(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - PALO DE RAMON
OTHER COMMON NAMES - PALO DE RAMON
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - VIOLALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - FLACOURTIACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - BANARA,
SPECIES AND SSP - VANDERBILTII,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - BANARA VANDERBILTII
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Palo de Ramon
Banara vanderbiltii Urban
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Violales FAMILY: Flacourtiaceae
Banara vanderbiltii is an evergreen shrub or small tree which may
reach 10 meters in height and 12 cm in diameter. Leaves are
alternate, dentate, and densely pubescent on both surfaces. Twigs and
branches may also be somewhat pubescent. Flowers are solitary at the
ends of branches. Calyx and corolla lobes three, tomentose. The
species was discovered by Amos Heller in 1899, and named in honor of
Cornelius Vanderbilt (02).
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Puerto Rico; Federal Endangered
Puerto Rico; State Listed
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Palo de Ramon (Banara vanderbiltii) has been designated as
Endangered 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.
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).
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to possess
any wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) within U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7); or to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire,
or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any wild plant
(including roots, seeds, and other parts) taken, possessed,
transported, or sold in violation of any State law or regulation. It
is also unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire,
or purchase any wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts)
taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law, treaty, or regulation
or in violation of Indian tribal law.
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.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
At present the species has no known commercial value but may have
ornamental potential.
85/09/27:50 FR 39526/39527 - Notice of review
86/05/10:51 FR 12455-12458 - Proposed rule - Endangered
87/01/14:52 FR 01459/01462 - Final rule - Endangered
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Transportation, communications, and Util
Deciduous Forest Land
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The following has been taken from the status report on Banara
vanderbiltii (11).
Banara vanderbiltii is endemic to the semi-evergreen seasonal
forest of the limestone region of northern Puerto Rico (11). This
area has been classified as the subtropical moist forest life zone by
Ewel and Whitmore (05) and the vegetation may be described as
semi-evergreen seasonal forest by Beard (01).
Semi-evergreen seasonal forests are composed of more than 200
species of trees in two strata. The upper canopy is continuous at
20 meters with some emergent trees at 25 meters. The majority of the
species have compound, mesophyllous, pale green leaves and from33 to
66 percent are deciduous. The second strata reaches 10 meters and
contains primarily evergreen species. Palms are common in this
strata. Woody and herbaceous vines are common but epiphytes are rare
(01). Only 6 individuals, ranging from 1.5 to 4 meters in height and
up to 5 cm dbh are found in this area. These were observed in fruit
in September, 1985. The fruit had not previously been described or
collected (03).
This type of forest receives 175 to 200 cm of rainfall annually
and has a distinct dry, from January to March, and wet season. The
wet season has two peaks, one in May and another in July. Evaporation
decreases from north to south, in San Juan the average is 2,072 mm, in
Corozal it is 1,761 mm and Isabela it is 1,401 mm. Mean annual
temperature ranges from 26.1 degrees Celsius in Quebradillas to
23 degrees Celsius in Lares, with the highest temperatures occurring
from July to September (11).
The northern belt of karst topography in the northwest and north
central part of the island are underlain by limestone, where solution
has been the most important geomorphologic agent. Topography varies
from extremely rugged gentle rolling hills and the elevation varies
from sea level to 530 meters. Six formations have been identified:
Lares, Cibao, Aguada, Aymamon, Camuy, and Mucarabones. These range
from the late Oligocene to middle Miocene in age. The karst region
has been subdivided by Monroe into valley features, hill features,
trenches, caves, and minor features. The hill features have also been
subdivided into cone darst, mogotes, and river and coastal rampart.
Evergreen and semi-evergreen seasonal forests are present on the first
two. These are sharp-pointed or oval hills. In cone karst the hills
are surrounded by limestone whereas mogotes are surrounded by blanket
deposits. Frequently, the steepest side is to the west (07,08,11).
Soils are well-drained, rocky, steep, and shallow. Pockets of
humus are found scattered, however, about 50 percent of the area is
bare rock (09,10,11).
One population occupies a small area which is 200 meters from a
major highway. Wild yams can be found in forest areas and are
cultivated. Further deforestation of the forest edge and canopy could
lead to the elimination of this species (11,12).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
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
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
The Palo de Ramon is a shrub-tree (02,06,11).
LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (06).
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (06,03,11). Fruits have only recently been described.
They are a deep-red to purple multiseeded berry with enlarged calyx
and corolla at base and a long-pointed style (03).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Little is known about the phenology of this plant. Flowering
occurs in May with fruit appearing from August through September.
Seed dispersal occurs in September (03,06,11).
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoecious (11).
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollen disseminators are unknown. Birds are responsible for the
dissemination of seeds (03,11). Banaquits and stripe headed tanagers
have been observed taking fruit.
SEED BIOLOGY:
Nothing is known about the seed biology of this plant.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Only six individuals, all ranging from 1.5 to 4 meters in height
and up to 5 cm dbh, are known to occur at a single site. These are
found in an area of only 16 square meters.
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
The soils of the semi-evergreen seasonal forests are well-drained
with no water-logging. The soil is rocky and shallow. Pockets of
humus are found scattered, however, about 50 percent of the area is
bare rock (11). Soils are of the Tanama-Colinas-Soller association.
These are shallow to moderately-deep, moderately steep to very steep
well-drained soils (10).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (02,11).
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component (11).
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
The most common species in the upper strata are Bucida buceras
(black olive, ucar), Bursera simaruba (turpentine tree, almagigo), and
Tabebuia heterophylla (white cedar, roble). In the second strata is
Eugenia biflora (black rod-wood, hojamenuda), E. foetida (no common
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
name), E. axillaris (krumberry, grajo), Guaiacum officinalis
(guayacan), G. sanctum (no common name), Coccoloba diversifolia
(mountain grapes, udilla), C. microstachya (uvirillo), and
Coccothrynax alta (silver palm, palma abanico) (01,11).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
None.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Restricting Timber Harvest
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation
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 Regulating commercial harvest levels
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Feral Animals
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
Adverse Forest Alteration
Existing Forest Alteration
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The most serious threat to Banara vanderbiltii in the past and
present has been the modification of habitat and the direct
destruction of plants through deforestation. The species was
eliminated from all but one of the previously reported sites in this
manner. The remaining population occupies a very small area on
private land, only 200 meters from a major highway. The proximity to
the highway is an indirect threat only due to the fact that any
deforestation and canopy removal is detrimental to this species (13).
Additional disturbances such as modification of the forest edge and
the subsequent encroachment by disturbance-adapted species could lead
to elimination of this species. Wild yams grow in the forest areas
and yam cultivation has been indicated as a threat to the species (11,
12).
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
No recovery plan has been initiated. It is anticipated that this will
be initiated in 1988.
No recovery plan has been approved. Recommended recovery actions
include:
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
- Controlling or restricting commercial and noncommercial
harvest, although no specific harvesting of this plant is
done, general harvesting and clearing of habitat area
exists,
- Maintenance of seed bank for transplanting individuals,
- Propagation for reintroduction,
- Controlling agricultural practices such as wild yam
cultivation,
- Land acquisition by federal or private agencies from private
landowners,
- Controlling road maintenance activities,
- Limiting human access,
- Restrict timber harvesting and forest clearing,
- Promote habitat revegetation,
- Control exotic vegetation (i.e., aggressive vines), and
- Control feral animals (cattle and goats) which graze on
foliage
The species has been successfully propagated by Fairchild
Tropical Garden in Miami, Florida and some private land which includes
a portion of this species habitat is being appraised for acquisition
by a private agency.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species PALO DE RAMON
Species Id ESIS704034
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Beard, J.S. 1955. The classification of tropical vegetation
types. Ecology 36:89-100.
02 Britton, N.L., and P. Wilson. 1923. Botany of Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. IN: Scientific survey in Porto Rico and the
Virgin Islands, Vols. 5 & 6. NY Acad. of Sci., NY.
03 Densmore, D. 1986. Trip report (Banara vanderbiltii). U.S. Fish
and Wildl. Serv.
04 Department of Natural Resources. 1985. Regulations to Govern the
Management of Threatened and Endangered Species in the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico.
05 Ewel, J.J., and J.L. Whitmore. 1973. The ecological life zones of
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Res.
Paper No. ITF-18. 72 pp.
06 Little, E.L., R.O. Woodbury, and F.H. Wadsworth. 1974. Trees of
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. U.S.D.A. For. Serv. Handbook.
449 pp.
07 Monroe, W.H. 1976. The karst landforms of Puerto Rico. U.S.
Geological Survey Prof. Paper 899:1-69.
08 Pico, R. 1974. The geography of Puerto Rico. Aldine Publ. Co.
09 Roberts, R.C., et al. 1942. Soil survey of Puerto Rico. U.S.D.A.
Soil Survey Rept. Serv.
10 Soil Conservation Service. 1978. Soil survey of the San Juan area
of Puerto Rico. U.S.D.A. in coop. with the Univ. of PR,
Agricultural Experiment Station.
11 Vivaldi, J.L., and R.O. Woodbury. 1981. Status report on
Banara vanderbiltii. Unpubl. status rept. submitted to the U.S.
Fish and Wildl. Serv., Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.
12 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants; determination of endangered status for two
Puerto Rican plants: Peperomia wheeleri and Banara vanderbiltii.
Fed. Reg. 52(9):1459-1462.
13 Silander, S. 1988. Pers. knowledge. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv.,
Caribbean Field Office, Boqueron, PR.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants; determination of endangered status for two
Puerto Rican plants; Peperomia wheeleri and Banara vanderbilti.
Fed. Reg. 52(9):1459-1462.
02 Vivaldi, J.L., and R.O. Woodbury. 1981. Status report on
Banara vanderbilti. Unpubl. status rept. submitted to the U.S.
Fish and Wildl. Serv., Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.
References - 1