Jubaeopsis afra,[2] the Pondoland palm, is a flowering plant species in the palm family (Arecaceae). It belongs to the monotypic genus Jubaeopsis.[3]

Jubaeopsis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Tribe: Cocoseae
Genus: Jubaeopsis
Becc.
Species:
J. afra
Binomial name
Jubaeopsis afra
Becc.
Synonyms[citation needed]
  • Jubaeopsis caffra

It is endemic to South Africa, where it is threatened due to habitat loss.[1] This tree is a living fossil, being the last remaining lineage of the palm trees that were widespread in southern Africa in prehistoric times.[4] A large living specimen is currently found at the Catamaran Resort in San Diego, CA.[5][better source needed]

Taxonomy

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The etymology of the original species name caffra is related to kaffir, an ethnic slur used towards black people in Africa. At the July 2024 International Botanical Congress, a vote was held with the result that "caffra" related names will be emended to afra related ones, with the implementation of this being done at the end of July 2024.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hilton-Taylor, C. et al. (1998). "Jubaeopsis caffra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T30400A9543726. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30400A9543726.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ Callaway, Ewen (2024). "Hundreds of racist plant names will change after historic vote by botanists". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-024-02365-x. PMID 39026072. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  3. ^ J. Dransfield; N. W. Uhl (1998). "Palmae". In Klaus Kubitzki (ed.). Flowering plants, Monocotyledons: Alismatanae and Commelinanae (except Gramineae). The families and genera of vascular plants. Vol. 4. Springer. p. 379. ISBN 978-3-540-64061-5.
  4. ^ A. E. Marvaldi; R. G. Oberprieler; C. H. C. Lyal; T. Bradbury; R. S. Anderson (2006). "Phylogeny of the Oxycoryninae sensu lato (Coleoptera: Belidae) and evolution of host-plant associations". Invertebrate Systematics. 20 (4): 447–476. doi:10.1071/IS05059.
  5. ^ visual reference
  6. ^ McKie, Robin (20 July 2024). "Botanists vote to remove racist reference from plants' scientific names". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 21 July 2024.