Deeringothamnus pulchellus
| Deeringothamnus pulchellus | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Annonaceae |
| Genus: | Deeringothamnus |
| Species: | D. pulchellus |
| Binomial name | |
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Deeringothamnus pulchellus Small |
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Deeringothamnus pulchellus is a rare species of flowering plant in the custard apple family known by the common names beautiful pawpaw, royal false pawpaw, and white squirrel banana. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where there are perhaps 5000 plants remaining in severely fragmented habitat in three counties. The main threat to this species is habitat destruction and degradation. It was federally listed as an endangered species in 1986.
The beautiful pawpaw is one of two species in the genus Deeringothamnus. One author suggested it be included within the other species, Deeringothamnus rugelii, as a variety, which would make it a monotypic genus. This suggestion was not accepted and the beautiful pawpaw is still described at species level. It can be differentiated from D. rugelii by its narrower, more curved petals.
This species is a small shrub growing not more than half a meter tall from a taproot. The leathery leaf blades are somewhat oval, oblong, or spatula-shaped, measuring 4 to 7 centimeters in length. The inflorescence is a solitary flower nodding or held upright on a short peduncle. The sweet-scented flowers have varying numbers of fleshy white or pink-tinged petals that measure 2 or 3 centimeters long. The sweet fragrance of the flowers in this species is caused by benzenoid compounds including veratrole, and the alcohol linalool. The flowers are pollinated by a number of insects, including the beetle Mordella atrata and the thrips species Frankliniella bispinosa and Thrips hawaiiensis. The fruit is a large yellow-green berry that may be up to 7 centimeters long. One flower may yield several fruits. The berry contains a few seeds each about a centimeter long or slightly larger. This plant sometimes hybridizes with its relative, Asimina reticulata.
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