Search / Plant Profile / Deeringothamnus rugelii

Plant Profile

Rugel's Pawpaw (Deeringothamnus rugelii)

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Annonaceae
State: FL
Nature Serve ID: 134799
Lifeform: Subshrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989

Description:

This species is a low, deciduous woody shrub or subshrub that grows to 50 cm tall. The species has 1 to several arching stems that arise from a taproot. The alternate, leathery leaves are oblong, to oval or obovate from 1 to 7 cm long. This species is very small and easy to miss. Flowers are lemon yellow, fragrant, and ascend singly from the axils of the new shoot leaves. The number of fleshy petals ranges from 6 - 15. There are 10 - 20 stamens. The fruit is 3 - 6 cm long and turns yellow-green when ripe. Blooms from March to May (FNAI 2000; Coile 2000, NatureServe 2001; and Ward 1979).

Where is Rugel's Pawpaw (Deeringothamnus rugelii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Deeringothamnus rugelii is native to wet slash-pine flatwoods consisting of grasses and sedges. (FNAI 2000)

Distribution:

A Florida endemic, with restricted habitat, known only from Volusia County, Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory database contains 23 occurrences in its database, but almost half of these are from

States & Provinces:

Rugel's Pawpaw can be found in Florida

Which CPC Partners conserve Rugel's Pawpaw (Deeringothamnus rugelii)?

Bok Tower Gardens

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/13/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

10/17/2020

Elaine Norman of Stetson University researches this species. Helkowski (1997a, 1997b, 1998a, 1998b, 2000) has studied this species in reference to the effects of fire and other management techniques on its populations.

10/17/2020

In vitro cultures and cryopreserved shoot tips of several genotypes are maintained at CREW.

10/17/2020

In vitro cultures and cryopreserved shoot tips of several genotypes are maintained at CREW.

Valerie Pence

01/08/2018

As seeds are not abundant and may not be adaptable to current seed banking conditions, more genetic representation should be added to ex situ cryopreserved shoot tip collections.

Valerie Pence

01/08/2018

In vitro cultures and cryopreserved shoot tips of several genotypes are maintained at CREW.

Valerie Pence

01/08/2018

Tissue culture propagation and shoot tips cryopreservation protocols have been developed for this species at CREW (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden).

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Florida endemic, with restricted habitat, known only from Volusia County, Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory database contains 23 occurrences in its database, but almost half of these are from one managed area. Habitat is rapidly declining due to development, conversion to pine plantation, fire suppression, and possibly drainage alterations.

Dorothy M. Brazis

01/01/2010

Sites at which this species historically occurred have been altered to serve as cattle pastures, road and powerline right-of ways. The species is rapidly declining due to development, conversion to pine plantation, fire suppression, and possibly drainage

Dorothy M. Brazis

01/01/2010

Rugels pawpaw is known from 29 sites, and about half of those are located on public lands. (FNAI 2000)

Dorothy M. Brazis

01/01/2010

Dorothy M. Brazis

01/01/2010

No active management known to be in progress.

Dorothy M. Brazis

01/01/2010

Research seed biology. Control exotic vegetation since the species is easily shaded out by other shrubs in its habitat. Map and survey the species to determine its current distribution, and keep a GIS database with the information. Protect and enhance existing populations. Conduct research on its life history characteristics. Monitor populations. Educate the public. Prevent degradation of existing habitat. Restore areas to suitable habitat. Conduct habitat-level projects. Monitor habitat/ecological processes.

Dorothy M. Brazis

01/01/2010

Maintain germplasm.