Goetzea elegans

Goetzea elegans
Goetzea elegans
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Goetzea
Species: G. elegans
Binomial name
Goetzea elegans
Wydler

Goetzea elegans (also called Beautiful Goetzea, Mata Buey, or Matabuey) is a species of plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family of flowering plants. It is endemic to Puerto Rico. Today it is limited to the northwestern corner of the island because of deforestation and other consumption of its habitat for human use.[1] It is federally listed as an endangered species in the United States.

This is a shrub or a tree which can reach 9 meters in height. The leaves are shiny dark green and oval in shape. It bears yellow-orange, funnel-shaped flowers. The fruit is a yellow-orange berry up to 2.5 centimeters long. It may be poisonous.[1]

Goetzea elegans fruit.


References

  1. ^ a b USFWS. Beautiful Goetzea Recovery Plan. April 28, 1987.

External links

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