''Pilgerina'' is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
genus of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s belonging to the family
Santalaceae
The Santalaceae, sandalwoods, are a widely distributed family of flowering plants (including small trees, shrubs, perennial herbs, and epiphytic climbersHewson & George t al.br>''Santalaceae'' taxonomy, 1984, pp. 191-194.) which, like other membe ...
. It only contains one known species, ''Pilgerina madagascariensis''.
It is native to
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
,
where it is known as ''sakaimboalavo''.
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Description
''Pilgerina madagascariensis'' is a shrub or small tree. It flowers from October to January, and fruits from November to April.[
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Range and habitat
''Pilgerina madagascariensis'' is distributed widely in Madagascar. There are ten known subpopulations, in the former provinces of Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina and Toliara. The estimated extent of occurrence
Extent may refer to:
Computing
* Extent (file systems), a contiguous region of computer storage medium reserved for a file
* Extent File System, a discontinued file system implementation named after the contiguous region
* Extent, a chunk of st ...
(EOO) is 224,809 km2, and the estimated area of occupancy
Area is the quantity that expresses the extent of a region on the plane or on a curved surface. The area of a plane region or ''plane area'' refers to the area of a shape or planar lamina, while '' surface area'' refers to the area of an open s ...
(AOO) is 108 km2.[
The species is found in dry, subarid, humid, subhumid, and littoral forests between sea level and 1,499 meters elevation. It grows on sandy, sandstone, and calcareous substrates.
There are 10 known subpopulations of this species. The last recent collection was done in 2012 at Ste Luce (Anosy region).
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Conservation and threats
The species is threatened with habitat loss
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...
, and has a declining population. Seven of the ten populations are now in protected areas
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
. The three unprotected populations are threatened by continuing deforestation from mining, wildfire, and logging. The species' conservation status is assessed as endangered
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...
.[
]
Name
The genus name of ''Pilgerina'' is in honour of (1876–1953), a German botanist, who specialised in the study of conifers.specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
of ''madagascariensis'' means "coming from Madagascar.
Both the genus and the species were first described and published in Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. Vol.95 on page 398–399 in 2008.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q21078421, from2=Q18076077
Santalaceae
Monotypic Santalales genera
Plants described in 2008
Endemic flora of Madagascar