Pleodendron macranthum
(Baill.) v. Tiegh.
Aceitillo
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very high - highThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154515
Element CodePDCAN02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMagnoliales
FamilyCanellaceae
GenusPleodendron
Other Common Names
Chupacallos (ES)
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 Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-01-10
Change Date1984-03-28
Edition Date2022-03-28
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, B., rev. Jaster (1995), rev. Frances (2018), rev. Treher (2021)
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Pleodendron macranthum is known from eastern and northern Puerto Rico in El Yunque National Forest and the Rio Abajo Commonwealth Forest. It is estimated to occur in 5 populations comprised of 22 individuals; however, we are lacking information on the status of the populations. About 75 individuals have been reintroduced. Past threats include habitat destruction from forest management practices and large scale from agricultural and urban development. Although forests are regenerating, the species is still threatened by lack of natural recruitment and stochastic events like hurricanes and landslides due to its small population size.
Range Extent Comments
Pleodendron macranthum is endemic to the island of Puerto Rico in eastern and northwestern low elevation forests.
Occurrences Comments
When the species was listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1994, it was known from three occurrences in El Yunque National Forest and two occurrences in the Rio Abajo Commonwealth Forest (USFWS 2014). The status of these occurrences is unknown. Surveys in 2011 failed to find the populations in El Yunque National Forest, and the Rio Abajo occurrences have not been observed in the last decade (USFWS 2014, 2019). There are six localities where the species has been planted from propagated individuals. The majority of reintroduced sites occur within the species' known natural range; reintroduced individuals were also planted outside of the species' natural range in the Carite Commonwealth Forest (USFWS 2014).
Threat Impact Comments
Past threats include habitat destruction from forest management practices, urban development, and agriculture. However, urban development could impact undocumented occurrences at the periphery of El Yunque National Forest. Current threats include extreme weather and stochastic events like hurricanes and landslides. While landslides are a natural part of forest dynamics, the small number of populations and individuals, puts this species at great risk of localized extirpations during these events that are expected to increase in intensity and frequency with climate change. It is also threatened by a lack of natural recruitment and presumably low genetic diversity (USFWS 2014).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
This species occurs in northern and eastern Puerto Rico in subtropical wet and subtropical lower montane wet forests. Specifically, it occurs in the Sierra de Luquillo in El Yunque National Forest and in Northern Limestone Hills in the Río Abajo Commonwealth Forest (USFWS 2014, Gann et al. 2018).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/Woodland
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | Insignificant/negligible or past |
| 10 - Geological events | Large (31-70%) | Extreme or 71-100% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 10.3 - Avalanches/landslides | Large (31-70%) | Extreme or 71-100% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Large (31-70%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 11.4 - Storms & flooding | Large (31-70%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, EVERGREEN
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 (12)
- 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. 1994. Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands: Spermatophyta, Volume 3, Cyrillaceae to Myrtaceae. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. 461 pp.
- Liogier, H.A., and L.F. Martorell. 1982. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: A systematic synopsis. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. 342 pp.
- 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.
- Little, E.L. and R.O. Woodbury. Rare and Endemic Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Conservation Research Report No. 27. United States Department of Agriculture. Washington, D.C. 1980.
- Little, E.L., Jr., R.O. Woodbury, and F.H. Wadsworth. 1974. Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Vol. 2. Agric. Handbook No. 449. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1024 pp.
- Santiago-Valentín, E., R. Rivera-Martínez, and J. Báez. 2019. Manual para la producción de árboles y arbustos nativos de Puerto Rico: una selección de especies desde la experiencia acumulada en Viveros Para La Naturaleza. Programa Viveros Para La Naturaleza. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 138 pp.
- Silvestrini, Steve Maldonado. Personal Communication. Botanist. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras - Herbarium.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1998. Recovery Plan for <i>Pleodendron macranthum</i> and <i>Eugenia haematocarpa. </i>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Boqueron, Puerto Rico.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2014. Chupacallos (<i>Pleodendron macranthum</i>) and Uvillo (<i>Eugenia haematocarpa</i>) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Boquerón, Puerto Rico. 20 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2019. <i>Eugenia haematocarpa</i> and <i>Pleodendron macranthum</i> Recovery Plan Amendment. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, Georgia. 8 pp.