Sideroxylon mirmulano explained

Sideroxylon mirmulano, commonly known as marmulano, is a species of flowering plants in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to the Madeira Islands (Portugal). It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

It is an evergreen 3m-5mm (10feet-16feetm) high tree. Its leathery, elliptic leaves are 5cm-12cmcm (02inches-05inchescm) long and 3cm-6cmcm (01inches-02inchescm) wide. Its flowers are whitish rose to purple with 5 petals measuring up to 7mm. Its fruit is a drupe, 1cmto1.5cmcm (00inchesto00.6inchescm) long.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found on Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island and Desertas Islands. It is the dominant species in low coastal forests along the northern shore of Madeira from 0mto80mm (00feetto260feetm) elevation, and in pockets on the southern side of the island between 200 and 300 meters elevation. It is commonly found with the shrubs Maytenus umbellata and Globularia salicina.^[2]

Systematics

The former subspecies marginata from Cape Verde is now considered a separate species: Sideroxylon marginatum. Plants from the Canary Islands are now considered Sideroxylon canariense.

Further reading

• Árvores e Florestas de Portugal - Açores e Madeira ("Trees and Flowers of Portugal: the Azores and Madeira"), Edic. Público, Comunicações, SA. Dep. law no. 254481/2007
• Press, J.R., Short, M.J., 1994. "Flora of Madeira". HMSO. London

Notes and References

1. The genus Sideroxylon (Sapotaceae) on the Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde archipelagoes. Lobin, W. . Leyens, T. . Santos, A. . Costa Neves, H. . Gomes, I. . Vieraea. 33. 2005. 119–144. 10.31939/vieraea.2005.33.11 . 127488358 .
2. Capelo, Jorge, Miguel Sequeira, Roberto Jardim, Sandra Mesquita, and José Carlos Costa (2005). "The vegetation of Madeira Island (Portugal). A brief overview and excursion guide". Quercetea 7: 95-122, 2005 ALFA, Lisboa, Portugal.