Endemic Plant - Palo de Jazmín

Palo de Jazmín (Sp.), Styrax portoricensis (Sci.), endemic species Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico.

Information compiled by Alan Mowbray, USDA Forest Service,
El Yunque National Forest – 2009.

General Information:

Class-Magnoliopsida, Order-Ebenales, Family-Styracaceae (Storax family), Genus-Styrax (Snowbell). Species-S. portoricensis. One of the rarest endemic trees of Puerto Rico is known to occur only in the northeastern Luquillo Mountains (Sierra de Luquillo) and the north-central Cayey mountains (Sierra de Cayey).

Description:

Palo de Jazmín is an evergreen tree that can reach 65 feet (19.8 meters) in height. It is recognized by star-shaped hairs on twigs, veins of lower leaf surfaces, branches of flower clusters, flowers and fruits; elliptically shaped leaves, 2 ¾ to 4 ¾ inches (6.9 to 12 centimeters) long and 1 ¼ to 2 inches (3 to 5 centimeters) wide, with six to seven ½ inch (1.2 centimeter) star-shaped whitish flowers drooping on short curved stalks. It has pointed gray-green fruit with cup-shaped outer leaves (calyces) for protection. It flowers in September, and October; fruits in April.

Distribution:

Very rare in Luquillo and Cayey mountains; El Yunque NF and Carite State Forest.

Threats:

Currently listed under section (4) (C) 2 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with a classification of Endangered on the list of Endangered or Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.11 – 17.12).