krooniosa

Krooniosa is a monotypic genus of flowering plants that was first described by the Swedish botanist O. Arvidson in 1931. The genus is placed within the family Ericaceae, order Ericales, and is distinguished from related genera by its unique combination of nodose stems, cupulate calyx lobes, and a stellate pollen morphology. The single species, Krooniosa coronata, is endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago where it grows in humid volcanic soils on the upper slopes of the islands of Fogo and Santiago.

The lectotype specimen of Krooniosa coronata was collected by Arvidson during his 1930 expedition to Cape Verde and deposited in the Rijksherbarium in Leiden. Morphologically, the plant is a low‐growing shrub up to 0.6 m tall, bearing flat, alternate leaves with serrate margins. Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical, modestly sized, and exhibit a bright crimson corolla, making the species locally known among botanists as the “crown‐blossom” due to its bloom's resemblance to a crown shape.

Ecologically, Krooniosa coronata occupies a narrow niche in the moist microhabitats of volcanic ridges. It is pollinated by native bees of the genus Melipona, and its fruit is a small drupe that is dispersed by birds such as the Cape Verde stonechat. The species has not been assessed by the IUCN, but its restricted range and habitat specificity raise concerns about vulnerability to habitat disturbance and climate change.

Taxonomic references have cited Krooniosa as a valid genus, but subsequent molecular studies of Ericaceae have suggested it may represent a synonym of the genus Erica. The taxonomic status remains under review, with ongoing field and genetic work expected to clarify its placement within the family.