View source for Azorina

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Azorina vidalii0.jpg
|status = EN
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref = <ref name=iucn/>
|display_parents = 2
|genus = Azorina
|parent_authority = [[Heinrich Feer|Feer]]
|species = vidalii
|authority = ([[Hewett Watson|H.C.Watson]]) Feer
}}
'''''Azorina''''' is a [[monotypic taxon|monotypic genus]] of flowering plants within the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Campanulaceae]], whose sole species, '''''Azorina vidalii''''', the '''Azores bellflower''', is [[endemism|endemic]] to the [[Azores]].<ref>{{GRIN | accessdate = 21 January 2018}}</ref> Its fragmented population is made up of fewer than 1000 mature plants limited to the coastlines of several of the islands. It is also the only species in this family native to the Azores.<ref name="vidalia" />
==Description==
[[File:Azoriana vidalii (Leafs).jpg|thumb|left|Leaves]]
''Azorina'' is a small perennial shrub about {{convert|30|cm|abbr=on}} tall,<ref name="pfaf" /> but can reach heights of up to {{convert|2|m|abbr=on}}. It has glabrous branches. Leaves are {{convert|3|-|9|cm|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3|-|9|mm|abbr=on}} wide, glabrous and dark green or reddish-green. The flowers are white or pinkish-pale, up to {{convert|3|cm|abbr=on}}, and bell-shaped. It forms a [[Capsule (fruit)|capsule]] with numerous seeds.<ref name="vidalia">{{cite web |title=Azorina vidalii |url=https://www.lifevidalia.eu/especies-problemas/azorina-vidalii/ |publisher=Life Vidalia |access-date=29 March 2021 |language=pt-pt}}</ref>
==Ecology==
''Azorina vidalii'' is found in all nine islands of the [[Azores]]. It grows in association with other species tolerant to the [[sea breeze]], mainly in the crevices of the coastal cliffs, but also in steep slopes with sandy deposits, always in heavily exposed habitats. It also appears in replacement habitats such as roofs and walls. It is planted as an ornamental in some of the native islands and other parts of the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Azorina vidalii (H. C. Watson) Feer (CAMPANULACEAE) - Vidália |url=http://siaram.azores.gov.pt/flora/flora-vascular/vidalia/1.html |website=siaram.azores.gov.pt |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref> Its leaves are edible and can be eaten raw.<ref name="pfaf">{{cite web |title=Azorina vidalii PFAF Plant Database |url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Azorina+vidalii |website=pfaf.org |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Fajã das Almas, Azorina vidalii, Manadas, Velas, Ilha de São Jorge, Açores.JPG|thumb|left|A cluster of ''Vidalii'' on the coast of [[Manadas]] on the island of [[São Jorge Island|São Jorge]]]]
It was first harvested by Watson, along the coast of [[Santa Cruz das Flores|Santa Cruz]] on the [[Azores|Azorean]] island of [[Flores Island (Azores)|Flores]], during his botanical expedition in 1843.<ref name="Coelho17">Rúben Coelho (2014), p.17</ref><ref>Watson (1844)</ref> It was initially designated ''Campanula vidalii'' by Watson and published in 1844.<ref name=Coelho17/>
Its ecology has been presented in an inconsistent manner; it has been referred to as adapting to cracks in the sea cliffs, or to deposits, and in abrupt and sandy slopes.<ref name=Coelho17/><ref>Sjögren (1984)</ref>
''Azorina vidalii'' was protected by the Bern Convention in 1992 (Annex I) and by the Habitats Directive 140/99 (Diário da República, Anexo 2B), where it was considered a priority species in critical risk; it is an [[endangered species]] due to [[habitat destruction|habitat degradation]] by [[invasive species]], [[pollution]], and development.<ref name=Coelho17/><ref>M. Bliz (2011)</ref>
It diverged from its ancestral descendants around 8.3±1.7 million years ago, associated with its first island of colonization, [[Santa Maria Island (Azores)|Santa Maria]] (Olesen et al., 2012), which formed 8-10 million years ago (Serralheiro & Madeira, 1993).<ref name=Coelho17/> Carine et al. (2004) and Fernández-Palacios et al. (2011) also refer to the existence of submarine mounts, formerly immersed, that functioned as stepping-stones from the continent.<ref name=Coelho17/> At the same time, ''Azorina vidalii'' is not vulnerable to the rise in temperature and prefers the zones along the coast to propagate.<ref name=Coelho17/>
==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=iucn>{{citation |first=M. |last=Bilz |url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/161816/0 |contribution=Azorina vidalii |title=IUCN |year=2011 |publisher=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref>
}}
===Sources===
* {{citation |title=Plano de Gestão e Conservação de Azorina vidalii (Wats.) Feer |date=1 October 2014 |first=Rúben |last=Coelho |publisher=University of the Azores |location=Angra do Heroísmo |language=Portuguese}}
{{Commons category|Azorina}}
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q13054166|from2=Q794040}}
[[Category:Campanuloideae]]
[[Category:Monotypic Campanulaceae genera]]
[[Category:Endemic flora of the Azores]]
[[Category:Habitats Directive species]]