(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - FERN, TREE, ELFIN
OTHER COMMON NAMES - FERN, TREE and ELFIN
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fern/F-Ally
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - POLYPODIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - FILICOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - EUFILICALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - CYATHEACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - CYATHEA,
SPECIES AND SSP - DRYOPTEROIDES,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - CYATHEA DRYOPTEROIDES
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Elfin Tree Fern
Cyathea dryopteroides Maxon
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Fern or fern ally
DIVISION: Polypodiophyta CLASS: Filicopsida
ORDER: Eufilicales FAMILY: Cyatheaceae
Cyathea dryopteroides is an elfin tree fern reaching
approximately 0.5 to 0.75 m in height and a trunk diameter of 2 to
2.5 cm. Leaves appear to be hairless, are about 1 m long and 0.25 m
wide, feather-like, twice compound, widest just above the middle and
are tapered at both ends. The sori are dorsal, rounded, 1 to 3
pairs, inframedial but clearly off the costule. The indusium is
cup-shaped, about 1.3 mm in diameter, dark brown, glabrous with firm
and entire margins. The receptacle is large and capitate (03,08).
This elfin tree fern was collected for the first time by N.
L. Britton and S. Brown from Monte Cerrote, near Adjuntas. The
specimen was sent to Dr. William Maxon at the U.S. National
Herbarium, who described the species in 1925. In 1943, it was
collected again, this time from Cerro Jayuya and in the 1960's it was
collected from Monte Guilarte by R. O. Woodbury. Maxon included this
species in the genus Cyathea due to the cup-shaped indusuim. A more
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
Date 13 MAR 96
recent revision (05), which emphasizes other characters such as the
scale morphology, places the species in the genus Alsophila.
However, in Proctor's (04) review of the ferns of Puerto Rico, the
species is again placed in the genus Cyathea and this has been
followed here.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
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 Elfin Tree Fern (Cyathea dryopteroides) 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
State 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: 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
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 1985.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
CITES II
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
Cyathea dryopteroides is not known to have commercial value
at the present time.
87/09/25:51 FR 34103/34106 - Proposed Rule
87/06/16:52 FR 22936/22939 - Final Rule
Status - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Evergreen Forest Land
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The following habitat information is from the status report on
Cyathea dryopteroides (08).
The elfin tree fern is restricted to elfin or dwarf forests of
the central mountains. This forest type is found on exposed peaks
and ridges above 830 m in elevation. Mean monthly temperature has
been reported to the 18.3C with mean minimum monthly temperature of
17.4C and maximum of 19.9C. Rainfall exceeds evapotranspiration
throughout the year. Conditions are less extreme than those found in
the dwarf forest of Luquillo but wind exposure is high (01,08).
These mountains are of volcanic origin, Upper Cretaceous,
and igneous rocks cover most of the area. Basalt is the parent rock
throughout the area. Topography is rough and highly dissected by
intermittent streams, however, the elfin forest is found on more
rounded mountain tops. Soils are of the Humatas-Maricao-Los Guineos
association and are steep and very steep, well to moderately
well-drained, very strongly acid, and clayey over a layer of highly
weathered rock. A humus layer up to 75 cm deep is often present
and the lower part is usually mineralized into peat (08).
The vegetation is an evergreen montane forest type where only a
single strata is present. Trees are stocky, usually 5 to 8 m in
height, and form a dense thicket. Leaves are microphyllous to
nanophyllous (to 8 cm), thick, and usually clustered at the tips of
branches. Roots form a superficial mat and aerial and adventitious
roots are common. Bromeliads are found on the forest floor rather
than in the tops of trees. Mosses and liverworts are not as common
as in the dwart forests of Luquillo but vines are more abundant
(01,08).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
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
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
Shrub-tree (02,03)
LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (02,03)
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (02,03,08)
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Unknown
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Unknown
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Spore dissemination is by wind.
SEED BIOLOGY:
No information is available concerning the seed biology of
this species.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Only 10 plants are known from Monte Guilarte and although
there were no evident signs of stress or disease, no young
plants were observed. Fifty-six plants have been reported from
Cerro Jayuya but no young plants were present (02,07,08).
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
Soils are of the Humatas-Maricao-Los Guineos association and
are steep and ver steep, well to moderately well-drained, very
strongly acid, and clayey over a layer of highly weathered rock.
A humus layer up to 75 cm deep is often present and the lower part is
usually mineralized into peat (06,08).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component (08)
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
Dominant tree species in the dwarf forest of Cerro Jayuya
are Clusia grisebachiana (cupey) and Cyrilla racemiflora (palo
colorado). Other common trees are Micropholis chrysophyloides
(leche prieta), Ocotea leucoxylon (laurel geo), Mecranium
amygdalinum (camasey almendro), Persea urbaniana (aguacatillo),
Psychotria berteriana (cachimbo comun), Daphnopsis philappiana
(emajagua de sierra), Nephelea portorecensis, and Alsophila
bryophylla. Shrubs include Psychotria maleolens (cachimbo),
Wallenia yunquensis, Lascianthus lanceolatus (mata de peo), and
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
Date 13 MAR 96
Renealmia jamaicensis (narciso colorado). Epiphytes, ferns,
orchids, liverworts, and mosses are abundant. The endangered
tree, Ilex cookii, is also found in this area (07, 08).
The vegetation of the Monte Guilarte site appears to be an
ecotone between the elfin and palm forests. The canopy is less than
7 m in height and the most common trees are: Prestoea montana (palma
de sierra), Mecranium amygdalinum (camasey almendro), Ocotea
leucoxylon (laurel geo), Micropholis chrysophylloides (leche
prieta), Cordia borinquensis (muneca), Alsophila bryophylla,
Nephelea portoricensis, and Eugenia stewardsonsii (08).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
None
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Restricting Timber Harvest
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Noncommercial Harvest
Beneficial Regulating commercial harvest levels
Adverse Recreational development
Existing Recreational development
Adverse Transmission Lines/Towers
Existing Transmission Lines/Towers
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Inherent Reproductive Characteristics
Existing Inherent Reproductive Characteristics
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
Adverse Forest Alteration
Existing Forest Alteration
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Although the elfin forests are primarily used as wildlife
refuges and for watershed protection and no wood is harvested
from these areas, they are crossed by roads and utilized as sites for
the construction of radio, TV, and communication towers. The
construction of these has already resulted in the destruction of many
plants.
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
No approved recovery plan is available for this species.
Some recovery recommendations include:
- Transplanting wild individuals
- Propagation for reintroduction
- Restricting timber harvest
- Habitat revegetation/land rehabilitation
- Controlling/restricting development
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species FERN, TREE, ELFIN
Species Id ESIS854001
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Howard, R. A. 1968. The ecology of an elfin forest in
Puerto Rico. 1. Introduction and composition studies. Jour.
Arnold Arboreteum 50: 225-267.
02 Little, E. and R. O. Woodbury. 1980. Rare and endemic trees
of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. U.S.D.A. Forest
Service Conservation Research Report 27. 26 pp.
03 Maxon, W. R. 1925. Pteridophyta. In: Britton, N. L. and
P. Wilson, Botany of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands,
Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Vols.
5 and 6. New York Botanical Gardens, NY.
04 Proctor, G. R. 1986. Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands. New York Botanical Garden (In Press).
05 Tryon, R. 1970. The classification of the Cyatheaceae.
Contr. Gray Herbarium 200: 1-53.
06 U.S.D.A. 1979. Soil survey of the Ponce area of southern
Puerto Rico. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service.
07 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Field Office. 1986.
Status review of Cyathea dryopteroides.
08 Vivaldi, J. L. and R. O. Woodbury. 1981. Status report on
Alsophila dryopteroides (Maxon) Tryon. Unpublished report
submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta,
Georgia. 41 pp.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Field Office.
1986. Status review of Cyathea dryopteroides.
02 Vivaldi, J. L. and R. O. Woodbury. 1981. Status report on
Alsophis dryopteroides (Maxon) Tyron. Unpublished report
submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta,
Georgia. 41 pp.
References - 1