Prockia costaricensis
| Prockia costaricensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Salicaceae |
| Genus: | Prockia |
| Species: | P. costaricensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prockia costaricensis | |
Prockia costaricensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Salicaceae.[2][3]
The plant is endemic to Costa Rica within the provinces of Alajuela, Guanacaste, and Limón. It grows mostly in lowland or lower premontane humid or wet seasonal forests, at elevations of 400–850 m (1,310–2,790 ft).[1][2][4][5]
Description
[edit]Prockia costaricensis is a shrub or small tree, ranging from 1.5–7 m (4 ft 11 in – 23 ft 0 in) in height. Its leaves have petioles measuring 0.2–0.7 cm (0.079–0.276 in), with blades 1.6–16.5 cm (0.63–6.50 in) long and 0.7–7.5 cm (0.28–2.95 in) wide, varying in shape from elliptic-oblong to ovate-elliptic. The blade base is acute, and the margins are serrate to finely denticulate. The upper surface of the leaves is glabrous, while the lower surface is pilose, particularly along the main veins. The flowers have sepals that are 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long, greenish-yellow petals that are often persistent, and orange stamens, with a glabrous ovary. Inflorescences are approximately 1 cm (0.39 in) long and red when mature, ovoid in shape, 0.6–0.9 cm (0.24–0.35 in) in size, and mostly glabrous, though a few may have basal trichomes.[2] The plant flowers from May to July, and fruits from August to October.[1]
Taxonomy
[edit]Prockia costaricensis was first described by Paul Carpenter Standley in 1937.[3][6] It is considered a synonym of Prockia crucis by Tropicos, though many other sources do not treat it as such.[5]
Conservation status
[edit]The plant faces significant threats from deforestation and habitat destruction caused by agricultural expansion, including the establishment of orange plantations. Additionally, climate change poses a risk to its habitat due to the anticipated warming of the regions where this species occurs. Given its limited distribution, small area of occupancy, and the few locations where it is found, it is listed as VU by the IUCN Red List.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Zamora, N.A. (2022). "Prockia costaricensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T149461604A149470550. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T149461604A149470550.en. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ a b c "Prockia costaricensis Standl". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ a b "Prockia costaricensis Standl. | COL". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ "Prockia costaricensis Standl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ a b "Tropicos". www.tropicos.org. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ Field Museum of Natural History. (1937). "Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser". Flora of Costa Rica. 18: 723. ISSN 0096-2759. Retrieved 2025-03-13.