Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America

528 Pages·2001·22.916 MB·English

by  Beacham W., Castronova F.V., Sessine S.

BEACHAM’S GUIDE
to the
ENDANGERED SPECIES
of NORTH AMERICA
BEACHAM’S GUIDE
to the
ENDANGERED SPECIES
of NORTH AMERICA
Volume 4
Dicots
Edited By
Walton Beacham
Frank V. Castronova
Suzanne Sessine
Chupacallos
Pleodendron macranthum
Status Endangered
Listed November 25, 1994
Family Canellaceae
Description An evergreen tropical tree.
Habitat Moist tropical forest.
Threats Forestry practices and other distur-
bances, as well as the inherent risks
of a very small population.
Range Puerto Rico
Description covered by a thick organic surface layer. It is an
evergreen forest with two strata which are not
Chupacallos (Pleodendron macranthum) is an ever-
sharply defined. Tree height is generally less than
green tree reaching 33 ft (10 m) in height, with leath-
49 ft (15 m), crowns are low, and trees branch pro-
ery, alternate, simple leaves about 3.3-4.9 in (8.5-12.5
fusely. Palo colorado (Cyrilla racemiflora) is the most
cm) long and 1.7-1.9 in (4.5 to 5.0 cm) wide. The
prominent species in this type of forest. Three tree
blades are elliptic with the upper surface dark shiny
strata are obvious—a discontinuous upper strata, a
green and the midvein sunken. The lower surface
second continuous strata at 65 ft (20 m) and under-
is pale green with a prominent mid-vein and with
story. The forest floor is only sparsely vegetated.
fine, parallel side veins. The leaf stalks are about 0.3
Bromeliads, lianas, vines, and arborescent ferns are
in (7 mm) long. The whitish bisexual flowers are
frequently observed. Leaves are mesophyllous, and
solitary and axillary, 0.7 in (2 cm) wide and with a
shade leaves tend to be covered with epiphytic
1 in-long (2.5-cm-long) flower stalk. The cup-shaped
growth. Another dominant tree, motillo, bears char-
calyx is persistent in the fruit and the corolla con-
acteristic buttress roots.
tains 12 petals. The aromatic purplish black fruit
The Río Abajo Commonwealth Forest is the other
measures 0.7 in (2 cm) in diameter and contains
site where chupacallos can be found. This forest is
many seeds.
found in the limestone hill region of northern Puerto
Rico in the municipalities of Utuado and Arecibo.
Habitat
Here chupacallos grows in the semi-evergreen or
Three of the chupacallos’ known sites occur evergreen seasonal forest of the subtropical moist
within the Caribbean National Forest, managed by forest life zone on limestone hills at elevations from
the U. S. Forest Service. Humidity ranges from 90- 492 to 1,148 ft (150 to 350 m). Soils in these hills are
100% on cloudy days. Precipitation varies from 118 shallow, well-drained, alkaline, and interspersed
to 177 in (300-450 cm) annually, with a relatively between outcrops of hard limestone. Mean annual
dry season occurring from February to April. The precipitation varies from 4.9 to 6.5 ft (150 to 200 cm).
Luquillo Mountains are of volcanic origin, and ig- Two strata are present in this type of forest. The up-
neous rocks, mostly andesitic in nature, cover the per strata is composed of a continuous layer which
area. Basalt is the parent rock throughout these extends up to 66 ft (20 m) in height with a few emer-
mountains. The palo colorado forest, one of four for- gent trees reaching 82 ft (25 m). One-third to two-
est types, is found at elevations greater than 2,132 thirds of the species are deciduous. The second
ft (650 m). The floor of the palo colorado forest is strata reaches 32.8 ft (10 m) in height and the num-
Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America 1893
Chupacallos Dicots
ber of deciduous species is low. Most species are Abajo Commonwealth Forest. The chupacallos and
evergreen, with simple, microphyllous leaves. its habitat should be strictly protected against any
threatening activities associated with forestry, road-
Distribution building, or other disturbances. This can be done by
incorporating prohibitions into management plans
Chupacallos was discovered in 1822 or 1823 and
for the Caribbean National Forest and the Rio Abajo
was first described in 1889. No observation or col-
Commonwealth Forest. One goal is to propagate the
lection of the species was made for more than 40
chupacallos in captivity, to provide stock for out-
years. The species was rediscovered, and is at pre-
planting into suitable wild habitats.
sent known from fewer than 50 individuals in seven
localities of the subtropical wet and the subtropical
Contacts
montane wet forests of northern and eastern Puerto
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Rico. Three localities are within the Caribbean Na-
Regional Office, Division of Endangered Species
tional Forest and four are within the Río Abajo Com-
1875 Century Blvd., Suite 200
monwealth Forest.
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
http://southeast.fws.gov/
Threats
Forest management practices such as the estab- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
lishment and maintenance of plantations, selective Boquerón Ecological Services Field Office
cutting, trail and road construction and mainte- Post Office Box 491
nance, and shelter construction may affect the Boquerón, Puerto Rico 00622-0491
species. In addition, the extreme rarity of the species Telephone: [phone]
makes it vulnerable to natural catastrophes, such as Fax: [phone]
the passage of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. All locali-
ties where the species occurs in the Caribbean Na- References
tional Forest were affected by the hurricane. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. “Determina-
tion of endangered status for two Puerto Rican
Conservation and Recovery trees.” Federal Register 59(226):60565-60568.
The critical habitat of the chupacallos occurs
within the Caribbean National Forest and the Rio
1894 Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America
Kuawawaenohu
Alsinidendron lychnoides
Status Endangered
Listed October 10, 1996
Family Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Description Weakly climbing or sprawling sub-
shrub; woody at the base and densely
covered with fine glandular hairs.
Habitat Montane wet forest.
Threats Competition from the aggressive alien
plant prickly Florida blackberry; habitat
degradation by feral pigs; trampling by
humans.
Range Hawaii
Description Habitat
Alsinidendron lychnoides, or kuawawaenohu, a A. lychnoidestypically grows in montane wet for-
member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), is a est dominated by Metrosideros polymorpha (‘ohi‘a)
weakly climbing or sprawling subshrub. The main and Cheirodendron sp. (‘olapa), or by ‘ohi‘a and Di-
stems are 1.3-9.8 ft (0.4-3 m) long with short side cranopteris linearis(uluhe), trailing on the ground or
branches. The plant is woody, at least at the base, on other vegetation, and at elevations between 3,600
and densely covered with fine glandular hairs and 4,330 ft (1,097.3 and 1,310.6 m). Associated plant
throughout. The thin leaves are egg-shaped to el- species include Athyriumsp., Carexsp., Cyrtandrasp.
liptic and are 1.4-2.6 in (3.5-6.6 cm) long and 0.6-1.5 (ha‘iwale), Machaerinasp. (‘uki), Vacciniumsp. (‘oh-
in (1.5-3.8 cm) wide. Scattered clusters of 18-21 flow- elo), Peperomia sp. (‘ala ‘ala wai nui), Hedyotis ter-
ers range from 0.8-0.9 in (2-2.3 cm) in length. The minalis (manono), Astelia sp. (pa‘iniu), and Brous-
four sepals are white and thin, and remain so at ma- saisia arguta (kanawao).
turity. The outer two sepals greatly overlap the in-
ner ones. The sepals are oblong-ovate, 0.4-0.5 in (1-
Distribution
1.3 cm) long, but enlarge to 0.5-0.6 in (1.3-1.5 cm)
long in fruit, completely enclosing the fruit at ma- A. lychnoides was found historically on the is-
turity. The stamens are scarcely fused at the base land of Kauai at the east rim of Kalalau Valley near
with basal outgrowths 0.1 in (cm) long, nearly as Keanapuka, the western and southeastern margins
wide, and two- to three-toothed. The fruit are egg- of the Alakai Swamp, and southwest of the Swamp
shaped capsules, 0.4-0.5 in (1-1.3 cm) long, with 0.04 near Kaholuamano on the island of Kauai. This
in (0.1 cm) long with low transverse ridges on the species now occurs on state-owned land in the
surface. This species is distinguished from others in Alakai Swamp, including the Alakai Wilderness
this endemic Hawaiian genus by the weakly climb- Preserve, and on state-owned land on the east rim
ing or sprawling habit, color of the sepals, number of Kalalau Valley. This latter population occurs on
of flowers per cluster, and size of the leaves. A. ly- the boundary of Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Re-
chnoidesis closely related to A. viscosum, which dif- serve and Na Pali Coast State Park. The four
fers primarily in having narrower leaves, fewer cap- known populations contain a total of between 50
sule valves, and fewer flowers per cluster. and 100 plants.
Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America 1895
Kuawawaenohu Dicots
Kuawawaenohu, photograph by Steve Perlman. Reproduced by permission.
Threats limited distributions will remain a continuing threat
until populations recover.
The major threats to A. lychnoidesare competition
One plant has died since Hurricane ‘Iniki struck
from the aggressive alien plant prickly Florida
Kauai in September 1992.
blackberry, habitat degradation by feral pigs, and
trampling by humans. The Alakai Wilderness and
Conservation and Recovery
Keanapuka populations of this species are espe-
cially threatened by feral pigs and prickly Florida Wild seeds were collected on the trail between
blackberry. Pihea and Alakai Swamp Trail in February 1995.
More than 40,000 seeds were in storage at the Na-
A. lychnoides has populations close to trails or
tional Tropical Botanical Garden in 1997, but the vi-
roads that are easily accessible to possible overcol-
ability of those seeds is likely to be low. The U.S.
lection by plant enthusiasts.
Department of Agriculture National Seed Storage
This species is considered to be immediately Laboratory is currently testing this species for po-
threatened by recreational use in the areas in which tential cryopreservation as a method of long-term
it occurs. This species is also threatened by a risk of storage. Completion of the Alakai Wilderness Pre-
extinction from landslides, hurricanes, and other serve board walk will help reduce potential tram-
natural events; reduced reproductive vigor due to pling by humans, as well as reduce the spread of
the small number of extant individuals and their alien plants.
1896 Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America
Dicots Kuawawaenohu
Contact Reference
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1988. “Kauai II: Ad-
Regional Office, Division of Endangered Species dendum to the Recovery Plan for the Kauai Plant
Eastside Federal Complex Cluster.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland,
911 N.E. 11th Ave. Oregon. 84+ pp.
Portland, Oregon 97232-4181
Telephone:[phone]
http://pacific.fws.gov/
Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America 1897
Alsinidendron obovatum
No Common Name
Status Endangered
Listed October 29, 1991
Family Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Description Small shrub with thick, elliptic leaves
and dense clusters of flowers, lacking
petals but having five white and green
sepals.
Habitat Ridges and slopes in lowland moist for-
est.
Threats Alien plant species, feral pigs, low
numbers.
Range Hawaii
Alsinidendron obovatum,photograph by Derral Herbst. Reproduced by
permission.
Description closed flower clusters, shorter flower stalks, sepals
with a rounded rather than an acute tip, and a dif-
Alsinidendron obovatumis a small branching shrub
ferent habitat.
of the pink family that grows to 3 ft (0.9 m) in height.
A. obovatum generally flowers after about two
The thick, somewhat fleshy leaves are elliptic, 1.6-
years of growth. Plants flower and fruit year-round,
4.3 in (4.1-10.9 cm) long, and have three or five large
but flowering is usually heavier in winter and
veins. The flowers lack petals but have five sepals
spring depending upon precipitation. Plants sur-
that are white on the inside and green or green-
vive to six years unless there are drought conditions.
veined on the outside. They are borne in dense clus-
ters of seven to 12. In fruit, the sepals turn purple
Habitat
and become fleshy, forming a structure resembling
a berry.
A. obovatum grows on ridges and slopes of the
A. obovatum differs from A. trinerve, a closely re- Waianae Mountain Range in lowland moist forest
lated endangered plant from Oahu, in having more dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and ‘ohi‘a (Met-
1898 Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America
Dicots Alsinidendron obovatum
rosideros polymorpha) at elevations of 1,850-2,500 ft Nike missile site), where they have grown to ma-
(548.6-762 m). Associated plant species include turity. These plants have been crossed, and fruit
ko‘oko‘olau (Bidens) and Java plum (Syzgium co- has been collected from the crosses. In addition, the
mini). species is being propagated at the National Tropi-
cal Botanical Garden and the Lyon Arboretum.
Distribution
The army has adopted a fire management plan
that includes realigning targets and establishing
A. obovatumwas first collected in 1911. It has been
firebreaks. These actions may aid in protecting A.
found only along the northern and southern ends
obovatumfrom the threat of fire. The one individual
of the Waianae Mountains.
occurring on Makua Military Reservation has been
The four known populations contain 12 individ-
included in a large fenced enclosure from which un-
uals: eight in Kapuna Gulch, one and two at two
gulates have been eradicated. This species is tar-
sites in Pahole Gulch, and one in Kahanahaiki
geted for outplanting within the existing enclosure.
within Makua Military Reservation. The first two
occurrences are on state land; the last one is on U.S.
Contacts
Army land.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office, Division of Endangered Species
Threats
Eastside Federal Complex
The major threats to A. obovatumare competition 911 N.E. 11th Ave.
from molasses grass (Melinus minutifiora), an ag- Portland, Oregon 97232-4181
gressive non-native species, and habitat degrada- [phone]
tion by feral pigs. Molasses grass, which ranges http://pacific.fws.gov/
from the dry lowlands to the lower wet forests of
the leeward ridges, grows in dense mats that Pacific Remote Islands Ecological Services Field
smother native vegetation. Office
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 3-122
The low number of known plants and their lim-
P.O. Box 50088
ited distribution make the species vulnerable to ex-
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850
tinction through unpredictable human or natural
Telephone: [phone]
events. Some plants are located near hiking trails
Fax: [phone]
and are exposed to trampling.
References
Conservation and Recovery
Culliney, J. L. 1988. Islands in a Far Sea: Nature and
Eight individuals have been planted in an en- Man in Hawaii.Sierra Club Books, San Francisco.
closure at Pahole National Area Reserve. Approx-
imately 40 individuals are also retained at the Di- Stone, C. P., and J. M. Scott, eds. 1985. Hawaii’s Ter-
vision of Forestry and Wildlife’s mid-elevation restrial Ecosystems: Preservation and Management.
propagation facility in the Waianae Mountains (a Cooperative National Park Resources Study
Unit, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.
Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America 1899
Alsinidendron trinerve
No Common Name
Status Endangered
Listed October 29, 1991
Family Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Description Small, branching shrub with thick,
fleshy leaves and dusters of green and
white flowers.
Habitat Slopes in wet forest.
Threats Feral pigs, alien plant species, low
numbers.
Range Hawaii
Alsinidendron trinerve,photograph by Robert J. Gustafson. Reproduced
by permission.
Description open flower clusters, longer flower stalks, sepals
with an acute rather than a rounded tip, and a dif-
Alsinidendron trinerveis a small, branching shrub
ferent habitat.
of the pink family that grows to 3 ft (0.9 m ). The
thick, somewhat fleshy leaves are elliptical, 1.6-4.3
Habitat
in (4-10.9 cm) long, and possess three or five large
veins. The flowers, borne in open dusters of 7-12, A. trinerve grows in the Waianae Mountains on
lack petals, but have five sepals that are white on slopes in wet forest dominated by ohia (Met-
the inside and green or green-veined on the out- rosideros polymorpha)and kawau (Ilex anomala)at el-
side. In fruit, these sepals turn purple and become evations between 3,000 and 4,000 ft (914 and 1219
fleshy, forming a structure resembling a berry. A. m). Associated plant species include pilo (Coprosma
trinerve differs from A. obovatum, a closely related ochracea), ‘ape‘ape (Gunhera), and alani (Melicope
endangered plant also from Oahu, in having more sandwicensis).
1900 Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America