Buxus vahlii

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Ordo: Buxales

Familia: Buxaceae
Genus: Buxus
Species: Buxus vahlii
Name

Buxus vahlii Baill., 1859
Synonyms

Crantzia laevigata Vahl
Tricera laevigata var. santicrusis Eggers
Tricera vahlii (Baill.) Britton

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Southern America
Regional: Caribbean
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Isl. (St. Croix)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Baillon, H.E., 1859. Monogr. Buxac. 67.

Links

World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Buxus vahlii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1998. IUCN Red List Category: Critically Endangered. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30906A9586001.en.
Hassler, M. 2019. Buxus vahlii. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jul. 13. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Buxus vahlii in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jul. 13. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Buxus vahlii. Published online. Accessed: Jul 13 2019.
The Plant List 2013. Buxus vahlii in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jul 13.
Tropicos.org 2019. Buxus vahlii. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 13 Jul 2019.
IUCN: Buxus vahlii Baill. (Critically Endangered)
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Buxus vahlii in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: Vahl's box

Buxus vahlii, or Vahl's boxwood, is a rare species of plant in the boxwood family. It is native to Puerto Rico and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where it is known from no more than four populations total. It has probably never been very common, but its distribution has been reduced by deforestation and other human disturbance of its habitat.[2] At the time it was listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1985, it was thought to be endemic to Puerto Rico.[3] Reports that it existed in Jamaica have not been confirmed.[3] A few individuals have been located in St. Croix, some of which are within Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge.[4]

This is a shrub or small tree which can reach 5 meters in height. The stem has two grooves below each node, an identifying characteristic.[2] Clusters of flowers yield fruits which are horned capsules containing black seeds.

The two populations remaining in Puerto Rico total 40[5] to 85[2] individuals, none of which have been observed to successfully reproduce.[5] One population is located in Rincón near the beach at Punta Higuero.[2] The plants there are short in stature and chlorotic, possibly from exposure to sun, sea spray, and high winds.[2] The plants are located in a canyon next to a popular surfing and camping beach which has experienced accidental fires.[3] The other population is in a forest near Hato Tejas in Bayamón.

The plant grows on limestone substrates. Quarrying of limestone threatens this type of habitat on Puerto Rico, and the smaller population is located next to a quarry.[3]
References

Bárrios, S.; Roland, C.; Barrett, L.; Sanchez, M.; Washburn, C.; Hamilton, M.A. (2021). "Buxus vahlii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T30906A191948545. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T30906A191948545.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
USFWS. Vahl's Boxwood Recovery Plan. April 28, 1987.
USFWS. Final rule to determine Buxus vahlii as an endangered species. Federal Register August 13, 1985.
USFWS. Draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment for Buck Island, Green Cay, and Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuges. Federal Register September 17, 2009]
Center for Plant Conservation