(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
OTHER COMMON NAMES - BOXWOOD and VAHL'S;DIABLITO DE TRES CUERNOS
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - EUPHORBIALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - BUXACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - BUXUS,
SPECIES AND SSP - VAHLII,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - BUXUS VAHLII
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Vahl's Boxwood
Buxus vahlii Baill.
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Euphorbiales FAMILY: Buxaceae
All information comes from the status report (01), unless
otherwise specified:
Vahl's boxwood is an evergreen, glabrous, slender shrub or small
tree up to 5 m tall and 8 cm dbh. Usually with a single, erect trunk
with grayish-white, finely fissured outer bark. The inner bark light
brown and bitter. The young branches light green, becoming light gray
with age, with two characteristic grooves below each node, and ending
in a bud of minute leaves. The leaves simple, opposite, decussate,
extipulate. The blades (2-) 2.5-5 cm long, (1-) 1.3-2 cm wide,
oblanceolate to elliptic-oblong or elliptic-obovate, stiff and
coriaceous, flat or commonly slightly convex, the margin entire and
somewhat revolute, the apex obtuse and mucronulate, the base cuneate
to acute, bitter to taste but odorless, shiny green above with a
deeply sunken midvein and two faint veins ascending from the base near
the margin, dull green below with a prominent midvein, drying
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
greenish-brown or tan on both surfaces. The petioles ca. 3 mm long.
The inflorescence an axillary raceme ca. 1 cm long, with one female
flower terminal on the 3-5 mm long rachis, and with 6-8 male flowers
below. The male flowers sessile or shortly pedicelled to 1.5 mm. The
sepals 4, 2-3 mm long, 2-seriate, imbricate, widely ovate to oblong,
acute at the apex, the margin ciliate. The petals none. The stamens
4, opposite the sepals, the anthers oblong, 2 celled, dorsified, with
a rudimentary pistil usually present. The female flowers sessile, the
sepals 6, like those of the male flowers, the petals none, the ovary
sessile, 2.5-5 mm long, 3-loculed, with 1-2 pendulous ovules per
locule, the style 3, ca. 3.5 mm long, free, spreading. The fruit a
3-horned loculicidal capsule ca. 6 mm long, the seeds 3-4 mm long,
shiny black.
Buxus vahlii is part of the Buxaceae family. A brief history of
the taxon follows:
When and where the first collections of Buxus vahlii were made is
not known. It was first adscribed incorrectly to Crantzia laevigata
by Vahl, and correctly described as a new species by Baillon in 1859
(02). The range of the species has been a matter of discussion since
that time, and the species has been considered to occur not only in
Puerto Rico, but also in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The
confusion stems from a specimen presumably collected by Richard in
"insula Sanctae Crucis et aliarum" a vague locality in itself. Years
later, Britton and Wilson (06) considered Egger's Tricera laevigata
var. sanctae-crucis as conspecific with Buxus vahlii. This does not
seem to be correct. Buxus vahlii has not been collected in St. Croix
by any modern botanists, and of all the specimens of Buxus collected
in St. Croix and examined by Vivaldi and Woodbury none could be
attributed to Buxus vahlii Baill. Thus, it seems best to consider, at
least at this time, Buxus vahlii as an endemic to Puerto Rico.
In Puerto Rico, Buxus vahlii is known from two sites. The Rincon
site was discovered by Sintenis in 1886, while the Hato Tejas site was
discovered in the 1950's by Roy O. Woodbury. Heller collected a
specimen and for his locality gave "Limestone hills along the coast
three miles west of Ponce". This locality must be in error. The area
west of Ponce is occupied by xerophytic woodland very different from
the evergreen to semi-evergreen forests in which Buxus vahlii is
usually found. Both Woodbury and Vivaldi have collected in the Ponce
area and agree that it is very unlikely that Buxus vahlii could be
found there. The presumption that Heller's locality is an error is
strenghtened by similar problems with Cassia mirabilis.
Typification: In 1788 Swartz described the genus Crantzia,
typified by Crantzia laevigata from Jamaica. It was included in the
Tetrandria-Trigynea and characterized by monoecious flowers. The male
flowers had a 4 parted calyx and no corolla, the filaments were ovate.
The female flowers had a 5-parted calyx and no corolla, the styles 3
and cone-shaped. The fruit was a loculicidal capsule with 3 locules
and 2 seeds per locule.
In 1791 Vahl determined several specimens from the Jussieu
Herbarium as Crantzia laevigata. Realizing that these specimens
represented a new and undescribed species, Baillon described them
under the name Buxus vahlii, in honor of Vahl.
No type was indicated by Baillon, but four elements were included
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
in the protologue, thus, the typification of Buxus vahlii should be
based on those elements. The elements of the protologue were:
Crantzia laevigata swartzii Vahl, mss. in herb Juss.
Crantzia solandri Vahl, mss. ibid.
Buxus cruciana L. C. Rich., mss. in herb. propr.
Tricera laevigata A. Juss., mss. in herb Juss.
Vivaldi has seen the photographs of those specimens that are
housed in the Jussieu Herbarium in Paris, numbers P-JU 16322 and
16323. Both seem to agree well with Buxus vahlii as we know it.
Specimen P-JU 16322, identified as Crantzia laevigata swartzi was seen
both by Baillon and Vahl. This specimen Vivaldi has selected as the
lectotype.
There has been bibliographic citation of Buxus vahlii in Baillon
(01,02), in Muller (in DeCandolle) (01,03), and in Little, Woodbury,
and Wadsworth (01,04).
A synonym for Buxus vahlii is Tricera vahlii. The synonym was
used by Britton (01,05) and by Britton and Wilson (01,06). The
Federal Register final rule (50 FR 32572/32575) to list Vahl's boxwood
also gives Buxus laevigata as a scientific name once used for this
species. Vahl's boxwood is also known in Spanish by the common name
Diablito de tres cuernos.
B. vahlii has been collected by Sintenis (01,07); Vivaldi,
Woodbury and Diaz-Soltero (01,08); and Liogier (01,09,10). Specimens
of these collections can be found in the following herbaria: CU, US,
BH, and NY. Publications useful for species descriptions,
photographs, or drawings include Ayensu & DeFilipps (11), Baillon
(02), Britton & Wilson (06), and Woodbury (01,12). Knowledgeable
individuals on Buxus vahlii are Vivaldi (13), Woodbury (14), Kohler
(15), and Diaz-Soltero (16).
Taxonomy - 3 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Puerto Rico; Federal Endangered
Puerto Rico; State Listed
E: Federal Endangered
Ornamental
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
Vahl's boxwood (Buxus vahlii) has been designated an Endangered
species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (50 CFR 17.12;
P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as amended. The
species has this status wherever found including the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Department of Natural Resources
STATE STATUTE: Regulation to Govern the Management of Threatened
and Endangered Species in the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, 1985.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
Vahl's boxwood has horticultural (ornamental) potential.
80/12/15:45 FR 82479/82569 - Notice of review of taxa
83/02/15:48 FR 06752/06753 - Notice of findings on review of status
84/01/20:49 FR 02485/02488 - Notice of progress on listing actions
84/07/13:49 FR 25850/28583 - Proposed rule, list as Endangered
85/08/13:50 FR 32572/32575 - Final rule, listed as Endangered
85/09/27:50 FR 39526/39584 - Notice of review of plant taxa
Status - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Commercial and Services
Industrial
Deciduous Forest Land
Strip Mines, Quarries, and Gravel Pits
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The following, unless otherwise indicated, is taken from the
species Status Report (01).
Buxus vahlii is presently known only in Puerto Rico from two
sites: Punta Higuero, Rincon and Hato Tejas, Bayamon (01,17,18). The
species occurs in terrestrial areas not considered riparian, in the
Subtropical Moist Forest of Puerto Rico according to the Holdrige
system of Life Zones, by Ewell and Whitmore (24). Several formations
are found within this Life-Zone in Puerto Rico and the area may be
best categorized in terms of the Beard (25,26) system as a
Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forest. Buxus vahlii is rare and localized in
Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forests on limestone in the north and western
karst region of Puerto Rico at elevations between 25 and 200 m.
In Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forests over two hundred species of
trees are present, in two strata. The upper strata is composed of a
continuous layer extending up to 20 meters and with a few emergent
trees up to 25 m tall. Between 33 and 66 percent of the species are
deciduous, and most species have compound, mesophyllous, pale green
leaves (14). The lower layer extends up to 10 m and the number of
deciduous species is very low or none at all, depending on the
moisture available in each particular site. Most species are
evergreen, with simple, microphyllous, deep green leaves. Palm
species are common in this layer and are an important factor in the
forest. The trees in this formation usually lack buttressing. Lianas
are well developed, both woody and herbaceous, but epiphytes are
usually lacking.
The Buxus vahlii plants in the Rincon site fall into the young
stand category (trees 1" to 9" in diameter) and this seems to be an
old population. The largest plants are two to three meters tall,
vigorous, with luxuriant foliage, growing in partial shade under a 7 m
tall canopy. Buxus forms part of the understory. These 50 - 60
plants have recently (March 1986) been observed in fruit and flower
(31).
The B. vahlii plants in the Hato Tejas, Bayamon site fall into
the shrub/seedling stand category (trees up to 1" or less in diameter)
and the young stand category (trees 1" to 9" in diameter). Of the 24
plants found, the largest plants were about 4 m tall and 5 cm thick at
breast height; the others were slightly smaller. The smallest plants
were about 1 m tall. All plants were vigorous and showed luxuriant
growth. Flowers and fruit were observed in September. Although
fruits and seeds were abundant, no seedlings were observed. Woodbury
(14) reports that he has not observed seedlings in any of his visits.
The reason why seedlings are absent is not known. In the Hato Tejas
site, Buxus also grows as an understory shrub, growing under the shade
of other species.
Vahl's boxwood can be found only at two small isolated locations,
one on Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (government) land in Punta Higuero,
Rincon and the other about 70 miles away on privately-owned land in
Hato Tejas, Bayamon. Buxus vahlii is found only in the Semi-evergreen
Habitat Associations - 1 Forests (deciduous land use/land cover classification) that occurs on
limestone in northern and northwestern Puerto Rico. One site (the
Punta Higuero, Rincon site) is on a south-southeast aligned ravine
located on the eastern end of the nuclear power plant at Punta
Higuero. Another site the (Hato Tejas, Bayamon site) is on haystack
hills surrounded by a large shopping center and other commercial and
industrial sites. Part of the east facing slope containing this
population has been mined for limestone and is located on a narrow
ledge. Although at present the species is not affected by
agricultural practices, there is a possibility of future predation by
goats in the Rincon site.
Vahl's boxwood does not associate with any of the National
Wetland Inventory aquatic types. The habitat features in which the
species occurs include the vegetated island of Puerto Rico, rock
outcrops, and cliff/ledges. If these are disturbed the species would
disappear.
In the Rincon site where Buxus vahlii grows the soil is shallow,
friable clay with an abundance of small limestone rocks over limestone
bedrock (01). On the Hato Tejas site, the soil is very shallow and
stony (01). Bedrock is composed of limestone (01). The soil in most
of the ledge was bare and dry (01).
Regional Microclimate.
The Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forests of Puerto Rico
receive 175 to 200 cm of rainfall per year, with the average month
receiving 7.5 cm. Rainfall is distributed into distinct dry and wet
seasons. The dry season lasts from January to March and the driest
month receives about 5 cm of rain. The wet season lasts from May to
November with two consistent peaks, one in May and one in July. The
wettest month receives about 10 cm of rain. Showers tend to be
torrential and short, lasting 15 to 30 minutes. They occur mostly in
the early hours of the afternoon.
Available moisture is the most important climatological factor.
It depends on the rate of evaporation and the lateral movement of
water through the porous limestone that underlies the Karst region.
The rate of evaporation decreases from north to south in the Karst
region. In San Juan, the long-term average rate of evaporation is
2,072 mm, in Corozal it is 1,761 mm for six years, and in Isabela it
is 1,401 mm for six years (27). Cloud cover is minimal and deposition
of moisture from clouds or fog is not present.
Mean annual temperature ranges from 26.1 degrees C in
Quebradillas to 23 degrees C in Lares with a seasonal variation of
about 3 degrees C. The cool season extends from January to March, and
the warm season from July to September.
The easterly trade winds are almost constant. Usually they are
not very strong, and exceed 24 kph only 5% of the time. Although
hurricanes occur every year in the Caribbean, only six have passed
over Puerto Rico in the last 100 years (28). Winds as strong as 250
kph and rainfall of as much as 40 cm in one day are the most important
consequences of hurricanes. Data as to the effects of hurricanes on
forest is meager. Bates (29) reports that more trees are broken up
than uprooted. He found that some trees, in losing their leaves
early, before the winds become strong, escape serious damage. Dense
forests seem to suffer less than open forests.
"Solar radiation within the Karst is correlated with the
precipitation pattern on an annual basis, as well as on a daily basis.
It decreases from north to south and in the morning is higher than in
the afternoons" (27). Chinea also reports an extrapolation of 3,263
K Cal/m/day for Rio Abajo Forest's solar radiation.
Geology and Topography:
Habitat Associations - 2 Puerto Rico can be divided into three main physiographic units:
a south-central volcanic mountainous area; a discontinuous fringe of
coastal plains; and a belt of rugged karst topography in the
north-central and northwestern parts of the island. The
Semi-evergreen and Evergreen Seasonal Forests of Puerto Rico are
predominantly located on the latter.
The karst area is mostly underlain by limestone and solution is
the most important geomorphologic agent. Topography varies from
extremely rugged to gentle rolling hills with a relief of only a few
tens of meters. Altitude varies from sea level to 530 m at the
highest point near the town of Utuado (27). The area contains
features such as caves, canyons, sinkholes, subterranean rivers, and
asymetrical rolling hills (30). Drainage, for the most part, is
subterranean. Minor outcrops of chalk, dolomite, and volcanic rocks
are also found within the karst area (30).
The limestone strata have been divided into six formations:
Lares, Cibao, Aguada, Aymamon, Camuy, and Mucarabones. The first five
formations are in ascending stratigraphic order. The Mucarabones
sands are found between the Lares and Cibao formations and are
composed of Limestone only in a small lens near Morovis. All
formations range from late Oligocene to middle Miocene in age. Their
regional dip is to the north, 5 degrees on the southern border and
less than 1 degree on the north coast. The formations are about
1,700 m thick (27).
Occasionally the limestone formations are overlain by coastal
alluvial or blanket deposits. These deposits fill in the depressions
between mogotes and the ridges of mogotes. The deposits are derived
from debris from the volcanic interior brought in by rivers during the
long period between the deposition of the limestone and its gradual
uplift to its present altitude above sea level. Their overall
quartz:clay ratio is 65:35 (19). The range in pH is between 4.6 and
6.8 (22). Most blanket deposits are used for agriculture. Only those
that are local or isolated have retained their forest cover.
The karst region has been subdivided by Monroe (30) into valley
features, hill features, zanjones (trenches), caves, and minor
features. The hill features have been further subdivided into three
categories: cone karst, mogotes, and river and coastal rampart.
Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forests are present in the first
two. Topographically, cone karst and mogotes are very similar. They
are either sharp, pointed or oval hills. Physiographically they are
very different. Cone karst, best developed in the Lares Limestone,
are surrounded by limestone. Mogotes are surrounded by blanket
deposits and are composed, for the most part, of Aymamon Limestone
(30). Most mogotes, also called haystack hills, look asymmetric, with
the steepest side on the westerly quarter. There is much controversy
as to the processes responsible for this asymmetry.
Soil:
The soils of the Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forests of
Puerto Rico are well drained and no water logging occurs, even in
heavy rains. They are rocky, steep, and shallow.
Habitat Associations - 3 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops
G
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
Vahl's boxwood (Buxus vahlii) is a shrub-tree in form (01,17,18).
LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (01,17,18).
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Buxus vahlii reproduces by sexual means (01,17,18). It does not
appear to reproduce vegetatively (17); flowering is in December to
early April (17). The flower cluster is small, about 1/4 inch long,
with the solitary female flower at the tip and several male flowers
borne just below it (17). The fruit is a horned capsule (17).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Generally nothing is known. Anthesis occurs from December to
April and fruiting in September (01,17).
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoecious (01,02,04,06).
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Nothing is known.
SEED BIOLOGY:
Unknown.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
The Punta Higuero population is composed of approximately 50 - 60
plants covering an area of 200 sq m.
At the Hato Tejas, Bayamon site two distinct groups within the
population were found. Each group occupies an area about 10 m long
and 2 m wide, with one or two plants scattered below it. The two
groups are separated about 6 m from each other. In total, 24 plants
of B. vahlii were found in Hato Tejas (01).
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
The soils of the Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forests of Puerto Rico
are well drained and no water logging occurs, even in heavy rains.
They are rocky, steep, and shallow.
In the Rincon site where Buxus vahlii grows the soil is shallow,
friable clay with an abundance of small limestone rocks over limestone
bedrock (01). On the Hato Tejas site, the soil is very shallow and
stony (01). Bedrock is composed of limestone (01). The soil in most
of the ledge was bare and dry (01).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (01).
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Buxus vahlii is a component of its vegetative community (01).
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
The semi-evergreen Seasonal Forest has two strata of trees with
over 200 species (01). The most common species in the upper strata
are Bucida buceras, Bursera simaruba and Tabebuia heterophylla. The
lower layer is dominated by Eugenia biflora, E. foetida, E. axillaris,
Guaiacum officinalis, G. sanctum, Coccoloba diversifolia, and C.
microstachya. The palm, Cocothrynax alta, is an indicator for this
type of formation.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
None.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Mining
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Maintaining Sperm/Seed Banks
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Transplanting Wild Eggs/Wild Seeds
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Noncommercial Harvest
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Domestic Animals
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Surface Mines
Existing Surface Mines
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Grazing
Existing Grazing
Adverse Forest Alteration
Existing Forest Alteration
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
There are 3 major reasons for the Endangered status of Buxus
vahlii: habitat destruction or alteration of forest habitat,
inadequate regulatory mechanisms, and other natural or manmade factors
(01,17,18). The continued existence of this species is Endangered by
its very limited numbers, and by potential habitat modification or
destruction due to limestone mining and urbanization in the privately
owned locale (01,17,18).
The present or threatened destruction or modification of B.
vahlii's habitat is one of the reasons for the species status. In the
past (1981) the Rincon site, owned by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
was proposed as a possible location for the construction of a
coal-fueled power plant to be constructed by the P.R. Electric Power
Authority (01,17). However, in 1982 the government decided not to
build the power plant (17). There is no guarantee that in the future
the site could not be used for other development (17).
The Hato Tejas population of about 24 plants of B. vahlii is
located on a haystack hill group that is surrounded by a large
shopping center and several commercial and industrial lots (01,17). A
possible place for expanded development would be the area now occupied
by the hills, which could be razed and sold for limestone or fill
material (01,17). These activities would result in the complete
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
destruction of the habitat; however, there are no plans for
development at present (01,17). This Buxus vahlii population is
located on the edge of an old limestone quarry (01,17). Past mining
activities in the area resulted in the destruction of more than half
of the boxwood population since the 1950's (01,17). The quarry is not
active at this time, but could become active if such activities again
become profitable (01,17).
The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms is a threat to
Buxus vahlii (01,17). The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico only recently
enacted legislation (Sept. 1983) (20) and regulations (Dec. 1985) (21)
to protect Endangered or Threatened species (16). A Memorandum of
Understanding between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) was signed in 1984 (16) to delegate to the
Commonwealth's DNR responsibility for enforcing the Federal Endangered
Species Act. DNR has initiated a modest Endangered Species program
(1985), but it is not working on Buxus vahlii at present (1986) nor
is work planned in the near future (16). DNR has a list of Rare and
Endangered species that includes Buxus vahlii (24). However, more
than half of the known plants of B. vahlii are on private lands where
most of the mechanisms that could be used to protect rare or
endangered flora do not apply. If mining activities become involved,
the DNR presumably could prohibit such activities in order to save a
particular site by making reference to Law 144, June 3, 1976,
"Extraccion de materiales de la corteza terrestre", which regulates
mining activities (01,17). However, whether or not this prohibition
could be used to control the taking of an Endangered plant would
depend on the interpretation of the law of Commonwealth courts (01,
17). There is no established precedent, and the protection this law
provides to the species is probably minimal (01,17).
Other natural or manmade factors also affect the continued
existence of Buxus vahlii (01,17,18). The species is found in two
small, compact, isolated populations separated by about 70 miles (01,
17). It has a very narrow ecological niche and is restricted to
ravines and ledges in Semi-evergreen Seasonal Forests on limestone
(01,17). Only about 80 individuals are known (01,17,31). A loss of
genetic variation in the species is therefore probable (01,17). In
addition, seedlings have not been observed (01,17). These factors
increase the vulnerability of the species to the other threats
described above (01,17).
Future perceived threats to the species include the 3 reasons
that have endangered it up to the present: continuation of the
habitat destruction or alteration, inadequate regulatory mechanisms,
and other natural or manmade factors (01,17). A fourth future threat
is predation (01,17). Many houses are on private property on the
eastern edge of the government property at the Rincon site, and only
about 300 feet from the Buxus vahlii population (01,17). Some of the
inhabitants have goats, which could affect the boxwood if they were
allowed to roam free or escaped into the government-owned area (01,
17).
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Vahl's Boxwood Recovery
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 34 pp.
Recovery recommendations for Vahl's boxwood would, at a minimum,
include:
1) Prevent further habitat loss and population decline. Habitat
protection may be accomplished by controlling human access to
some areas and developing cooperative agreements with some land
owners. Controlling domestic animals, restrictions on land
development, road maintenance activities, mining (limestone
quarrying), and controlling or restricting pollutants (air
quality) are positive actions that would directly benefit the
habitat of Vahl's boxwood.
Plant protection would include restrictions on non-commercial
harvest and enforcement of applicable state and federal laws.
2) Continue to gather information on the distribution and abundance
of the species.
3) Research habitat requirements, ecology, reproductive biology,
flowering, seed production, seed viability, and seed germination
requirements. Evaluate feasibility of artificial propagation and
select sites for reintroduction. Initiate transplanting of seeds
or vegetative material. Maintenance of a seed bank.
4) Refine recovery goals by determining additional actions and
evaluating success of recovery efforts.
Ongoing recovery actions include propagation by Fairchild
Tropical Garden, Miami, FL.
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - References
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Vivaldi, J.L. and R.O. Woodbury. 1981. Status report on Buxus
vahlii Baill. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 4, Office of
Endangered Species. 59 pp.
02 Baillon, M.H. 1859. Monographie des buxacees. Paris. Page 67.
03 Muller. 1869. IN: DeCandolle, Prodromus systematis naturalis
regni vegetabilis 16:16.
04 Little, E.L., R.O. Woodbury, and F.H. Wadsworth. 1974. Trees of
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Forest Service Handbook
449.
05 Britton, N.L. 1915. Bull Torrey Botanical Club. 42:502.
06 Britton, N.L. and P. Wilson. 1923. Botany of Porto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. Page 508. IN: Scientific Survey in Porto Rico
and the Virgin Islands, Vols. 5 & 6. New York Acad. Sci., New
York.
07 Sintenis 5672. Prope Rincon in fruticetis litoralibus ad Puntas,
11 December 1886 (US).
08 Vivaldi, Woodbury & Diaz-Soltero sn. Limestone hills on back of
the Pueblo Supermarket, Hato Tejas, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Sept.
1980. (BH, NY, US).
09 Liogier 10802. Rincon, altitude 100 m. Shrub 1 m tall, flowers
yellowish, small thicket above the seashore, 3 Apr. 1964. (US).
10 Liogier 10379. Hato Tejas, on top of a limestone hill, open
situation. Altitude 80-100 m. Shrub 1.5-2.0 m high, 30 Nov 1963.
(US).
11 Ayensu, E. and R. DeFillips. 1978. Endangered and threatened
plants of the United States. Smithsonian Institute and World
Wildlife Fund, Inc., Washington, D.C. 403 pp.
12 Woodbury, R.O. 1975. The rare and endangered plants of Puerto
Rico. USDA, Soil Conservation Service and PR Dept. of Natural
Resources. 85 pp.
13 Vivaldi, J.L. 1986. Personal communication. Department of
Natural Resources, Box 5887, Pueta de Tierra, PR 00906.
14 Woodbury, R.O. Personal communication. 3665 E Southwest Quail
Meadow Trail, Palm City, FL 33490.
15 Kohler, E. Personal communication. Bereich Botanik and Arboretum,
DDR 1195, Berlin. Spathstrasse 80.
16 Diaz-Soltero, Hilda. 1986. Personal communication. 1904 Parque de
las Fuentes, Hato Rey, PR 00918.
17 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Proposed Endangered status
for Buxus vahlii (Vahl's boxwood). July 13, 1984. Fed. Reg.
49(136):28580-28583.
18 Bender, M. and D. Henne, eds. 1985. Endangered Species Technical
Bulletin, FWS, Office of Endangered Species, Wash., D.C. 20240.
Vol. X, No. 9.
19 Briggs, R.P. 1966. The blanket sands of northern Puerto Rico.
Jamaica Geol. Survey Publ. 95:60-69.
20 Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. 1983. Amendment to
the Dept. of Nat. Resour. Organic Law, Law #31, Sept. 29, 1983.
21 Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. 1985. Regulation to
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species BOXWOOD, VAHL'S
Species Id ESIS704009
Date 13 MAR 96
Govern the Management of Threatened and Endangered Species in the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 28 August 1985.
22 Roberts, R.C. et al. 1942. Soil survey of Puerto Rico. USDA
Soil Survey Reports Ser. 1936, No. 8.
23 Vivaldi, Jose L. March 20, 1984. Personal communication.
Department of Natural Resources, Box 5887, Pueta de Tierra, PR
00906.
24 Ewel, J.J. and J.L. Whitmore. 1973. The ecological life zones of
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Forest Service Research
Paper No. ITF-18. 72 pp.
25 Beard, J.S. 1944. Climax vegetation in tropical America. Ecology
25:127-158.
26 Beard, J.S. 1955. The classification of tropical American
vegetation types. Ecology 36:89-100.
27 Chinea, J.D. 1980. The forest vegetation of the limestone hills
of northern Puerto Rico. Masters Thesis, Cornell University,
Ithaca, NY.
28 Pico, R. 1974. The geography of Puerto Rico. Aldine Publishing
Co.
29 Bates, C.Z. 1929. Efectos del huracan del 13 de septiembre de
1928 en distintos arboles. Univ. de Puerto Rico, Rev. de Agric.
23:113-117.
30 Monroe, W.H. 1976. The Karst landforms of Puerto Rico. U.S.
Geological Survey Prof. Paper 899:1-69.
31 Densmore, David. 1986. Unpublished data. On file at: Caribbean
Field Office, P.O. Box 491, Boqueron, PR 00622.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Vivaldi, J.L. and R.O. Woodbury. 1981. Status report on Buxus
vahlii Baill. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 4, Endangered
Species Office, Atlanta, GA. 59 pp.
02 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Proposed Endangered status
for Buxus vahlii (Vahl's boxwood). July 13, 1984. Federal
Register 49(136):28580-28583.
03 Bender, M. and D. Henne, eds. 1985. Endangered Species Technical
Bulletin, FWS Office of Endangered Species, Wash., D.C. 20240.
Vol. X, No. 9.
04 Diaz-Soltero, Hilda. 1986. Personal communication. 1904 Parque
de las Fuentes, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918.
05 Sintenis 5672. Prope Rincon in fruticetis litoralibus ad Puntas,
11 Dec. 1886.
References - 2