Sideroxylon socorrense | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Sapotaceae |
Genus: | Sideroxylon |
Species: | S. socorrense
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Binomial name | |
Sideroxylon socorrense (Brandegee) T.D.Penn.
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Synonyms | |
Bumelia socorrensis |
Sideroxylon socorrense is a plant species in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Mexico, occurring only on Socorro in[2] the Revillagigedo Islands.[3]
On its island home, this small tree grows in habitat that is at least seasonally humid. This restricts it mainly to a belt of woodland between 650 and 900 m above mean sea level, except on the northern side where wetter conditions predominate.[4] It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to the adverse effects of introduced sheep grazing and the twice-yearly swarming of the locust Schistocerca piceifrons, a non-native pest that has become established on Socorro more recently.
The fruits of this plant are among the favorite foods of the nearly-extinct Socorro mockingbird (Mimus graysoni)[5] and the Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni) which presently only survives in captivity.[6] Similar as in other Sideroxylon, these birds might be crucial for the present species' reproduction.