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Plant Profile

Vahl's Boxwood (Buxus vahlii)

A view of Vahl's Boxwood, which is evergreen and grows up to 15 feet tall and 5 feet in diamater. Photo Credit: Jennifer Possley

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Buxaceae
State: PR
Nature Serve ID: 145833
Lifeform: Shrub, Tree
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/14/1986

Description:

Buxus vahlii grows on limestone formations in northern and northwestern semi-evergreen forests in Puerto Rico. Two remaining sites support about 40 individuals, none of which appear to be reproducing. (USFWS 1985, 1990) Buxus vahlii is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow to a height of 15 feet. It has dioecious flowers that grow in clusters and bloom from December to April and produce small, shiny black seeds. This species does not reproduce vegetatively. (USFWS 1990).

Where is Vahl's Boxwood (Buxus vahlii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Buxus vahlii is found in semi-evergreen forests in ravines and on ledges. This species is found in the semi-shaded forest understory. (USFWS 1990)

Distribution:

Buxus vahlii is known from two locations in Puerto Rico (USFWS 1984, 1985). The remaining individuals are threatened with development of a coal-fueled power plant, further mining and industrial or commercial developments.

States & Provinces:

Vahl's Boxwood can be found in Puerto Rico

Which CPC Partners conserve Vahl's Boxwood (Buxus vahlii)?

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

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

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Four sites with a total of 1,300 individuals, restricted range, potential habitat modification or destruction due to limestone mining and urbanization. Little and Woodbury (1980) cite the following sites of occurrence: Rinc?n, Ponce and Bayam?n. Also St. Croix.

01/01/2010

Threats include, limestone quarrying, habitat destruction and development pressure (USFWS 1984, 1990).

01/01/2010

About 40 individuals are known from two sites (USFWS 1984, 1985).

01/01/2010

Unknown.

01/01/2010

USFWS (1985, 1990) proposes that Buxus vahlii should be protected in its natural habitat as long as possible, but that further research and restoration/reintroduction efforts will be necessary for this species conservation situation to improve.

01/01/2010

Additional habitat sites need to be identified so that new populations can be established (USFWS 1990).