''Rubia agostinhoi'' is a climbing plant species of the

Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules ...

family

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

It was defined by ecologist

Pierre Dansereau Pierre Dansereau (October 5, 1911 – September 28, 2011) was a Canadian ecologist from Quebec known as one of the "fathers of ecology". Biography Born in Outremont, Quebec (now part of Montreal), he received a Bachelor of Science in Agricult ...

and Pinto da Silva in 1977.

Description

''Rubia agostinhoi'' has branched, glabrous, brushed or smooth stems, up to long. It has narrowly elliptical to linear or oblanceolate leathery, dark green leaves with very small, slightly revolted spines in the margins. Leaves of the side shoots are shorter and smaller in length than those of the main stem. Flower stems are long and usually very flowery. Fruits are , globose and shiny black when ripe.

Distribution and Habitat

It is present in all of the Azorean islands, except

Graciosa Graciosa Island () (literally "graceful" or "enchanting" in Portuguese) is referred to as the ''White Island'', the northernmost of the Central Group of islands in the Azores. The ovular Portuguese island has an area of , a length of and a width ...

. It is commonly found in ravines, craters, natural forests and heather bushes. From sea level to altitudes above .

References

agostinhoi Plants described in 1977 Endemic flora of the Azores {{Rubiaceae-stub