Buxus vahlii
Encyclopedia
Buxus vahlii is a rare species of plant
in the boxwood family
. It is native to Puerto Rico
and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands
, where it is known from no more than four populations total. It has probably never been very common, but its distribution has been reduced by deforestation
and other human disturbance of its habitat. At the time it was listed as an endangered species
of the United States in 1985, it was thought to be endemic to Puerto Rico. Reports that it existed in Jamaica
and St. Croix had not been confirmed. Since then a few individuals have been located in St. Croix, some of which are within Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
.
This is a shrub
or small tree
which can reach 5 meters in height. The stem has two grooves below each node, an identifying characteristic. Clusters of flowers yield fruits which are horned capsules containing black seeds.
The two populations remaining in Puerto Rico total 40 to 85 individuals, and none of them have been observed to successfully reproduce. One population is located in Rincón
near the beach at Punta Higuero. The plants there are short in stature and chlorotic, possibly from exposure to sun, sea spray
, and high winds. The plants are located in a canyon next to a popular surfing
and camping
beach which has experienced accidental fires. The other population is in a forest near Hato Tejas
in Bayamón
.
The plant grows on limestone
substrates. Quarry
ing of limestone threatens this type of habitat on Puerto Rico, and the smaller population is located next to a quarry.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
in the boxwood family
Buxaceae
Buxaceae are a small family of four or five genera and about 90-120 species of flowering plants. They are shrubs and small trees, with a cosmopolitan distribution...
. It is native to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
, where it is known from no more than four populations total. It has probably never been very common, but its distribution has been reduced by deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and other human disturbance of its habitat. At the time it was listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States in 1985, it was thought to be endemic to Puerto Rico. Reports that it existed in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and St. Croix had not been confirmed. Since then a few individuals have been located in St. Croix, some of which are within Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge preserves habitat for threatened and endangered species, with particular emphasis on the Leatherback Sea Turtle . Its two miles of sandy beaches on the southwest corner of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands is an ideal nesting place for leatherbacks...
.
This is a shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
or small tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
which can reach 5 meters in height. The stem has two grooves below each node, an identifying characteristic. Clusters of flowers yield fruits which are horned capsules containing black seeds.
The two populations remaining in Puerto Rico total 40 to 85 individuals, and none of them have been observed to successfully reproduce. One population is located in Rincón
Rincón, Puerto Rico
Rincón is a municipality of Puerto Rico founded in 1771 by Don Luis de Añasco . It is located in the Western Coastal Valley, west of Añasco and Aguada. Rincón is spread over 8 wards and Rincón Pueblo...
near the beach at Punta Higuero. The plants there are short in stature and chlorotic, possibly from exposure to sun, sea spray
Sea spray
Sea spray is a spray of water that forms when ocean waves crash.-Make up:As a result, salt spray contains a high concentration of mineral salts, particularly chloride anions.-Effects:...
, and high winds. The plants are located in a canyon next to a popular surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
beach which has experienced accidental fires. The other population is in a forest near Hato Tejas
Hato Tejas
Hato Tejas is one of the 12 settlements in the District of Bayamón, Puerto Rico....
in Bayamón
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
.
The plant grows on limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
substrates. Quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
ing of limestone threatens this type of habitat on Puerto Rico, and the smaller population is located next to a quarry.
External links
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Buxus vahlii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 20 August 2007.
- USDA Plants Profile