Afrocarpus mannii

Afrocarpus mannii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnosperms
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Araucariales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Afrocarpus
Species:
A. mannii
Binomial name
Afrocarpus mannii
São Tomé island, where A. mannii's only habitat is located.
Synonyms
  • Decussocarpus mannii (Hook.f.) de Laub.
  • Nageia mannii (Hook.f.) Kuntze
  • Podocarpus mannii Hook.f.

Afrocarpus mannii is a species of coniferous tree in the family Podocarpaceae, native to the Afromontane forests of São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea, growing on Pico de São Tomé at elevations of 1,300 m (4,300 ft) up to the summit at 2,024 m (6,640 ft). This is the only gymnosperm found on São Tomé and Príncipe. It was formerly classified as Podocarpus mannii.

It is a small tree, growing 10–15 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 6–8 cm long on mature trees, larger, to 15 cm long and 2 cm broad, on vigorous young trees. The seed cones are highly modified, with a single 2 cm diameter seed with a thin fleshy coating borne on a short peduncle. The pollen cones are 1.5–2.5 cm long, solitary or in pairs on a short stem.

References

  1. ↑ Stévart, T.; Gardner, M.; Faustino de Lima, R.; de Oliveira, F.; Ikabanga, D.U.; Benitez Bosco, L.; Madureira, M.C. (2024). "Afrocarpus mannii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T32770A150303492. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T32770A150303492.en.
  2. ↑ "Afrocarpus mannii (Hook.f.) C.N.Page". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  3. ↑ Figueiredo Estrela (December 1994), "Diversity and endemism of angiosperms in the Gulf of Guinea islands", Biodiversity and Conservation, 3 (9): 785–793, doi:10.1007/BF00129658, ISSN 1572-9710