CPC National Collection Plant Profile
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Brunfelsia densifolia
Family: |
Solanaceae |
Common Name: |
Serpentine Hill raintree |
Author: |
Krug & Urban |
Growth Habit: |
Shrub |
CPC
Number: |
6112 |
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Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
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Brunfelsia densifolia
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Brunfelsia densifolia, commonly known as Serpentine hill rain tree, is a shrub known from only one area in Puerto Rico (Pence 1990). It is being successfully used as an ornamental shrub in South Florida. It is hardy in nature, requires little care, and produces beautiful tubular, yellow flowers (Fairchild Tropical Garden 2002) Habitat loss through agricultural development is the primary reason for its endangered status.
Distribution
& Occurrence |
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State Range
Habitat
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It can be found on dry areas with serpentine soil that contains high amounts of magnesium, nickel, iron and chromium and lesser amounts of calcium and nitrogen (Fairchild Tropical Garden 2002) In cultivation, it prefers partial shade when it is young (Fairchild Tropical Garden 2002) |
Distribution
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B. densifolia is known from one area in Puerto Rico. |
Number Left
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Number of remaining individuals is unknown. |
State/Area
Protection
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State/Area |
Rank |
Status |
Date |
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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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Primary threat is habitat destruction for agriculture. |
Current Research Summary
Current Management Summary
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There is no formal management plan. |
Research Management Needs
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The primary management need is habitat protection. All aspects of this species ecology would be useful in conservation efforts. |
Ex Situ Needs
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"Leaf pieces from a tree growing at the Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Florida, were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1mg/1benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1mg/1 naphthlene acetic acid (NAA) and formed a green nodular callus which gave rise to shoots. Suspension cultures were initiated from this callus using an MS medium with 1mg of BAP and NAA. These were cryoprotected using a solution of 0.5 M glycerol, 0.5 M dimethylsulfoxide and 1M sucrose and frozen in 2ml cryovials at a rate of 1 degree Celcius/min to -35 degrees C and then transferred to liquid nitrogen overnight. Upon thawing in a 40 degree C water bath and cultivated on solid medium, the tissues grew into shoot-forming calli" (Pence 1990). |
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Conference Proceedings
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Pence, V.C. In Vitro Collection, Regeneration, and Cryopreservation of Brunfelsia densifolia. 12th International Congress of Plant Tissue and Cell Culture; June 24-29; Amsterdam. 1990.
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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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This
profile was updated on 3/4/2010 |
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