Vachellia anegadensis
Acacia anegadensis (English common name: Poke -me -boy ) is a rare species of the genus Acacia. It is endemic to those forming part of British Virgin Islands Anegada Island.
Description
Acacia anegadensis is a branched tree that reaches a height of eight meters. The main branches are spread wide. The thin, smooth branches are tortuous. The pair of rigid side leaves are needle -shaped. The thorns are 5 to 15 mm long. The leaves are 2 to 3 inches long. The 3-6 mm long petioles are either smooth or covered with sparse fluff. They are grooved on the top and have a fixed näpfenförmige gland with a diameter of about 0.5 mm. The leaflets are single pair. The 10 to 16 mm long leaflets to the Blattstielchen are single pair, rarely zweipaarig, sessile, oblong or oblong - ovate, bevelled, leathery, smooth and network similar veined. The leaf margin is rounded or bulged at the apex blunt and cut off at the base. Both leaf surfaces are shiny.
The thin, covered with loose fluff inflorescence axes are arranged individually or in groups of two to four. They are smaller than the sheets. The flower heads are spherical and have a diameter of 5 to 6 mm. The flowers are yellow. The calyx has tiny teeth that are about 0.6 mm long. The narrow corolla is ciliated on the teeth. To be shorter than the flower tube. The 20 stamens are 3-4 mm long. The filaments are filiform. The anthers are tiny. The 3 to 4 centimeters long sleeves are linearly convex, pointed, swollen, smooth and veined. The flattened, hemispherical, obtuse brown seeds are 3-4 mm long and have a diameter of 1.5 mm.
Habitat
The habitat of Acacia anegadensis consists mostly of tropical or sub-tropical, dry bush and forest land with limestone floors. Very rarely is the kind found on sand dunes.
Status
Due to the very small distribution area of approximately 25 km ² Acacia anegadensis is " critically endangered " by the IUCN classified into the category. The construction of residential and tourism facilities as well as road construction, the habitat is severely impaired. Free running animals ( domestic cattle, goats and donkey ) destroys the vegetation by overgrazing and trampling. The competition with invasive plant species such as the Schachtelhalmblättrigen casuarina ( Casuarina equisetifolia ), Kalanchoe pinnata Cryptostegia madagascariensis and represents a further threat dar. Also, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and coastal flooding threaten the Art In recent years, members of the Royal Botanic Gardens ( Kew ) brought in collaboration with the British Virgin Islands National parks Trust and the Darwin initiative measures for the protection of Acacia anegadensis. A locality was declared a Ramsar site in 1999. A copy of reproducing and 22 seedlings located in the JR O'Neal Botanic Garden on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.