Schreiteria (Schreiteria macrocarpa)
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Schreiteria macrocarpa: Botanical Description and Habitat
High-altitude environments of northwestern Argentina serve as the exclusive home for Schreiteria macrocarpa, a rare and localized perennial herb. This species remains the sole representative of its monotypic genus within the Montiaceae family. Its survival is closely linked to the unique microclimates of the Tucumán province.
Taxonomy
- ∟ царство Plantae
- ∟ division Tracheophytes
- ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
- ∟ Angiosperms
- ∟ eudicots
- ∟ Superasterids
- ∟ order Caryophyllales
- ∟ family Montiaceae
- ∟ species Schreiteria macrocarpa (Schreiteria)
Morphology
Schreiteria macrocarpa displays several distinctive physical features adapted to its mountainous habitat:
- Roots: The plant develops a branched root system characterized by tuberous swellings that reach up to 1 centimeter in diameter.
- Foliage: Succulent, linear, and obtuse leaves grow up to 3 centimeters long, arranged alternately along slender stems that become woody at the base.
- Reproductive Organs: Terminal cymes bear flowers with five dark to pale red petals and numerous stamens, leading to elongated, three-valved seed capsules up to 4 centimeters in length.
Interesting facts
Several historical and scientific details highlight the uniqueness of Schreiteria macrocarpa:
- Taxonomic History: Carlos Luis Spegazzini first described the species in 1899 as Calandrinia macrocarpa before Roger Charles Carolin established the genus Schreiteria in 1985.
- Etymology: The genus name honors Carlos Rodolfo Schreiter, a German-Argentine botanist, while the specific epithet translates from Greek as 'large-fruited'.
Geography of distribution
- Argentina
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- World Flora Online (WFO).
- International Plant Names Index (IPNI).