Metrosideros boninensis explained

Metrosideros boninensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to the Bonin Islands archipelago and is found exclusively on Chichijima Island, excepting for two remaining trees located on neighboring Anijima Island.[1] M. boninensis is classified as ‘endangered’ in the Japanese Red Data Book and, although there were 326 plants recorded in 2004, genetic diversity of M. boninensis is extremely low.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by botanist Bunzo Hayata in 1918, as Eugenia boninensis. This was corrected to M. boninensis in 1938 by Takasi Tuyama.[2]

Cultivars

There are no known cultivars of M. boninensis available, and the plant is not widely available in plant nurseries.

Notes and References

  1. Kaneko. Shingo. Isagi. Yuji. Nobushima. Fuyuo. Genetic differentiation among populations of an oceanic island: The case of Metrosideros boninensis, an endangered endemic tree species in the Bonin Islands. Plant Species Biology. August 2008. 23. 2. 119–128. 10.1111/j.1442-1984.2008.00213.x. free.
  2. Web site: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Kew Royal Botanical Gardens. 23 September 2015.