Plants of the Golfo Dulce Rain Forests Costa Rica: Corcovado National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park ("Regenwald der Österreicher") . Staphia . 78 . Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum . Linz . 215 . 3-85474-072-7 . 0252-192X.