Paraia
| Paraia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Paraia H.G.Richt. & van der Werff |
| Species | |
| |
Paraia is a genus of plant in family Lauraceae. It is a neotropical genus consisting of 1 species occurring from the southeast of Brazil.[1]
Overview
The genus was described by HGRicht. & Van der Werff published in Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 78 (2): 392-396 in 1991. Paraia is a neotropical botanical genus with 1 species hardwood evergreen tree of 8 m tall, sometimes 20 m. belonging to the family Lauraceae. It occurs in an extensive area in the Brazilian states of Pará and Amazonas. The genus is characterized by an extremely rare combination of characters that have taken place the species in its own distinct genus. There is little information regarding the species due to its scarcity and the remoteness of their populations.[2] It is extended in the drainage area of the Amazon to the Atlantic rainforest of southern Brazil in Trombetas river. The fruit, a berry, are an important food source for birds, usually this birds are from specialized genera: Cotingidae, Columbidae, Rhamphastidae, Trogonidae, Turdidae, etc. Birds eat the whole fruit and regurgitate seeds intact, expanding the seeds in the best conditions for germination (ornitochory).
References
- ↑ "Tropicos.org". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ↑ Jens G. Rohwer, Hans Georg Richter and Henk van der Werff Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 78, No. 2 (1991), pp. 388-400 preview