Английская Википедия:Benstonea monticola
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use Australian English Шаблон:Use dmy dates
Benstonea monticola, commonly known as scrub breadfruit or urchin-fruited pandan, is a plant in the family Pandanaceae which is endemic to rainforested parts of north east Queensland, Australia.
Description
The scrub breadfruit is an evergreen shrub or small tree usually growing to between Шаблон:Cvt high,Шаблон:R and rarely to Шаблон:Cvt.Шаблон:R It produces multiple stems which are weak and become decumbent with age, i.e. they lean to one side and eventually lie on the ground with just the growing tip erect.Шаблон:R The stems measure around Шаблон:Cvt in diameter, and prop roots (found in many species of Pandanaceae) are absent.Шаблон:R
The leaves are tightly clustered on the growing tip of the stem and are arranged spirally. They are very long and narrow, measuring up to Шаблон:Cvt long by Шаблон:Cvt wide,Шаблон:R and are ascendant to arching.Шаблон:R They are dark green above and a lighter green below, and are pleated such that they have an M-shaped cross-section.Шаблон:R Small spines are present on the leaf margins (edges) and the underside of the midrib.Шаблон:R
This species is dioecious, meaning that functionally female and functionally male flowers are borne on separate plants.Шаблон:R The inflorescence is a terminal spike, enclosed by large creamy-white bracts.Шаблон:R
The fruit is a multiple fruit, in other words it is a single body consisting of the merged maturing ovaries of a cluster of flowers (cf. aggregate fruit). It is orange-red to bright red, roughly spherical to slightly egg-shaped, and measures up to Шаблон:CvtШаблон:R Each fruit contains over 300 segments around Шаблон:Cvt long by Шаблон:Cvt wide, each tipped by a persistent style.Шаблон:R
Taxonomy
Benstonea monticola was first described as Pandanus monticola by the German-born botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, and published three times in his massive work Fragmenta phytographiæ Australiæ.Шаблон:R In 2012 the new genus Benstonia was erected by Martin Callmander and Sven Buerki and 50 species (including this one) were transferred to it from Pandanus.Шаблон:R
Etymology
The species epithet monticola is derived from the Latin words mons (mountain) and -cola (inhabitor), meaning "mountain dweller".
The common name "scrub breadfruit" is a reference to the superficial similarity of the fruit to the more well-known breadfruit.
Distribution and habitat
The scrub breadfruit naturally occurs from the area of Cedar Bay (now part of Ngalba Bulal National Park), southward along the coast as far as Hinchinbrook Island, and inland to the Atherton Tablelands. It favours rainforest habitats and is found from sea level to around Шаблон:Cvt.Шаблон:R
Ecology
Benstonea monticola, along with Pandanus tectorius and Pandanus solms-laubachii, is a host plant for the peppermint stick insect (Megacrania batesii), which shelters in the central hollow of the leaves and feeds on them.Шаблон:R The fruits are eaten by cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius) and giant white-tailed rats (Uromys caudimaculatus).Шаблон:R
Conservation
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.Шаблон:R Шаблон:As of, it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Gallery
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Plant with unripe fruit
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Leaf, showing marginal spines
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Inflorescence
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Decumbent stem with ascending tip
References
External links
- Шаблон:Wikispecies-inline
- Шаблон:Commons category-inline
- View a map of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver
