| Melhania melanoxylon | |
|---|---|
_p323_-_PLATE_29_-_Melhania_Melanoxylon.jpg) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Melhania |
| Species: | †M. melanoxylon |
| Binomial name | |
| †Melhania melanoxylon | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Melhania melanoxylon, the dwarf ebony or St Helena ebony, of the island of Saint Helena is related to Melhania ebenus but is now extinct. It differed from M. ebenus by having much smaller flowers, sepals hairless on their interior surfaces and leaves densely hairy on both surfaces (M. ebenus is densely hairy only on the lower surfaces of the leaves).
It was last seen when it was collected by Banks and Solander in 1771 on Cook's first voyage. It may once have covered many of the driest slopes of Saint Helena, but appears to have been one of the first casualties of the introduction of the domestic goat by the Portuguese sailors soon after the discovery of Saint Helena in 1502.
The species was first formally described by John Sims in 1807. In 1812 Robert Brown placed the species in genus Melhania as M. melanoxylon.[2]
See also
References
- Lambdon, P.W.; Ellick, S. (2016). "Trochetiopsis melanoxylon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T30561A67372085. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T30561A67372085.en. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- "Melhania melanoxylon (Sol. ex Sims) R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- Cronk, Q.C.B. (1995) The endemic Flora of St Helena. Anthony Nelson Ltd, Oswestry.