What is the Attraylis preauxiana?
La Attraylis preauxiana, popularly known as sea pineapple o piñamar, is a small subshrub shrub of the family composites (Asteraceae), endemic to the Canary Islands. It is one of the most emblematic plant species of the Canary Islands. Gran Canaria y Tenerife, where it is only found distributed in a few scarce subpopulations along certain coastal areas, mainly in cliff environments, stony terrain and halophilic formations near the sea.
From a taxonomic point of view, its scientific name Atractylis preauxiana Sch. Beep. It refers to both its genus and its discoverer, and was officially described using material collected from the coast of Gran Canaria.
Botanical description of the sea pineapple
La Attraylis preauxiana It exhibits an appearance that distinguishes it from other species of the Canary Islands coast. It appears as a low, woody, compact shrub, which usually forms low cushions up to 25 centimeters in diameter, with some of its branches partially buried in the sand or between stones. This system protects it from the direct action of wind and tidal waves.
Its leaves Oblanceolate, with a subcoriaceous or subfleshy texture, they display a grayish-green color with a fine tomentose surface, which contributes to their adaptation to the saline environment. They have delicately serrated margins, achieving subsagittate shapes in some specimens. The leaves vary in length up to 2 centimeters and their width reaches 4 to 5 millimeters.
La flowering It is produced in terminal, capitulum-like inflorescences, with white flowers that may later turn a soft pink. The capitulums are scaly, and the petals are slightly incised. It is an evergreen species, or one with leaves that persist for much of the year.
Distribution and habitat
La sea pineapple is a strict endemism from the islands of Tenerife y Gran Canaria, which means that does not exist anywhere else on the planetIt is found mainly along the eastern coast of both islands, although its populations are very scarce and fragmented.
- En Gran Canaria, the main concentration is located in the area of arinaga (municipality of Agüimes), accompanied by other smaller subpopulations in areas such as Taliarte and Tufia, both in the municipality of Telde.
- En Tenerife, the species is distributed in very limited enclaves in the south and southeast of the island, such as Montaña Roja, Punta de Abona, Playa del Vidrio, Montaña Amarilla and other small coastal areas.
Their favorite habitat is the coastal halophilous scrublands, in basal layers or halophytic belts, where it grows on cliffs, undisturbed rocky terrain, and areas very close to the sea, generally up to 25-30 meters above sea level. In Gran Canaria, it favors calcareous and sandy substrates, while in Tenerife it grows on pumice or basaltic soils.
Conservation status and current threats
La Attraylis preauxiana is included in the National Catalog of Endangered Species and in the Catalogue of Endangered Species of the Canary Islands with the category of "in danger of extinction"Its situation is critical due to the small number of its subpopulations and the continued degradation of its coastal habitat.
Among the main threats include:
- Urban expansion and industrial developments in coastal areas, causing direct habitat destruction.
- Aggregate extraction and accumulation of debris, which covers and eliminates the plants.
- Human and vehicle traffic unauthorized, which often destroy the areas where populations grow.
- Grazing goats and rabbits, which exert additional pressure by feeding on young specimens.
- Other recreational uses of the coast, such as tourist trails and sporting activities that alter the territory.
- Pollution from discharges and urban solid waste.
These factors have led to the drastic reduction in populations of sea pineapple, especially in Tenerife, where several populations have disappeared or remain with very small numbers. In Gran Canaria, although the situation is somewhat better, the species remains under considerable pressure, particularly as a result of port projects and urban developments.
Species recovery and conservation plans
El Canary Islands Government has launched various recovery plans and specific programs to ensure the long-term survival of Atractylis preauxiana. These strategies include:
- Fencing and physical protection of some nuclei to avoid damage caused by rabbits and the transit of people or vehicles (for example, in areas of Tenerife and Gran Canaria).
- Reforestation and restoration of degraded habitats, such as in Taliarte (Melenara-Telde) and Abades (Arico).
- Reduction of vehicle traffic in critical enclaves such as Punta de la Sal and Tufia.
- Nursery cultivation and reintroduction of specimens in areas such as Montaña Roja, Punta de Agache and Montaña Amarilla.
- Information and social awareness aimed at the local population to raise awareness about the importance of this species and the problems of its conservation.
- Institutional agreements to declare certain areas as 'free spaces' from urban development pressure and harmful activities.
Furthermore, in the Germplasm Bank of the Viera y Clavijo Canary Islands Botanical Garden they are conserved Atractylis preauxiana seeds to ensure future genetic viability and possible improvement and reintroduction projects.
Population evolution and recent censuses
Monitoring of sea pineapple populations reveals significant fluctuations, particularly associated with the protective measures implemented and the pressure of threats. For example, in the area of arinaga (Gran Canaria), there has been a significant increase in the number of specimens counted thanks to surveillance and restoration plans, going from just a few thousand to over 200.000 individuals in certain locations. However, in Tenerife The situation remains much more precarious, with highly fragmented and small subpopulations.
Experts believe that an effective recovery will be achieved When the majority of subpopulations show stable and consolidated growth trends in at least 75% of the currently occupied area, estimated at several hundred hectares across both islands. Another key objective is to strengthen and consolidate the Montaña Roja and Montaña Amarilla groups to reach at least 500 specimens combined.
Legal and regulatory protection
La Attraylis preauxiana It has national and regional protection. It is included in:
- El National Catalog of Endangered Species as an “endangered” species.
- El Catalogue of Endangered Species of the Canary Islands, with the highest level of protection.
- El Annex I of the Convention for the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.
- El Annex II of European Directive 92/43/EEC relating to the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna.
In addition, certain enclaves where sea pineapple grows have been declared Places of Community Importance (LIC) and Special Conservation Areas (SCAs) within the Natura 2000 Network, such as the case of LIC Pineapple of Granadilla Sea in Tenerife. These spaces have additional legal statuses aimed at their preservation and sustainable management.
Challenges and controversies in management
Conservation management of Attraylis preauxiana This has sparked debate, especially following the declaration of certain industrial sites as protected areas and the questioning of the species' true threat status based on recent censuses. Some organizations suggest that, in specific locations such as Granadilla, the viability of maintaining small, isolated populations does not significantly contribute to effective conservation and poses a significant economic and logistical challenge.
Other voices advocate updating the classification criteria and allocating public resources to areas with greater ecological functionality or recovery potential, without undermining the protection of all existing areas.
Ecological and cultural importance of the sea pineapple
Beyond its botanical uniqueness, the sea pineapple plays a relevant role in the dynamics of coastal ecosystems Canaries, acting as a pioneer and land-fixing species in hostile environments, contributing to the formation and maintenance of halophilous thickets along with other species such as suaeda vera, Frankenia ericifolia o Mesembryanthemum crystallinum.
The sea pineapple is also a symbol of the Canary Islands' floral richness and natural heritage conservation values. Its common name refers to the scaly arrangement of the calyx sepals, resembling a pine cone, and its presence in local botanical and cultural references has generated considerable educational and scientific interest.
Social participation and environmental education
The conservation of Atractylis preauxiana is not only the responsibility of institutions, but citizen involvement and environmental awareness are essential to preventing their disappearance. Various information campaigns, large-scale signage, volunteer projects, and activities in collaboration with city councils and environmental organizations have contributed to protecting and restoring areas critical to the species.
Highlights the role of the Endangered Species Population Monitoring Program (SEGA) in monitoring, censuses, and dissemination of results, as well as the use of botanical gardens for ex situ conservation and environmental education. Locals and visitors are encouraged to respect the designated areas and avoid any type of collection or environmental disturbance.
Curiosities, research and future expectations
La Attraylis preauxiana It has been the subject of scientific research on both its population genetics and reproductive biology, as well as its response to ecological restoration processes. Recent studies have determined that there are no significant genetic differences between subpopulations on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, thus allowing for flexible management in reintroduction and population reinforcement programs, provided the material is from the same island.
As for its future, the recovery of the sea pineapple depends not only on maintaining current measures, but also on the adaptation and continuous improvement of conservation strategies, the alignment between public administrations and society, and a increased funding aimed at the active management of habitats and the rigorous monitoring of the species, avoiding the abandonment of protection infrastructures.
