Justicia tobagensis
Encyclopedia
Justicia tobagensis is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae
which is endemic to Trinidad and Tobago
. The species is only known from two areas in the Main Ridge of Tobago
. It was first described as Drejerella tobagensis by German botanist Ignatz Urban
in his Symbolae Antillanae, based on a collection made by Danish botanist Henrik von Eggers
In 1995 American botanist Dieter C. Wasshausen proposed a new combination, Justicia tobagensis, which reflected the predominant view that the genus Drejerella is actually a part of the genus Justicia.
, the authors of a recent assessment of the endemic plant species of Trinidad and Tobago considered it vulnerable
due to the fact that it is known from a restricted area or small number of localities.
Acanthaceae
The family Acanthaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species....
which is endemic to Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. The species is only known from two areas in the Main Ridge of Tobago
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
. It was first described as Drejerella tobagensis by German botanist Ignatz Urban
Ignatz Urban
Ignatz Urban was a German botanist. He is known for his contributions to the flora of the Caribbean and Brazil, and for his work as curator of the Berlin Botanical Garden. Born the son of a brewer, Urban showed an interest in botany as an undergraduate...
in his Symbolae Antillanae, based on a collection made by Danish botanist Henrik von Eggers
Henrik Franz Alexander von Eggers
Henrik [Heinrich] Franz Alexander Baron von Eggers , was a Danish professional soldier and botanist.-Life:After studies at the gymnasium in Odense he entered the Danish army as subaltern in 1864 and fought in the Danish-German war.At the end of 1864 he joined the Imperial Mexican Volunteer Corps...
In 1995 American botanist Dieter C. Wasshausen proposed a new combination, Justicia tobagensis, which reflected the predominant view that the genus Drejerella is actually a part of the genus Justicia.
Conservation status
Although Justicia tobagensis is not listed in the IUCN Red ListIUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
, the authors of a recent assessment of the endemic plant species of Trinidad and Tobago considered it vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
due to the fact that it is known from a restricted area or small number of localities.