Erodium Paularense

erodium paularense

Erodium paularense, commonly known as the heron's bill of El Paular, is an extremely rare and critically endangered perennial plant endemic to a few highly specific locations in central Spain. Belonging to the Geraniaceae family, this resilient little plant is famous for its striking pinkish-white flowers decorated with intricate, dark purple veining on the upper petals. First discovered in the Alto Valle del Lozoya near the El Paular monastery, it is a biological treasure specialized in surviving the harsh, dry conditions of gypsum and limestone outcrops. Despite its delicate appearance, this plant has adapted to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations and poor soil quality, securing its niche where few other plants can compete.

生息地: Found growing exclusively on sunny, rocky limestone and gypsum-rich cliffs and outcrops in the semi-arid Mediterranean environments of central Spain.

外見

This low-growing, cushion-forming perennial subshrub typically reaches a height of 5 to 15 centimeters. It features a woody base with greyish-green, deeply lobed leaves covered in soft, velvety hairs that help retain moisture. Its most identifying feature is the umbel-like cluster of flowers, which have five asymmetric petals. The two upper petals are smaller, bearing a prominent dark purple or black spot near the base with dark branching veins, while the three lower petals are slightly larger, unspotted, and pale pink to white.

界Plantae門Tracheophyta綱Magnoliopsida目Geraniales科Geraniaceae属Erodium

Erodium Paularense

カテゴリ

植物

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

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おもしろい事実

It is a true gypsophile, meaning it has evolved to thrive in soils with high concentrations of calcium and gypsum that would kill most other plant species.

It is named 'paularense' after the Santa María de El Paular monastery in Madrid, near where the species was first discovered and described.

The plant's seeds act like miniature drills; when they touch damp soil, changes in humidity cause the tail-like awn to twist and push the seed deep into the earth.

特殊能力

The plant is specially adapted to thrive in nutrient-poor, calcium-sulfate-rich gypsum soils that are toxic to most other plant species.

Its seeds feature a long, spirally twisted awn that coils and uncoils with changes in humidity, physically drilling the seed into the ground to ensure successful germination.

Its leaves are covered in dense, fine hairs that trap moisture, reduce wind desiccation, and reflect intense solar radiation.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 5-15 cm
寿命: 5-15 年
一度の産卵数: 5+
抱卵期間: 14-30 日

食性と食事

As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own energy using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water, supplemented by minerals absorbed from gypsum and limestone soils.

主な食物

Sunlight
Carbon dioxide
Water
Soil minerals

生態系とのつながり

mutualism

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Provides nectar and pollen to bees, which assist in cross-pollinating the flowers.

eaten by

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Rabbits feed on the foliage and stems, posing a grazing threat to localized populations.

competitor

Gypsum Baby's Breath

Gypsophila struthium

Co-occurs in the specialized gypsophilous scrublands, competing for limited soil nutrients.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

Erodium glandulosum

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Erodium Paularenseを見分けるには？

Erodium Paularenseを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Erodium Paularenseの長さは何ですか？

5-15 cm

Erodium Paularenseの寿命は何ですか？

5-15 年

Erodium Paularenseは何を食べますか？

As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own energy using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water, supplemented by minerals absorbed from gypsum and limestone soils.

Erodium Paularenseは通常どこに生息していますか？

Found growing exclusively on sunny, rocky limestone and gypsum-rich cliffs and outcrops in the semi-arid Mediterranean environments of central Spain.

Erodium Paularenseの一度の産卵数は何ですか？

Erodium Paularenseの抱卵期間は何ですか？

14-30 日