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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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Jennifer Possley

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Crescentia portoricensis

Family:	Bignoniaceae
Common Name:	Higuero de Sierra
Author:	Britt.
Growth Habit:	Shrub
CPC Number:	1103

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Jennifer Possley

Crescentia portoricensis is Not Sponsored

Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is:

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Crescentia portoricensis

Crescentia portoricensis is an evergreen, vine-like shrub that grows along stream banks in the Commonwealth Forests of southwestern Puerto Rico. This species can reach up to 6 meters in height and produces hermaphroditic, yellowish-white bell shaped flowers that ripen into dark green fruits (Little et al. 1974, Vivaldi and Woodbury 1981).

Crescentia portoricensis was listed as endangered in 1987 (USFWS, USFWS 1988). This species will be considered for downlisting when the habitat is protected and four new populations are established (Silander 1991).

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Puerto Rico

Habitat

Crescentia portoricensis is found along stream banks on serpentine-derived soils in the subtropical moist and wet forest zones in southwestern Puerto Rico (Ewel and Whitmore 1973; USFWS 1991).

In one, semi-evergreen/deciduous forest, Crescentia portoricensis can be found with the following plant species, Coccothrynax alta (palma de abanico), Zamia portoricensis (maranguey), Rondeletia inermis, Randia aculeata (tintillo), Linociera holdridgeana (hueso prieto), Neolaugeria resinosa (aquilon), Scleria lithosperma, and Comocladia glabra (Vivaldi and Woodbury 1981, USFWS 1991).

In one montane forest, Crescentia portoricensis is associated with Tabebuia heterophylla (roble blanco), T. schumaniana (roble colorado), Homalium racemosum (caracolillo), Coccoloba swartzii (ortegon), Bumelia cubensis, Rondeletia inermis and Micropholis chrysophylloides (leche prieta) (USFWS 1991).

Distribution

Currently, Crescentia portoricensis is found in two areas of the Commonwealth Forests of southwestern Puerto Rico. (USFWS 1991)

Number Left

Seven sites have been identified in the Commonwealth Forests;
supporting about 100 individuals (USFWS 1991).

Protection

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Global Rank:	G1	3/28/1984	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	10/24/1996	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No	9/23/1991

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Ecological relationships are largely unknown.

Threats

Crescentia portoricensis is endangered as a result of intensive deforestation and land management practices that have negatively affected populations through flooding and erosion (USFWS 1991).

Current Research Summary

The Fairchild Tropical gardens has shown that a high percentage of seeds germinate but seedling recruitment in the field is still largely unknown (USFWS 1991).

Current Management Summary

None know.

Research Management Needs

� The protective and research actions outlined by the USFWS include: monitoring populations, Providing protection for existing habitat, research on life history traits and propagation of seedlings to enrich current populations and establish new ones (USFWS1991).
� Other research needs include defining habitat requirements, overall reproductive biology and pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms (USFWS 1991).

Ex Situ Needs

References

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Books (Single Authors)

Little, E.L., Jr.; Woodbury, R.O.; Wadsworth, F.H. 1974. Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: Agriculture Handbook No. 449. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

Journal Articles

USFWS. 1987. Determination of endangered status for Crescentia portoricensis. Federal Register. 52: 46087.

USFWS. 1987. Proposed Endangered Status for Crescentia portoricensis. Federal Register. 52, 9: 1494-1497.

USFWS. 1988. Protection Approved for Puerto Rican Plant. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 13, 1: 3.

Reports

Breckon, G.J.; Kolterman, D.A.; Valentin, E.S. 1992. Final Report Under Cooperative Agreement No. 14-16-0004-91-58. Between U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Department of Biology University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus.

Ewel, J.S.; Whitmore, J.L. 1973. Ecological life zones of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. USDA Forest Serv. Res. Paper ITF-18.

USFWS. 1991. Recovery Plan for Crescentia portoricensis. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.20.

Vivaldi, J.L.; Woodbury, R.O. 1981. Status report on Crescentia porticensis. Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: Status report submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010