Gesneria pauciflora
Encyclopedia
Gesneria pauciflora is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae
known by the common name yerba maricao de cueva. It is endemic to Puerto Rico
, where there are only three populations remaining. It was federally listed as a threatened species of the United States in 1995.
This is a small shrub
with dark green, glossy leaves and tubular orange or yellowish flowers around 2 centimeters long. It grows in wet forested habitat within the Maricao Commonwealth Forest of Puerto Rico. It grows along the Maricao River, Seco River, and a tributary
of the Lajas River in rocky serpentine soil
s. The plants may grow within the stream bed between the black or greenish serpentine rocks and in the gravel
. At times, the plant is submerged in high water. The plant is gregarious, growing in colonial mats. The plants flower throughout the year, with most flowering occurring during the rainy season in August, September, and October.
Threats to the species include forest management practices such as trail construction, and erosion
, landslide
s, and other forces that affect the habitat.
Gesneriaceae
Gesneriaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of ca. 150 genera and ca. 3,200 species in the Old World and New World tropics and subtropics, with a very small number extending to temperate areas. Many species have colorful and showy flowers and are cultivated as ornamental plants.Most...
known by the common name yerba maricao de cueva. It is endemic 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...
, where there are only three populations remaining. It was federally listed as a threatened species of the United States in 1995.
This is a small 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...
with dark green, glossy leaves and tubular orange or yellowish flowers around 2 centimeters long. It grows in wet forested habitat within the Maricao Commonwealth Forest of Puerto Rico. It grows along the Maricao River, Seco River, and a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Lajas River in rocky serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s. The plants may grow within the stream bed between the black or greenish serpentine rocks and in the gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
. At times, the plant is submerged in high water. The plant is gregarious, growing in colonial mats. The plants flower throughout the year, with most flowering occurring during the rainy season in August, September, and October.
Threats to the species include forest management practices such as trail construction, and erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
, landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s, and other forces that affect the habitat.