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Dirachma socotrana—back from the brink?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2009

M. Bazara'a ,
L. Guarino ,
A. Miller  and
N. Obadi
M. Bazara'a
Affiliation:
El-Kod Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Khormaksar, Aden, PO Box 6225, Yemen.
L. Guarino
Affiliation:
IBPGR, c/o Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 2016, Nicosia, Cyprus.
A. Miller
Affiliation:
Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH 35LR, UK.
N. Obadi
Affiliation:
El-Kod Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Khormaksar, Aden, PO Box 6225, Yemen.
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Abstract

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Socotra, a small island in the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its remarkable flora. More than one-third of its 750 plant species are endemic, and seven are included in the IUCN Plant Red Data Book. Among these is Dirachma socotrana, which is something of a botanical curiosity. It was described in 1881 but confusion over its vernacular name led to the belief that it was widespread on the island. In 1989 the authors failed to find it in many of the sites where local people said it grew and on a second visit in 1990 the puzzle was resolved with the help of a linguist. In fact the species is apparently confined to one mountain pass. Although it is not immediately threatened it is, like many of the other plants on the island, at risk because of development plans.

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , October 1991 , pp. 229 - 232
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1991

References

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