Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 3.T.1.

7 Terrestrial Species - Plants Epiphyllum phyllanthus plattsii

Rev: 19 March 2012

MARTIN HAMILTON, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw. var. plattsii Proctor Taxonomy and Range Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Caryophyllales, Family: Cactaceae Genus: Epiphyllum , Species: phyllanthus, Variety: plattsii Epiphyllum is a tropical American genus, credited with 16 species by Britton and Rose (1923) (in Proctor 2009). Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii is a variety apparently unique to Cayman Brac. Known only from a single colony within the dry forest on top of the Bluff, its presence remains something of a mystery, since no other cacti of this genus are known to grow wild anywhere else in the West Indies. Further study of its taxonomy and distribution should be undertaken to fully determine its status and providence. Status Distribution: Species endemic to Cayman Brac, known only from a single colony. Conservation: Critically endangered CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)c(i)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v)c(i);D (The Red List, Burton 2008a).

For Reference and Acknowledgement: Cottam, M., Olynik, J., Blumenthal, J., Godbeer, K.D., Gibb, J., Bothwell, J., Burton, F.J., Bradley, P.E., Band, A., Austin, T., Bush, P., Johnson, B.J., Hurlston, L., Bishop, L., McCoy, C., Parsons, G., Kirkconnell, J., Halford, S. and Ebanks-Petrie, G. (2009). Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009. Cayman Islands Government. Department of Environment. Final Formatting and production by John Binns, International Reptile Conservation Foundation.

Section: 3.T.1.7 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Epiphyllum phyllanthus plattsii Page: 1

Legal: Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii currently has no legal protection in the Cayman Islands. Pending legislation, it would be protected under the National Conservation Law (Schedule I). The Department of Environment would be the lead body for legal protection. Natural History Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii is a spineless, night-flowering cactus, with elongate, flattened stems. Rooting into the shaded leaf-litter which accumulates beneath the forest canopy, Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii adopts a sprawling form; the long stems looping over the jagged rock pinnacles which form the forest floor. On Cayman Brac, the single Bluff-top colony is bisected by Captain Mabrys Drive. The majority of plants are to be found along the southern border of the road. Associated Habitats and Species for Epiphyllum ASSOCIATED HABITAT PLANS 2.T.4 Forest and Woodland Current Factors Affecting Epiphyllum Extreme range limitation: known only from a single colony of some 70m in diameter, Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii is especially prone to localised environmental perturbation. A report of a second colony from the Green Lane area remains unconfirmed, despite extensive search. Habitat loss: since Hurricane Ivan, Bluff-top development has progressed rapidly on Cayman Brac. Speculative land clearance, residential development, and an expanding roads network on the Bluff make this small roadside population extremely vulnerable. Capacity for protection: given the extremely small area of the known population, protection and in situ conservation should be potentially achievable. Landscaping potential: elsewhere, the attractive form and flowering nature of Epiphyllum cacti make them very popular. Opportunities and Current Local Action for Epiphyllum None. SPECIES ACTION PLAN for Epiphyllum OBJECTIVES 1. Stabilize population of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii and maintain or raise Red List status from critically endangered. 2. Preserve in situ populations of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii. 3. Develop inter-situ cultivation and conservation programme for Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii on Cayman Brac. Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii PROPOSED ACTION Policy & Legislation PL1. Pass and implement the National Conservation Law. PL2. Implement the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. PL3. Protect Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii under Schedule I of the National Conservation Law, through establishment of conservation regulations. PL4. Reduce the threat of a catastrophic loss of the remaining population, through involvement with the Millennium Seedbank Project. CIG DoE DoE DoE RBGK DoE CIG CIG QEIIBP 2006 2006 2006 2010 Page: 2 1,2,3 1,2 1,2,3 3 LEAD PARTNERS TARGET TARGET 2015 2015 2012 MEETS OBJECTIVE ASSOCIATED SPECIES PLANS Silver Thatch Palm Coccothrinax proctorii Banana Orchid Myrmecophila thomsoniana Consolea millspaughii var. caymanensis

Section: 3.T.1.7 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Epiphyllum phyllanthus plattsii

Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii PROPOSED ACTION PL5. Promote amendment of the Planning Law, to facilitate rapid imposition of stop-orders on illegal developments and provide a responsive and effective enforcement mechanism. PL6. Promote establishment of a Development Plan for the Sister Islands, incorporating a long-term vision for the environmental, social, and economic development of the Islands.

LEAD DoP DoP DCB

PARTNERS DoE CIG CIG MP DoE

TARGET 2010

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2

ongoing

1,2

Safeguards & Management NOTE: All subsequent Safeguards & Management actions are subject to the taxonomic and status determinations of RM2 SM1. Use the Environmental Protection Fund to establish a protected area on Cayman Brac, to effect in situ conservation of the entire colony of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii, and associated dry forest. SM2. Establish Growing Stations on Cayman Brac, from which to propagate, investigate and plant out key species of plants and trees of local significance, targeting private gardens and landscaping schemes. SM3. Collect seeds under Millennium Seedbank Project protocol and bank at Kew, with replicate collection for local conservation propagation. SM4. Implement associated HAPs. Advisory A1. Promote use of native plants in landscaping, through maintenance of existing vegetation and use of Recommended Planting Palette in new developments. A2. Targeted awareness of the need for the National Conservation Law and the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. RM1. Survey and map remaining populations of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii. DoP DoE DoE CIG NT 2009 2006 1,2,3 1,2,3 CC DoE QEIIBP DoE RBGK QEIIBP DoE NT, MP DoE CIG MP RBGK 2010 1,2

2010

1,3

2012 2015

3 1,2,3

Research & Monitoring DoE 2010 2

RM1. REPORT: Preliminary survey of Cayman Brac following Hurricane Paloma reveals damage to forest, but Epiphyllum mostly intact, Nov 2008. RM2. Investigate taxonomy and status of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii towards better understanding provenance and requirement for protection. RM3. Determine natural fruiting period, and collect seeds. RM4. Collect seed under Millennium Seedbank Project protocol, including voucher specimens and in situ habit images, and transpose into searchable electronic format, linked to Field Collections Database. RM5. Investigate potential for establishment of an exsitu contingency population within a protected area in Cayman Brac. RM6. Reassess IUCN Red List status of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii locally. DoE IntC RBGK QEIIBP DoE RBGK QEIIBP NT 2010 2

NOTE: All subsequent Research & Monitoring actions are subject to the taxonomic and status determinations of RM2. NT DoE DoE DoE 2010 2010 2015 2015 1,3 3 1,3 1

Communication & Publicity NOTE: All subsequent Communication & Publicity actions are subject to the taxonomic and status determinations of RM2 CP1. Raise public awareness of the unique nature of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii with a childrens competition to think of a common name for the plant. CP2. Develop and deploy in situ interpretation related to Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii. DoE DoE NT 2015 2015 1,2,3 1,2

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Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii PROPOSED ACTION CP3. Raise awareness of the unique nature of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii and other endemic flora and fauna.

LEAD DoE NT QEIIBP DoE DoP NT QEIIBP CIG

PARTNERS MP CN GC OS SB LCN

TARGET 2008

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3

CP3. REPORT: Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii featured in Red List of Flora (Burton 2008a) CP4. Raise awareness of the value of native landscaping, and promote the use of Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii. CP5. Utilise native flora and fauna, and associated preservation efforts, in the international promotion of the Cayman Islands. MP CN GC OS SB LCN DoE DoT NT MP QEIIBP 2010 1,3

2010

1,2,3

References and Further Reading for Epiphyllum

Burton, F. (2007). Wild Trees in the Cayman Islands (2nd edition). International Reptile Conservation Foundation, USA. ISBN 978-1-4276-2168-9 Burton, F.J. (2008a). Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK. Burton, F.J. (2008b). Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands. In: Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK. Hunt, D., Taylor, N. and Charles, G. (2006) The New Cactus Lexicon, Volumes I and II. International Cactaceae Systematics group, DH Books. Proctor, G.R. (1984). Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her Majestys Stationary Office. London. ISBN 0-11242548-8. Proctor, G.R. (2012) Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Publishing. 736 pp. ISBN: 9781842464038

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