Grey matplant (Tiquilia nesiotica)

Grey matplant growing in volcanic habitat
Grey matplant growing in volcanic habitat

Grey matplant fact file

Grey matplant description

KingdomPlantae
PhylumTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderLamiales
FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusTiquilia (1)

Growing in sparsely distributed clumps, Tiquilia nesiotica is one of the few plants that can tolerate the arid, ash-covered volcano slopes of the Galapagos (2). This species is a low-growing, small shrub, which spreads itself along the ground, forming a mat-like structure. Tiny, light-coloured hairs found on the stems and leaves reflect sunlight, giving this species a grey, rather than green, appearance (3). The base of Tiquilia nesiotica is woody (4), and clusters of small leaves grow from the ends and joints of the twigs, with tiny white flowers hidden amongst them (2).

Top

Grey matplant biology

In order to survive in its harsh environment, Tiquilia nesiotica has evolved various strategies. Competition for water forces the individual plants to grow widely spaced apart, spreading their roots horizontally beneath the surface to maximise the uptake of any available moisture. Like many plants in arid regions, the small leaves and grey appearance of Tiquilia nesiotica are adaptations to reduce the amount of heat the plant receives, preventing damage to its photosynthetic tissue and reducing moisture loss (3). As one of the few plants able to colonise the barren volcanic slopes of the Galapagos, Tiquilia nesiotica plays an important ecological role, as its roots stabilise the loose, ashy soil (5), its flowers provide food for lava lizards, and its pollen and nectar are a source of nutrition for insects (2).

Top

Grey matplant range

Endemic to the Galapagos Islands (1), Tiquilia nesiotica is particularly abundant on the island of Bartolomé (3).

Top

Grey matplant habitat

Tiquilia nesiotica occupies the arid zone of the Galapagos, an inland area that stays extremely dry for most of the year, where it mainly grows on the ash-covered slopes of volcanoes (2).

Top

Grey matplant status

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

IUCN Red List species status – Vulnerable

Top

Grey matplant threats

With its restricted range, and populations clustered around the slopes of a small number of volcanoes, it is possible that, in the future, the effects of human activities or unforeseeable natural events could rapidly cause Tiquilia nesiotica to become Critically Endangered or even Extinct (1). One obvious human-induced threat to this species is people climbing the scenic volcanoes that it grows upon, causing disturbance to the loose substrate and thereby destroying the plants (6).

Top

Grey matplant conservation

The Galapagos National Institute (INGALA) employs a number of measures to reduce the impact of tourists on the Galapagos’ environment. Regulations for tourist conduct are well enforced and trails and walkways are provided to prevent degradation and destruction of the local wildlife (7). Nevertheless, threats to the Galapagos such as introduced species and increased demand for resources are ongoing, and continuous conservation action is required in order to preserve the islands’ unique environment (8).

Top

Find out more

To learn more about conservation in the Galapagos visit:

Top

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.ukTop

Glossary

Endemic
A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
Photosynthetic
Plant tissue capable of photosynthesis, a metabolic process in which carbon dioxide is broken down, using energy from sunlight absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll. Organic compounds are made and oxygen is given off as a by-product.
Top

References

  1. IUCN Red List (April, 2008)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org
  2. Jackson, M.H. (2001) Galapagos: A Natural History. University of Calgary Press, Calgary.
  3. Williams, E.H. (2005) The Nature Handbook: A Guide to Observing the Great Outdoors. Oxford University Press US, New York.
  4. Horwell, D. and Oxford, P. (1999) Galapagos Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide. Bradt Travel Guides, Chalfont St. Peter.
  5. Stephenson, M. (2000) The Galapagos Islands: The Essential Handbook for Exploring, Enjoying & Understanding Darwin's Enchanted Islands. The Mountaineers Books, Washington.
  6. Kricher, J.C. (2006) Galapagos: A Natural History. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.
  7. The Galapagos National Institute (October, 2008)
    http://www.ingala.gov.ec/galapagosislands
  8. The Galapagos Conservation Trust (October, 2008)
    http://www.gct.org

More »Related species

Myosotis (Myosotis rehsteineri)Cordia (Cordia mukuensis)Anchusa (Anchusa aegyptiaca)Echium (Echium pininana)Buglosse crépue (Anchusa crispa)White-haired tournefortia (Tournefortia pubescens)Lobostemon (Lobostemon lucidus)Anchusa (Anchusa cespitosa)

Please donate to ARKive today

Help us share the wonders of the natural world. Donate today!

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the latest wild news direct to your inbox.

Get involved

ARKive relies on its media donors to donate photos and videos. Can you help? There are plenty of other ways you can get involved too!

X
Close

Image credit

Grey matplant growing in volcanic habitat  
Grey matplant growing in volcanic habitat

© Martin Withers / www.flpa-images.co.uk

FLPA - images of nature
Pages Green House
Wetheringsett
Stowmarket
Suffolk IP14 5QA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1728 861 113
Fax: +44 (0) 1728 860 222
pictures@flpa-images.co.uk
http://www.flpa-images.co.uk

X
Close

Link to this photo

ARKive species - Grey matplant (Tiquilia nesiotica) Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.

Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. It may NOT be used within Apps.

Read more about

X
Close

MyARKive

MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.

X
Close

Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials

Copyright in this website and materials contained on this website (Material) belongs to Wildscreen or its licensors.

Visitors to this website (End Users) are entitled to:

  • view the contents of, and Material on, the website;
  • download and retain copies of the Material on their personal systems in digital form in low resolution for their own personal use;
  • teachers, lecturers and students may incorporate the Material in their educational material (including, but not limited to, their lesson plans, presentations, worksheets and projects) in hard copy and digital format for use within a registered educational establishment, provided that the integrity of the Material is maintained and that copyright ownership and authorship is appropriately acknowledged by the End User.

End Users shall not copy or otherwise extract, alter or manipulate Material other than as permitted in these Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials.

Additional use of flagged material

Green flagged material 

Certain Material on this website (Licence 4 Material) displays a green flag next to the Material and is available for not-for-profit conservation or educational use. This material may be used by End Users, who are individuals or organisations that are in our opinion not-for-profit, for their not-for-profit conservation or not-for-profit educational purposes. Low resolution, watermarked images may be copied from this website by such End Users for such purposes. If you require high resolution or non-watermarked versions of the Material, please contact Wildscreen with details of your proposed use.

Creative commons material

Certain Material on this website has been licensed to Wildscreen under a Creative Commons Licence. These images are clearly marked with the Creative Commons buttons and may be used by End Users only in the way allowed by the specific Creative Commons Licence under which they have been submitted. Please see http://creativecommons.org for details.

Any other use

Please contact the copyright owners directly (copyright and contact details are shown for each media item) to negotiate terms and conditions for any use of Material other than those expressly permitted above. Please note that many of the contributors to ARKive are commercial operators and may request a fee for such use.

Save as permitted above, no person or organisation is permitted to incorporate any copyright material from this website into any other work or publication in any format (this includes but is not limited to: websites, Apps, CDs, DVDs, intranets, extranets, signage, digital communications or on printed materials for external or other distribution). Use of the Material for promotional, administrative or for-profit purposes is not permitted.