Overview
Palma de manaca is an arborescence palm that is native to Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. It grows along streambanks in the northern and northwestern karst region in Puerto Rico and was originally listed as a threatened species on 1990 under the Endangered Species Act.
In Puerto Rico, the known palma de manaca natural populations are found in private lands. In collaboration with other partners and private landowners we have implemented conservation actions that have expanded the number of individuals, populations and locations of the species.
Scientific Name
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Life Cycle
In Puerto Rico, palma de manaca flowers twice a year and produces fruits mostly during the summer. It flowers mainly from November to April, with fruiting occurring in the summer months from May to August. The common honeybee has been seen around the flowers and might be a pollinator for this species.
In Hispaniola, flowers have been collected in October, December through February and April. While fruits have been seen in April, August and November.
Early stages of the palma de manaca appear to need more moisture and shade to survive than mature palms, which can tolerate more sun exposure.
Habitat
Palma manaca is a riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian species that occurs in the northwest limestone region of Puerto Rico. Natural populations are found along stream banks or in forested areas near ravines and creeks. The natural populations of palma manaca are located in mature and young moist limestone evergreen and semi-deciduous forest, and in the montane wet evergreen forest.
Physical Characteristics
Palma de manaca is a solitary arborescent palm that may reach 49 feet (15 meters) in height with a grayish brown rough trunk up to 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 centimeters) in diameter. The leaves are 9 to 16 feet (3 to 5 meters) long and are composed of many slender leaflets distributed in two rows. Inflorescences arise among the lower leaves and are up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) long. Ripe fruits are reddish-brown, turning blackish before falling and are up to a quarter of an inch long.
Geography
Palma manaca is found in the Greater Antilles and is native to Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. In Puerto Rico, remnants of natural populations are found along the stream Quebrada Collazo in the municipality of San Sebastian; Río Camuy between the municipalities of Hatillo and Camuy; and Río Guajataca between the municipalities of Quebradillas and Isabela. A new natural population was recently found in the municipality of Camuy. In addition, the species has been introduced in different Commonwealth forests in Puerto Rico, as well as in private lands with conservation agreements.
Palma de manaca is also known from the neighboring island of Hispaniola. The species is documented over a wide area from Haiti to eastern Dominican Republic. We do not have information on those populations, nor the status of the species in Hispaniola.
Timeline
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