Styrax portoricensis

Styrax portoricensis
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Styracaceae
Genus:	Styrax
Species:	S. portoricensis
Binomial name
Styrax portoricensis Krug & Urban

Styrax portoricensis, locally known as palo de jazmin,^[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Styracaceae. It is endemic to Puerto Rico. It is one of the rarest endemic trees of Puerto Rico and is known to occur only in the northeastern Luquillo Mountains (Sierra de Luquillo) and the north-central Cayey Mountains (Sierra de Cayey).

Description

Palo de jazmín is an evergreen tree that can reach 65 feet (19.8 meters) in height. It is recognized by star-shaped hairs on twigs, veins of lower leaf surfaces, branches of flower clusters, flowers and fruits; elliptically shaped leaves, 2 ¾ to 4 ¾ inches (6.9 to 12 centimeters) long and 1 ¼ to 2 inches (3 to 5 centimeters) wide, with six to seven ½ inch (1.2 centimeter) star-shaped whitish flowers drooping on short curved stalks. It has pointed gray-green fruit with cup-shaped outer leaves (calyces) for protection. It flowers in September, and October; fruits in April.

Distribution

It is very rare in Luquillo and Cayey mountains; El Yunque National Forest and Carite State Forest.

Threats

Currently listed under section (4) (C) 2 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with a classification of Endangered on the list of Endangered or Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.11 – 17.12).^[2]

Sources

• World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Styrax portoricensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 May 2014. 

References