Global InformationAsimina tetramera information
| Asimina tetramera | |
|---|---|
| |
Conservation status
| |
 Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
 Endangered (ESA)[2] | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Annonaceae |
| Genus: | Asimina |
| Species: | A. tetramera
|
| Binomial name | |
| Asimina tetramera Small
| |
Asimina tetramera, commonly known as the four-petal pawpaw, is a rare species of small tree or perennial shrub endemic to Martin and Palm Beach Counties in the state of Florida.[3] The species is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and as endangered by the International Union for Conservation. The four-petal pawpaw is part of the family Annonaceae alongside other Asimina species.
A. tetramera grows to between 1 and 3 meters tall with one or more branches.[3] Mature flowers are maroon with some pink streaks and the fruit is yellow-green.[3] It usually has six petals and four sepals.[3]
It lives exclusively in sand pine scrub habitat on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge.[4] A. tetramera is pollinated primarily by beetles which feed on tissue on the surface of its stamens and on the inner surface of its petals.[5]
A. tetramera is a fire adapted species.[4] The shrub grows best without the presence of a taller plant canopy shading it.[6] A wildfire may remove these plant canopies to allow for the four-petal pawpaw to flourish.[4] With the return of a shading canopy, the plant growth slows.[4] The removal of the above-ground parts of the plant allows it to grow after a disturbance such as wildfire.
The small range of A. tetramera has been threatened by habitat loss and fire suppression for decades.[2] Human development and disruptive activities has removed suitable land where the species can live.[2] Also, the prevention of wildfires in Florida has limited its ability to grow and reproduce.[2] Work is being done to protect and restore the four-petal pawpaw and its habitat.[4] By protecting existing populations, performing controlled burns, and planting new A. tetramera within its native range, conservationists hope to prevent this rare shrub from going extinct.
- ^ Treher, A. (2022). "Asimina tetramera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T30379A152335178. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T30379A152335178.en. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Endangered and Threatened Status for Three Florida Shrubs" (PDF). Federal Register. 50: 45634–45638. 1985-11-01 – via govinfo.gov.
- ^ a b c d "Asimina tetramera". Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.
- ^ a b c d e U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service South Florida Field Office (1999-05-18). "Multi-Species Recovery Plan: Asimina tetramera" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Florida Ecological Services Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-20.
- ^ Cox, Anne Cheney (1998-11-05). "Comparative reproductive biology of two Florida pawpaws asimina reticulata chapman and asimina tetramera small". Florida International University Digital Commons. doi:10.25148/etd.fi14061532.
- ^ Roberts, Richard E (2000). "SAND PINE SCRUB VEGETATION RESPONSE TO TWO BURNING AND TWO NON-BURNING TREATMENTS" (PDF).