Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Palo Colorado

Ternstroemia luquillensis

Krug & Urban

Palo Colorado

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139241
Element CodePDTHC07020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyPentaphylacaceae
GenusTernstroemia
Other Common Names
palo colorado (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 Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-01-20
Change Date2000-09-01
Edition Date2022-01-20
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, B., rev. Jaster (1995), rev. Frances (2018), rev. Treher (2022)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent<100-20,000 square km (less than about 40-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Ternstroemia luquillensis is endemic to Puerto Rico occurring in the Sierra de Luquillo and Cordillera Central in upper montane forest. Although known from four populations and six individuals in 1995, surveys conducted in 2011 failed to find the known occurrences. There is potential that only one individual remains. While T. luquillensis occurs in protected areas, it is threatened by effects of hurricanes and landslides, especially given its small population size, and climate change.
Range Extent Comments
Ternstroemia luquillensis is endemic to the island of Puerto Rico, where it is known from the Sierra de Luquillo in the El Yunque National Forest and the Maricao Commonwealth Forest (USFWS 2015). It occurs at about 3,000 feet (915 meters) in elevation.
Occurrences Comments
The number of extant occurrences is not well understood. In 1995, Ternstroemia luquillensis was known from four populations represented by six individuals. Populations were documented from El Yunque National Forest, with two herbarium specimens from the Maricao Commonwealth Forest. Surveys conducted in 2011 failed to find the known occurrences in El Yunque. As of 2015, the status of these occurrences was unknown (USFWS 2015, 2021).
Threat Impact Comments
The effects of severe weather, particularly flooding and landslides from hurricanes threaten this species. While landslides are a natural part of forest dynamics, the small number of populations and individuals puts it at great risk of localized extirpations during these events which are expected to increase in intensity and frequency with climate change (USFWS 2015, 2021). There is potential habitat for this species outside the boundaries of El Yunque, where habitat degradation and destruction are threats, primarily related to residential development. Installation of electronic sites were a threat in the past.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs in mesic, upper montane forests of Puerto Rico, at about 3000 feet (Little et al. 1974), specifically palo colorado and dwarf forests (USFWS 1995, USFWS 2015, 2021).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/Woodland
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasUnknownExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
10 - Geological eventsPervasive (71-100%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
10.3 - Avalanches/landslidesPervasive (71-100%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11.4 - Storms & floodingPervasive (71-100%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

—

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 (13)
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Silvestrini, Steve Maldonado. Personal Communication. Botanist. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras - Herbarium.
  8. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1992. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants: Determination of endangered status for five Puerto Rican trees. Federal Register 57(78): 14782-14785.
  9. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. <i>Callicarpa ampla, Ilex sintenissi, Syrax portoricensis, Ternstroemia luquillensis, Ternstroemia subsessilis </i>Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Boqueron, Puerto Rico.
  10. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2015. Callicarpa ampla / (Capá rosa) Ilex sintenisii / (no common name) Styrax portoricensis/ Palo de jazmín Ternstroemia luquillensis/ Palo colorado Ternstroemia subsessilis/ (no common name)5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Boqueron, Puerto Rico.
  11. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2020. <i>Callicarpa ampla, Ilex sintenissi, Syrax portoricensis, Ternstroemia luquillensis, Ternstroemia subsessilis</i> 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Boqueron, Puerto Rico.
  12. U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2014. Forest Plan Assessment, El Yunque National Forest. Section 2: Assessing ecological sustainability and diversity of plant and animal communities. Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3794280.pdf (Accessed 2018)
  13. U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2016. Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the revised Land and Resource Management Plan, El Yunque Forest Plan Revision. Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd517943.pdf. Accessed (2018)