Dwarf ebony
Trochetiopsis ebenus
Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Overview
Melhania ebenus, the dwarf ebony or Saint Helena ebony, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to the island of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a shrub or tree with staminodes that are dark maroon or "black". It is not related to the ebony of commerce, but is instead a member of the mallow family, Malvaceae.
Saint Helena ebony is now critically endangered in the wild, being reduced to two wild individuals on a cliff, but old roots are sometimes found washed out of eroding slopes. These are collected on the island and used for inlay work, an important craft on Saint Helena. A related species, Melhania melanoxylon, is now completely extinct.
Trochetiopsis ebenus faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter soil chemistry in its restricted highland habitat. Habitat degradation from introduced grazing animals and human development pressures have further reduced available growing sites. The species' extremely limited population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks that could drive it to extinction.
Habitat
This endemic tree species inhabits the cloud forests and montane scrublands of St. Helena's central ridge, typically growing on steep slopes and rocky outcrops at elevations between 400-800 meters. It requires the cool, moist conditions provided by the island's fog-dependent ecosystem.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in MALVACEAE
Threatened in St. Helena
Frequently asked questions
Why is Dwarf ebony classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Dwarf ebony live?
What are the main threats to Dwarf ebony?
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