National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Solanum drymophilum

Family:	Solanaceae
Common Names:	enrubio, erubia
Author:	O.E. Schulz
Growth Habit:	Shrub
CPC Number:	4028

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Solanum drymophilum is Not Sponsored

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

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Solanum drymophilum

Solanum drymophilum is a small, spiny shrub historically found in the eastern and central montane forests of Puerto Rico (Little et al. 1974, Vivaldi and Woodbury 1981). Today, its population is restricted to one site that supports less than 150 individuals (USFWS 1992). In August, 1988 Solanum drymophilum was listed as endangered by the USFWS (1988a, 1988b).

Solanum drymophilum can grow up to 5.5 meters in height and is characterized by sharp, stiff yellow spines found on leaves (Vivaldi and Woodbury (1981). Hermaphroditic, bell-shaped flowers grow in clusters and produce shiny, black-berry fruits (USFWS 1992). Solanum drymophilum shares its habitat with the endangered tree Banara vanderbiltii (USFWS 1992).

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Puerto Rico

Habitat

The remaining site of Solanum drymophilum is volcanic in origin characterized by rough terrain, steep ravines and streams (USFWS 1992).

Solanum drymophilum is associated with a common pasture species, Psidium guayava, and also with the rarer candidate species Maytenus ponceana and the endangered tree Banara vanderbiltii (USFWS 1992).

Distribution

Solanum drymophilum is currently known from one privately owned site in central Puerto Rico that supports less than 150 individuals (USFWS 1992).

Number Left

Less than 150 individuals are known to exist (USFWS 1992).

Protection

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Global Rank:	G1	4/25/1984	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	10/24/1996	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	Yes	7/9/1992

State/Area Protection

State/Area	Rank	Status	Date

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Ecological relationships are unknown.

Threats

Threats to Solanum drymophilum include deforestation, agricultural development, grazing and urbanization (USFWS 1992). Most of the remaining habitat is within a pasture developed for private homes (USFWS 1992). Although Solanum drymophilum may have recolonized open areas it was reported as being removed presumably as a threat to livestock (USFWS 1992).

Current Research Summary

Solanum drymophilum is currently being propagated at Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami, Florida (Lippincott 1990).

Current Management Summary

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1992) will consider reclassifying Solanum drymophilum when the remaining population site is protected and when at least two new reintroduced populations are self-sustaining.

Research Management Needs

Priority management needs set forth by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1992) are habitat protection, population monitoring, regulation enforcement, search for new populations. Research needs include habitat requirements and ecological relationships such as pollination and seed dispersal syndromes. The continuation of plant propagation is necessary as is the identification of suitable reintroduction sites need to bee identified

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.

Electronic Sources

(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.

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.

Journal Articles

Lippincott, C. 1990. Rare Plant Rescue: Exploring the Puerto Rican Archipelago. Fairchild Tropical Garden Bulletin.

Rees, M.D. 1988. Final listing rules approved for 25 species. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 13, 9-10: 3-5.

USFWS. 1987. Proposed Listings: Erubia (Solanum drymophilum). Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 12, 11-12: 6.

USFWS. 1988. Determination of endangered status for Solanum drymophilum. Federal Register. 53, 166: 32827-32830.

USFWS. 1988. Final Listing Rules. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 13, 9-10: 4.

Reports

USFWS. 1992. Solanum drymophilum Recovery Plan. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.17.

Vivaldi, J.L.; Woodbury, R.O. 1981. Status report on Solanum drymophilum. Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: Status report submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.33.

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010