Home/Species/ Luquillo Mountain Hempweed

Mikania pachyphylla

Urban

Luquillo Mountain Hempweed

G2Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G2ImperiledGlobal Rank

UnknownThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.161115

Element CodePDAST6F050

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderAsterales

FamilyAsteraceae

GenusMikania

Other Common Names

Luquillo Mountain Hempvine (EN) Luquillo Mountain hempvine (EN)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Conservation Status

Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x

Review Date2018-03-26

Change Date2018-03-26

Edition Date2018-03-26

Edition AuthorsTreher (2018)

Threat ImpactUnknown

Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences1 - 20

Rank Reasons

Mikania pachyphylla is endemic to Puerto Rico and occurring in the Sierra de Luquillo and Cordillera Central in wet forests above 1,000 meters. Most herbarium specimens were collected along roads and trails on public forest lands. The species occurs in multiple public forests. Threats could include road and trail maintenance and severe weather and climate change.

Range Extent Comments

Mikania pachyphylla is endemic to Puerto Rico and occurring in the Sierra de Luquillo and Cordillera Central (Acevedo-Rodríguez 2005; Gann et a. 2018).

Occurrences Comments

Specimens collected in the last 20-30 years are from El Yunque National Forest, from the Cordillera Central in Toro Negro State Forest and near the summit of Cerro Punta. Also reported from Carite and Guilarte State forests (Acevedo-Rodríguez 2005).

Threat Impact Comments

All known occurrences are based on specimens collected along roads or trails, perhaps due to the ease of collection or the slight disturbance or increased sunlight created in these environments. The management of roads and trails and users of these systems may threaten the species, although the vining habit may protect the plant from trampling or vehicle damage. Severe weather and the impact of climate change on elevational temperature and moisture gradients may threaten the species.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Occurs at high elevations in wet mountain forest above 1,000 meters (Acevedo-Rodríguez 2005; GBIF 2018; Liogier and Martorell 2000).

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/Woodland

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weather	Pervasive (71-100%)	Unknown	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

Puerto Rico (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
El Toro Area	Caribbean National Forest	12,584
Mameyes Area	Caribbean National Forest	11,150

References (4)

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 2005. Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 51:1-483.
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.
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Liogier, H.A., and L.F. Martorell. 2000. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: A systematic synopsis. 2nd edition, corrected and revised by H.A. Liogier. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. 382 pp.

Mikania pachyphylla

Habitat

—