Varronia rupicola

{{Speciesbox

|image = Cordia rupicola flower (5840029727).jpg

|status = EN

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Hamilton, M.A. |author2=Sanchez, M. |author3=Bárrios, S. |date=2018 |title=Varronia rupicola |volume=2018 |page=e.T43896A125645936 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T43896A125645936.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}

|genus = Varronia

|species = rupicola

|authority = (Urb.) Britton

|synonyms = *Cordia rupicola Urb.

|synonyms_ref =

}}

Varronia rupicola, synonym Cordia rupicola, commonly known as the Puerto Rico manjack, is a critically endangered species of flowering shrub in the borage family, Boraginaceae, that is native to the islands of Puerto Rico and Anegada.{{cite journal|last1=Clubbe|first1=Colin|last2=Gillman|first2=Michael|last3=Acevedo-Rodríguez|first3=Pedro|last4=Walker|first4=Raymond|title=Abundance, distribution and conservation significance of regionally endemic plant species on Anegada, British Virgin Islands|journal=Oryx|volume=38|issue=3|year=2004|issn=0030-6053|doi=10.1017/S0030605304000596|doi-access=free}}

Taxonomy

The species was discovered by German botanical collector Paul Sintenis in 1886.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

Description

Varronia rupicola is a small woody shrub that measures {{convert|1.5|-|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height. Its leaves are oval-elliptical measuring from {{convert|2|-|9|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The leaf upper surface is rigidly scabrous, puberulous underneath, and the strigose petioles (the stalk of the leaves) are {{convert|2|-|10|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. It produces small white flowers which yield a one-seeded red fruit measuring {{convert|4|mm|in|abbr=on}}.Proctor, G. 1991. Status survey of Cordia rupicola. In: Puerto Rican Plant Species of Special Concern: Status and Recommendations. Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Distribution and habitat

The species was believed to be endemic to Puerto Rico until it was described from the island of Anegada in 1987. The species was discovered in Los Indios, between Guayanilla and barrio Barinas in Yauco in 1886. A year later it was found in Guánica. Two reports of a single specimen exist from the island of Vieques but no population has been confirmed.{{cite web |url=http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/candforms_pdf/r4/Q0GP_P01.pdf |title= Species assessment - Cordia rupicola|access-date=November 27, 2006 |year=2005 |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |pages=3–4}} In 1995 fifteen plants were found east of the historical locations at El Peñón in Peñuelas.

El Peñón is a privately owned subtropical dry forest site located in a limestone substrate. The area has a sparse, low brush ({{convert|2|to|3|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}) with a few taller trees reaching {{convert|4|to|5|m|ft|abbr=on}}. These trees include Bourreria succulenta var. succulenta, Bucida buceras, and Bursera simaruba. Average rainfall in the area is less than {{convert|66|cm|in|abbr=on}}.Breckon, G. J. and D. A. Kolterman. 1996. Cordia rupicola Urban. Final Report under Cooperative Agreement No. 1448-0004-94-9113 between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus.

Two Anegada sites, each with a few dozen individuals, have been confirmed. Both sites are located in the western part of the island and cover an area of less than {{convert|5|km2|acre|abbr=on}}. In Anegada the species is locally abundant in limestone and sand dunes, showing a slight preference for limestone.

The IUCN assessment considered all Puerto Rican populations extirpated.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=Varronia rupicola (Urb.) Britton |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:262679-2 |access-date=2020-05-22 }}

}}

Varronia rupicola

Taxonomy

Description

Distribution and habitat

See also

References

Further reading