Florida Cherry Palm (Pseudophoenix sargentii)

As part of a metapopulation reintroduction, in 1991-1993, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden planted 199 plants on a Florida Key, a historically known site for the Florida endangered Pseudophoenix sargentii. Plants used for the introduction were propagated at Fairchild from seed of 6 maternal lines. Planting occurred in the summers of 1991, 1993, and 1994. After observing heavy herbivory on plants < 150 cm tall on two Keys, they caged plants reintroduced that were younger than four years old. Over time, they removed cages on any individual that achieved a height of 150 cm. After 1991, they did not plant on the landward side of berms, because of high mortality in that microsite. A high organic nursery soil mixed equally with native soil and leaves back-filled holes for the largest transplants that were in 3 or 10-gallon containers. All plants received water after transplanting, but then received only ambient precipitation thereafter. Hurricane Andrew passed directly over the introduction site in 1992. Janice Duquesnel, FDEP monitored plants every year. By 2004, survival of plants ranged from 13% to 72% depending upon microsite. No plants survived plantings on the landward side of coastal berms. Storm surge following hurricanes is especially severe in these microhabitats.

As part of a metapopulation reintroduction, in 1991-1993, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden planted 3 juvenile plants on a Florida Key, a historically known site for the Florida endangered Pseudophoenix sargentii. Plants used for the introduction were propagated at Fairchild from seed of 6 maternal lines. Planting occurred July 1991, when daily rains fell reliably. Microsite type was coastal berm, A high organic nursery soil mixed equally with native soil and leaves back-filled holes for the largest transplants that were in 3 or 10-gallon containers. All plants received water after transplanting, but then received only ambient precipitation thereafter. Hurricane Andrew passed directly over the introduction site in 1992. They monitored plants at intervals of one- to four-years. In June 1992, there were 2 plants alive, in 1994 only a single survivor, and by 1998 no plants survived. They concluded that Sands Key was no longer a suitable site for maintaining P. sargentii and suggest that changes in habitats will mean that not all historic habitat will be suitable for reintroduction sites.

As part of a metapopulation reintroduction, in 1991-1993, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden augmented an existing population of the Florida endangered Pseudophoenix sargentii with 52 seedlings and 9 juvenile stage plants into 5 areas on a Key in Biscayne National Park. Plants used for the introduction were propagated at Fairchild from seed of 6 maternal lines. Planting occurred from May through July, 1991-1993, when daily rains fell reliably. In rockland hammocks, planting required picks, shovels, and steel bars to dig holes. A high organic nursery soil mixed equally with native soil and leaves back-filled holes for the largest transplants that were in 3 or 10-gallon containers. All plants received water after transplanting, but then received only ambient precipitation thereafter. Initially there was high mortality from herbivory on plants < 150 cm tall. Hurricane Andrew passed directly over the introduction site in 1992. They monitored plants at intervals of one- to four-years and have compared reintroduced plant growth and survival to that of wild growing individuals. By 2007, 7 of 10 juvenile plants >0.83 m survived, and 10 of 62 seedlings (<0.83 m) survived. After 12-14 years, reintroduced plants have increased the total plants in the wild by 27% and have contributed significantly to the medium and large juvenile stages.