Tag Archives: Rutaceae

Melicope macropus (Hillebr.) T. G. Hartley & B. C. Stone

Kaholuamanu Melicope (Melicope macropus)  

The Kaholuamanu Melicope was restricted to the Kaholuamanu region of Waimea on the island of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.

The species was last recorded in 1987, 1919 and finally in 1997 and was never found since, it may be extinct. However, the region, where this species is known to have occurred, is privately owned, thus no surveys have been conducted to relacate the species, which in fact might well be still surviving. [1]

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References:

[1] Kenneth R. Wood: Survey results for eight possibly extinct plant species from Kaua’i, Hawai’i. Prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS Agreement No. F12AC00737. 293 pp.. 2015

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edited: 03.09.2020

Vepris bali Cheek

Bali Ngemba Vepris (Vepris bali)

The Bali Ngemba Vepris was just described in 2018, it is known from a specimen that had been collected in 1951 in the Bali Ngemba Forest Reserve, a remnant of submontane cloud forest on the Bamenda Highlands in Cameroon.

The species was not found despite targeted searches by botanists and is believed to be already extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] M. Cheek; G. Gosline; J.-M. Onana: Vepris bali (Rutaceae), a new critically endangered (possibly extinct) cloud forest tree species from Bali Ngemba, Cameroon. Willdenowia. 48(2): 285 – 292. 2018

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edited: 04.10.2020

Melicope wailauensis (H. St. John) T. G. Hartley & B. C. Stone

Wailau Valley Melicope (Melicope wailauensis)  

The Wailau Valley Melicope was obviously restricted to the Kukuinui Ridge in the Wailau Valley on the island of Moloka’i, Hawaiian Islands.

The species is considered extinct.

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edited: 03.09.2020

Melicope obovata (H. St. John) T. G. Hartley & B. C. Stone

Obovate Melicope (Melicope obovata)  

The Obovate Melicope was described in 1944, it is known only from the type specimen that was collected at the end of the 19th century either on the island of Lana’i or Maui, Hawaiian Islands.  

The species is considered extinct.  

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edited: 07.04.2018

Angostura ossana (DC.) Beurton

Cuban Angostura (Angostura ossana)

The Cuban Angostura was described in 1822; it is known only from the type specimen and a single additional specimen which was collected some years later.

The species was restricted to the island of Cuba, where it was known as Quina del país.

The indigenous people of South America and the Antillean islands formerly used the bark of congeneric species to produce a stimulant tonic, it is still used as a source of antipyretics; it is thus very likely that the populations of this species were highly reduced by collecting of their bark. [1]

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References:

[1] Christa Beurton: Angostura ossana (Rutaceae), a component of the Cuban flora. Willdenowia 34: 277-289. 2004

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Depiction from: ‘M. de Candolle: Mémoire sur la tribu des Cuspariées. Mémoires du Muséum d’histoire naturelle 9: 139-145. 1822’

(public domain)

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edited: 14.11.2021

Melicope haleakalae (B. C. Stone) T. G. Hartley & B. C. Stone

Haleakala Melicope (Melicope haleakalae)  

The Haleakala Melicope was restricted to the slopes of the Haleakala volcano in the eastern part of Maui, Hawaiian Islands.  

The species disappeared due to habitat destruction by cattle farming.  

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edited: 07.04.2018

Amyris cubensis (Borhidi & Acuña) Beurton

Cuban Sandalwood (Amyris cubensis)  

This species, which is endemic to the island of Cuba, is considered most likely extinct.  

There appear to exist several herbarium specimens, however, which apparently were collected in an previously unreported locality that is still insufficiently explored, so there is a slight chance that some undiscovered populations still exist.  

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References:  

[1] R. Berazaín: The extinct Flora of Cuba. Bisea 3(2). 2009  

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edited: 20.03.2018