Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 3.T.1.

6 Terrestrial Species - Plants Pisonia margaretae

Rev: 19 March 2012

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT

Pisonia margaretae Proctor Taxonomy and Range Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Caryophyllales, Family: Nyctaginaceae Genus: Pisonia, Species: margaretae Pisonia is a pantropical genus of about 30 species (Proctor 2009). Pisonia margaretae is a species unique to Grand Cayman. The entire natural world population is known only from 40 individual specimens in the Spotts area, adjacent Jasmine Lane, Grand Cayman. Status Distribution: Species endemic to Grand Cayman. World population known only from a single site in Spotts. Conservation: Critically endangered CR C1+2a(i,ii); D (The Red List, Burton 2008a). Legal: Pisonia margaretae currently has no legal protection in the Cayman Islands. Pending legislation, it would be protected under the National Conservation Law (Schedule I). The Department of Environment would be the lead body for legal protection.
For Reference and Acknowledgement: Cottam, M., Olynik, J., Blumenthal, J., Godbeer, K.D., Gibb, J., Bothwell, J., Burton, F.J., Bradley, P.E., Band, A., Austin, T., Bush, P., Johnson, B.J., Hurlston, L., Bishop, L., McCoy, C., Parsons, G., Kirkconnell, J., Halford, S. and Ebanks-Petrie, G. (2009). Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009. Cayman Islands Government. Department of Environment. Final Formatting and production by John Binns, International Reptile Conservation Foundation.

Section: 3.T.1.6 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Pisonia margaretae Page: 1

Natural History A branching woody shrub, Pisonia margaretae is found beneath the understory of a dry forest remnant adjacent Jasmine Lane, Spotts. Pisonia margaretae tends to spread clonally, via a network of suckers. Despite setting viable seed annually, an artificial population at the QEII Botanic Park has failed to produce any wild seedlings. Associated Habitats and Species for Pisonia margaretae ASSOCIATED HABITAT PLANS 2.T.4 Forest and Woodland 2.T.8 Roads Current Factors Affecting Pisonia margaretae Extreme range limitation: known only from a single cluster of some 40 individuals, in the vicinity of Jasmine Lane, Spotts, Pisonia margaretae is especially prone to localised environmental perturbation. Habitat loss: clearance and development of unprotected habitat. It is likely that adjacent development and roads construction has already seriously impacted this remnant population. Capacity for protection: given the extremely small area of the known population, protection and in situ conservation should be potentially achievable. Conservation propagation: a conservation propagation programme is established at the QEII Botanic Park. This includes root cuttings taken from each of the 40 individuals known in the wild, effectively duplicating the wild population. Despite setting viable seed annually, however, the artificial population has failed to produce any seedlings, and the reasons for this should be investigated as a matter of urgency. Landscaping potential: the irregular, sprawling habit of Pisonia margaretae make this species an unlikely candidate for incorporation into private gardens and formal landscaping schemes. None-the-less, it may be introduced as a point of interest in larger naturalistic schemes, such as roads verge landscaping. Opportunities and Current Local Action for Pisonia margaretae A conservation propagation programme is established at the QEII Botanic Park, which includes root cuttings taken from each of the 40 individuals known in the wild. In addition to containing the world population of Pisonia margaretae, the Jasmine Lane Forest also holds the only known specimen of Aegiphila caymanensis; compounding the conservation significance of this area. SPECIES ACTION PLAN for Pisonia margaretae OBJECTIVES 1. Stabilize population of Pisonia margaretae and maintain or raise Red List status by at least one category, from critically endangered. 2. Preserve in situ populations of Pisonia margaretae. 3. Develop exsitu cultivation and conservation programme for Pisonia margaretae. TARGET 2015 2015 2012 ASSOCIATED SPECIES PLANS Aegiphila caymanensis

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Pisonia margaretae PROPOSED ACTION Policy & Legislation PL1. Pass and implement the National Conservation Law. PL2. Implement the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. PL3. Protect Pisonia margaretae under Schedule I of the National Conservation Law, through establishment of conservation regulations. PL4. Reduce the threat of a catastrophic loss of the remaining population, through involvement with the Millennium Seedbank Project. PL5. Promote amendment of the Planning Law, to facilitate rapid imposition of stop-orders on illegal developments and provide a responsive and effective enforcement mechanism. PL6. Strengthen the Development Plan on Grand Cayman, incorporating a long-term vision for the environmental, social, and economic development of the Islands. SM1. Use the Environmental Protection Fund to establish a protected area / management agreement with landowners of the land adjacent Jasmine Lane, to protect Pisonia margaretae and Aegiphila caymanensis populations in situ. SM2. Collect seeds under Millennium Seedbank Project protocol and bank at Kew, with replicate collection for local conservation propagation. SM3. Establish a local conservation propagation programme and introduce Pisonia margaretae to specialist landscaping schemes through the Native Tree Nursery. SM4. Implement associated HAPs. Advisory A1. Promote use of native plants in landscaping, through maintenance of existing vegetation and use of Recommended Planting Palette in new developments. A2. Targeted awareness of the need for the National Conservation Law and the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. RM1. Survey and map remaining populations of Pisonia margaretae. RM2. Collect seed under Millennium Seedbank Project protocol, including voucher specimens and in situ habit images, and transpose into searchable electronic format, linked to Field Collections Database. RM3. Investigate tissue culture as a mechanism for conservation propagation. RM4. Investigate seed dispersal and germination in natural populations, to clarify why this species is not self-propagating in the QEIIBP population, and clarify potential environmental limitations to restoration efforts. RM5. Investigate potential for establishment of an exsitu contingency population of Pisonia margaretae within a protected area in Grand Cayman. RM6. Reassess IUCN Red List status of Pisonia margaretae locally. CP1. Raise public awareness of the unique nature of Pisonia margaretae with a childrens competition to think of a common name for the plant.

LEAD

PARTNERS

TARGET

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3 1,2 1,2,3 3 1,2

CIG DoE DoE DoE RBGK DoP

DoE CIG CIG QEIIBP DoE CIG CIG MP DoE

2006 2006 2006 2010 2010

DoP CPA

ongoing

1,2

Safeguards & Management CC DoE RBGK QEIIBP QEIIBP DoE RBGK NT, MP DoE CIG 2010 1,2

2012

2008

1,3

SM3. REPORT: (2012) Native Tree Nursery operations temporarily suspended. Sales insufficient to cover running costs. DoE 2015 1,2,3

DoP DoE

DoE CIG NT

2009 2006

1,2,3 1,2,3

Research & Monitoring DoE DoE OS QEIIBP DoE QEIIBP DoE DoE NT, CN RBGK QEIIBP DoE RBGK IntC NT 2010 2010 2008 2012 2010 2015 2 3 1,3 3 1,3 1

Communication & Publicity DoE Page: 3 2010 1,2,3

Section: 3.T.1.6 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Pisonia margaretae

Pisonia margaretae PROPOSED ACTION CP2. Subject to SM1, develop and deploy in situ interpretation related to the value of the Jasmine Lane Forest. CP3. Raise public awareness of the unique nature of Pisonia margaretae and other endemic flora and fauna. CP3. REPORT: Pisonia margaretae featured in Red List of Flora (Burton 2008a) CP4. Raise awareness of the value of native landscaping, and promote the use of Pisonia margaretae. CP5. Utilise native flora and fauna, and associated preservation efforts, in the international promotion of the Cayman Islands.

LEAD DoE DoE NT QEIIBP DoE DoP NT QEIIBP CIG

PARTNERS DE NT CN MP CN GC OS SB LCN MP CN GC OS SB LCN NRA DoE DoT NT MP QEIIBP

TARGET 2012 2008

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2 1,2,3

2010

1,3

2010

1,2,3

References and Further Reading for Pisonia margaretae

Burton, F. (2007). Wild Trees in the Cayman Islands (2nd edition). International Reptile Conservation Foundation, USA. ISBN 978-1-4276-2168-9 Burton, F.J. (2008a). Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK. Burton, F.J. (2008b). Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands. In: Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK. Proctor, G.R. (1984). Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her Majestys Stationary Office. London. ISBN 0-11-242548-8. Proctor, G.R. (2012) Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Publishing. 736 pp. ISBN: 9781842464038

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