St. Helena Olive

Taxobox
name = St Helena olive
status = EX
status_system = iucn2.3
extinct = 2003
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rhamnaceae
genus = "Nesiota"
species = "N. elliptica"
binomial = "Nesiota elliptica"
binomial_authority = (Roxb.) Hook.f.

The St. Helena Olive ("Nesiota elliptica") is a recently extinct plant from the monotypic genus of flowering plants Nesiota within the family Rhamnaceae.

It was an island endemic native to St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Although called the St Helena olive it is unrelated to the true olive ("Olea europaea"). The last remaining tree in the wild died in 1994, and the last remaining individual in cultivation died in December 2003, despite conservation efforts. It is thus a prime example of recent species and genus extinction (see also the List of extinct plants).

ee also

Flora of St Helena

External links

* [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/plants_and_algae/Nesiota_elliptica/more_info.html "ARKive" article: "St. Helena Olive"]

References

* Cronk, Q.C.B. (1995) The endemic Flora of St Helena. Anthony Nelson Ltd, Oswestry.
* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/37598/all IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]