Román-Guzmán, Javier A.

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A study of Randia portoricensis (Urb.) Britton & Standley [Bubiaceae]: a rare species
(2006) Román-Guzmán, Javier A.; Breckon, Gary J.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Lewis, Allen; Kolterman, Duane; Department of Biology; Van Bloem, Skip
Randia portoricensis (Rubiaceae) is an endemic shrub known historically from two locations in Guánica and Yauco. Six populations, including one found in 1992 at Montes de Barina in Yauco, with a total of 38 adults and 40 seedlings were located. The two populations on private land are threatened by cutting and development. Four small populations occurred in Guánica Forest Reserve. Between 1992 and 2005, 44 individuals in the Barina population were lost, which accounted for 54 % of the known plants. The species is dioecious with sphingid moths being the most likely pollinator. Fruits were found in five populations; two populations had seedlings. There was no evidence of fruit dispersal. Randia portoricensis meets three of the five possible IUCN criteria for listing as Critically Endangered. Propagation protocols and a strategy for the introduction of 50 juvenile plants to the four existing populations at Guánica Forest were developed.