(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - EUPHORBIA GARBERI
OTHER COMMON NAMES - SPURGE and GARBER'S
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - EUPHORBIALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - EUPHORBIACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - EUPHORBIA,
SPECIES AND SSP - GARBERI,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - EUPHORBIA GARBERI
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
(No common name)
Euphorbia garberi Englem. ex Chapman
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Euphorbiales FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia garberi (also known as Garber's spurge) is a prostrate
herb with hairy stems and small, 4-9 mm long leaves; the flowers are
inconspicuous (01).
A technical description of the species is as follows (02):
Prostrate, decumbent, or low, ascending herbs with
pubescent stems. Leaves ovate, 4-9 mm long, entire, or
obscurely serrate. Cyathia about 1.5 mm long, solitary
at nodes; appendages minute or absent. Capsule 1.5 mm wide,
pubescent, seeds smooth or with transverse ridges but not
wrinkled.
The species was described as Euphorbia garberi Engleman in 1883
(03). In 1903, Small (04) transferred it to the genus Chamaesyce.
However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in the final rule to list
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
this species as Threatened, kept it in the genus Euphorbia "for the
sake of consistency" with its December 15, 1980, plant notice of
review (05). Other synonyms include (07): Chamaesyce adicioides
Small, C. brachypoda Small, and C. mosieri Small.
No type specimen was cited by Englemann, but the lectotype may be
at the U.S. National Herbarium or at the New York Botanical Gardens
(01). Specimens can be found at the Key Deer NWR Herbarium, NY, FLAS,
Archbold, ENP, FTG, FAU and US (01).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Florida; Federal Threatened
Florida; Officially Listed
T: Federal Threatened
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
Garber's spurge (Euphorbia garberi) has been designated a
Threatened 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
State of Florida.
Removal and reduction to possession of any Federally listed plant
from an area under Federal jurisdiction is unlawful (50 CFR 17.61 and
17.71).
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
NPS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for conservation (Nat. Park System Organic Act - 16
U.S.C. 1, 2-3)/management/recovery on National Park
Service lands. Taking, possessing, or disturbing of
Federally listed species is prohibited on NPS lands
(36 CFR 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3).
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: Florida
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services.
STATE STATUTES: The Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act
Ch. 581.185-187, Florida Statutes.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
None.
75/07/01:40 FR 27823/27924 - Notice or review, Smithsonian Report
76/06/16:41 FR 24523/24572 - Proposed rule, listing as Endangered
80/12/15:45 FR 82480/82569 - Revised notice of review, listed Cat. 1
84/11/07:49 FR 44507/44512 - Proposed rule to list as Threatened
85/07/18:50 FR 29345/29349 - Final rule, listed as Threatened
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
COASTAL
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES
SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE
Longleaf Pine shrub--seedling
Longleaf Pine young tree
LAND USE -
Residential
Transportation, communications, and Util
Evergreen Forest Land
Sandy Areas other than Beaches
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
There is no specific habitat type in which Garber's spurge
occurs. It may be found in relatively saline coastal areas, pine
flatwoods, beach ridges, and on the edges or transitional areas
between of tropical hammocks and pine rocklands. The plant seems to
be found in coastal, tropical habitats. Within these areas it is part
of the herb layer and requires relatively open shrub and canopy
layers. The plants in pine flatwoods may require periodic burning of
these habitats to prevent overshading by shrub layer species (01).
The plants occur at relatively low elevations (less than 25 feet)
and on flat to gently sloping topography (0-6% slope degree) (01).
Euphorbia garberi occurs in open portions of the habitat on dry,
sandy soils composed of largely Pamlico sands, with no horizons and
little or no humus. The soils are probably alkaline, and are thinly
overlaying oolitic limestone (though extirpated populations on Upper
Matecumbe Key probably occurred on Key Largo limestone) (01).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
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
G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
G
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
Garber's spurge is a prostrate, decumbent, or low, ascending herb
(01).
LIFE CYCLE:
The plant is a perennial (01).
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual by seeds (01).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Garber's spurge leafs out and produces buds from January to
February. Anthesis and fruiting occurs from March to December (01).
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
The status of the sex of this plant has not been reported but it
is probably monoecious.
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollen and seed dissemination has not been reported.
SEED BIOLOGY:
The capsule is 1.5 mm wide, pubescent, seeds reddish-brown,
smooth or tansversely 2-ribbed (01). Nothing else is known.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
The species has disappeared from ten of thirteen locations where
it has been known to occur historically, indicating a severe
population decline. The essential habitat elements are dry, sandy
soils, with little or no shrub or canopy cover (01). Much habitat for
the species is on public lands and, if properly managed, should
provide a good potential for recovery (01).
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
The Miami Limestone which makes up the Miami Rock Ridge is the
surface rock of virtually all Dade County. In the pineland areas of
the Miami Rock Ridge the scanty soil is found in solution holes,
depressions, and cracks in the rock. The soils are members of the
Rockdale series, which is classified as a Lithic Ruptic-Alific
Eutrochrept, clayey, mixed hyperthermic (08,09).
Euphorbia garberi occurs in open portions of the habitat on dry,
sandy soils composed largely of Pamlico sands, with no horizons and
little or no humus. The soils are probably alkaline, and are thinly
overlaying oolitic limestone (though extirpated populations on Upper
Matecumbe Key probably occurred on Key Largo limestone). The plants
occur at relatively low elevations (less than 25 feet), and on flat
to gently sloping topography (0.6% slope degree) (01).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (01).
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Garber's spurge is a component of its vegetation community (01).
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
The plant is found in relatively saline coastal areas, pine
flatwoods, and on the edges of tropical hammocks. Within these areas
it is part of the herb layer and requires relatively open shrub and
canopy layers. The plants in the pine flatwoods may require periodic
burning of these habitats to prevent overshading by shrub layer
species (01). Community types on the Big Pine Key site include
Coccoloba uvifera, Reynosia septentrionalis, Piscidia piscipula,
Suriana maritima, Cassia chapmanii and Batis maritima. Community
types on the Dade County site (National Park Service) include Lysiloma
latisiliqua, Muhlenbergia filipes and Schizachyrium rhizomatum,
largely an ecotone between pine flatwoods and tropical hammock (01).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
None.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Prescribed/controlled burning of habitat
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Maintaining Early Stages of Succession
Beneficial Maintaining Sperm/Seed Banks
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Transplanting Wild Eggs/Wild Seeds
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Recreational development
Existing Recreational development
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Groundwater drawdown
Existing Groundwater drawdown
Adverse Competition
Existing Competition
Adverse Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Existing Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
Adverse Suppressing wildfire
Existing Suppressing wildfire
Adverse Forest Alteration
Existing Forest Alteration
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Garber's spurge may be found in relatively saline coastal areas,
pine flatwoods, and on the edges of transitional areas between
tropical hammocks and pine rocklands. Habitat destruction or
modification which threatened, or is currently threatening, Euphorbia
garberi includes: clearing land (and the associated use of heavy
equipment), including forest, for residential and commercial
development (including road construction) on private lands; and fire
suppresson on public lands resulting in increased competition and
shading out by other plant species. The species, because of its
reduced range and numbers also is threatened by natural phenomena such
as storms and hurricanes (01,05).
Invasion of exotic plants is also affecting the pinelands (06)
and is a future threat (05). Two species currently invading this
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
habitat are Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and a large
reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana). Fire suppression and groundwater
drawdown facilitate the invasion of the pinelands by introduced
species and, therefore, allow for competition.
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
Development of a recovery plan for the species has been targeted for
FY 1987.
A recovery plan for the Garber's spurge (Euphorbia garberi) has
not yet been developed.
The following are potential recovery actions for Garber's spurge:
1) Protect habitat on public lands by prohibiting tourists from
trampling areas in which plants grow.
2) Manage public lands by instituting a program of controlled
burning to maintain the fire community climax. (The pine
rocklands are a natural climax community in an ecosystem which,
when undisturbed by man, is maintained by periodic, naturally
occurring fire. When burning is prevented succession occurs
which allows competitive vegetation to invade and flourish and
causes the shading out of Euphorbia garberi.)
3) If possible, bring privately owned lands on Big Pine Key into
public ownership to protect them from development, and manage for
the spurge by instituting a program of controlled burning.
4) Attempt to reestablish populations on some of the Keys from which
they have been extirpated by transplanting wild seed or wild
individuals.
5) Develop captive propagation program for reintroduction purposes;
maintain a seed bank.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species EUPHORBIA GARBERI
Species Id ESIS704021
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Austin, D.F. and C.E. Nauman. 1981. Status report on Chamaesyce
garberi. Unpublished report on file at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Jacksonville, FL.
02 Long, R.W. and O. Lakela. 1971. A flora of tropical Florida.
Banyon Books, Miami.
03 Engelman in Chapman, A.W. 1883. Flora of the southern United
States with supplement. Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor, and Company,
New York. 698 pp.
04 Small, J.K. 1903. Flora of the southeastern United States.
Published by the author, New York. xii + 1370 pp.
05 U.S. Government. 1985. Endangered and Threatened status for five
Florida pine rockland plants. Federal Register 50:29345/29349.
06 Shaw, C. 1975. The pine and hammock forestlands of Dade County.
Unpublished report on file with: Dade Co., Fl., County Manager.
80 pp.
07 Kartesz, J.T. and R. Kartesz. 1980. A synonymized checklist of
the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Vol. II: The biota of North America. Univ. of North Carolina
Press, Chapel Hill.
08 Snyder, J.R. 1986. The impact of wet season and dry season
prescribed fires on Miami Rock Ridge pineland, Everglades National
Park. Unpublished report (SFRC-86/06) available from: National
Park Service, South Florida Research Center, Everglades National
Park, Homestead 33030.
09 Soil Survey Staff. 1979. Soil taxonomy: A basic system of
classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. Agric.
Handbook No. 436. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Austin, D.F. and C.E. Nauman. 1981. Status report on Chamaesyce
garberi. Unpublished report on file at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Jacksonville, FL.
02 U.S. Government. 1985. Endangered and Threatened status for five
Florida pine rockland plants. Federal Register 50:29345/29349.
References - 1