CPC National Collection Plant Profile
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Mitracarpus polycladus
Family: |
Rubiaceae |
Common Name: |
None Known |
Author: |
Urban |
Growth Habit: |
Forb/herb |
CPC
Number: |
2872 |
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Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
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Mitracarpus polycladus
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Mitracarpus polycladus is a suffrutescent perennial with branching stems near its base that spread out to produce clusters of white flowers (USFWS 1994, USFWS 1998). M. polycladus can be found growing in the crevices of coastal in a sub-tropical dry forest in southwestern Puerto Rico and also on the island of Saba in the Lesser Antilles (USFWS 1994, USFWS 1998). M. polycladus's limited distribution, coupled with human threats, make it vulnerable to extinction (USFWS 1998).
Distribution
& Occurrence |
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State Range
Habitat
| |
M. polycladus grows in the crevices of coastal rocks in the sub-tropical dry forest of southwestern Puerto Rico in an area described as coastal scrub forest over exposed limestone rock or coastal dwarf forest (USFWS 1994, USFWS 1998).
M. polycladus is associated with the endangered species, Mitrocarpus maxwelliae and other species including, Bucida buceras, Bursera simaruba, Exostems caribaeum, Coccoloba microstachya, Plumeria alba and Pilosocereus royenii (USFWS 1998). |
Distribution
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M. polycladus is only known from the Guanica Commonwealth Forest in Puerto Rico (USFWS 1998). It is also known from the island of Saba in the Lesser Antilles (USFWS 1994, USFWS 1998). |
Number Left
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Exact number of individuals is unknown because of recent drought conditions (USFWS 1998). |
State/Area
Protection
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State/Area |
Rank |
Status |
Date |
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Puerto Rico |
S1 |
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6/11/1985 |
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Conservation,
Ecology & Research |
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Ecological
Relationships
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Ecological relationships are unknown. |
Threats
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Threats include road construction and frequent fires (USFWS 1998). |
Current Research Summary
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources are working together to study the distribution, abundance, population size and structure and reproductive biology of this species (USFWS 1998). |
Current Management Summary
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In its Recovery Plan the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to introduce new populations and continue its search for unknown populations (USFWS 1998). |
Research Management Needs
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A management plan needs to be designed and implemented (USFWS 1998). Research needs are understanding all aspects of reproductive biology including ecological relationships with pollinators and seed dispersers, requirements for seed germination and seedling recruitment . |
Ex Situ Needs
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Electronic Sources
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(2002). New York Botanical Garden--The Virtual Herbarium. [Searchable Web site] New York Botanical Garden. Fordham Road Bronx, New York. http://scisun.nybg.org:8890/searchdb/owa/wwwspecimen.searchform. Accessed: 2002.
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FCONSERVE. (2002). Threatened and endangered species in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico's Conservation Foundation. http://www.tld.net/users/fconserv/List.htm. Accessed: 2002.
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USFWS. (1990). Endangered and Threatened Species Accounts. [Web page] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species. http://ecos.fws.gov/servlet/TESSSpeciesQuery. Accessed: 2002.
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Journal Articles
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USFWS. 1994. Determination of endangered status for three Puerto Rican plants. Federal Register. 59: 46715-46718.
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This
profile was updated on 3/4/2010 |
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