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Brunfelsia lactea

Krug & Urban

Vega Blanca

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.158914
Element CodePDSOL05030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilySolanaceae
GenusBrunfelsia
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Taxonomic Comments
Genus name here spelled 'Brunfelsia' following Kartesz (1999); this is the nomenclaturally conserved orthography (cf. ICBN, St. Louis edition, 2000). The original, erroneous spelling 'Brunsfelsia' of Linnaeus (1753) has often been used (e.g., Kartesz, 1994). LEM 23Aug01.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2018-03-19
Change Date2018-03-19
Edition Date2018-03-19
Edition AuthorsTreher (2018)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 20
Rank Reasons
Brunfelsia lactea is a small tree that is endemic to Puerto Rico that is known from high elevation peaks. It is documented in multiple mountain ranges at 5-7 occurrences. This species is likely threatened by climate change through shifting elevational temperature and moisture gradients, but also more intense and frequent severe weather. Population size and trends are unknown.
Range Extent Comments
Brunfelsia lactea is endemic to Puerto Rico and occurs on high elevation peaks in the Sierra de Luquillo, Sierra de Cayey, Cordillera Oriental (La Torrecilla), and Cordillera Central (Adjuntas) (Gann et al. 2022).
Occurrences Comments
The number of extant occurrences is not well understood but based on herbarium records there are around 5-7 occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
This species is potentially threatened by climate change which would impact elevational temperature and moisture gradients. Increasing temperature and drier conditions have already been documented in the Luquillo Mountains over the last century (Quiñones et al. 2018, Waide et al. 2013) but reduced rainfall is predicted across the country into the mid-21st century (Bhardwaj et al. 2018). As a species of high elevation peaks, the potential for suitable habitat at higher elevations is limited.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs in high elevation forest including dwarf forest.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - Hardwood
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Puerto Rico (2)
AreaForestAcres
El Toro AreaCaribbean National Forest12,584
Mameyes AreaCaribbean National Forest11,150
References (6)
  1. Bhardwaj, A., V. Misra, A. Mishra, A. Wootten, R. Boyles, J.H. Bowden, and A.J. Terando. 2018. Downscaling future climate change projections over Puerto Rico using a non-hydrostatic atmospheric model. Climatic Change 147:133–147.
  2. Gann, G.D., J.C. Trejo-Torres and C.G. Stocking. 2015-2018. Plants of the Island of Puerto Rico. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida USA.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2018. GBIF data accessed through GeoCAT portal. Online. Available: http://geocat.kew.org/ (Accessed 2018).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  5. Quiñones, M., I.K. Parés-Ramos, W.A. Gould, G. Gonzalez, K. McGinley, and P. Río. 2018. El Yunque National Forest Atlas. Gen. Tech. Rep. IITF-GTR-47. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 63 p.
  6. Waide, R.B., D.E. Comarazamy, J.E. González, C.A.S. Hall, A.E. Lugo, J.C. Luvall, D.J. Murphy, J.R. Ortiz-Zayas, N.D. Ramírez-Beltran, F.N. Scatena, and W.L. Silver. 2013. Climate variability at multiple spatial and temporal scales in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico Ecological Bulletins 54: 21–41.