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

16 Terrestrial Species - Plants Verbesina caymanensis

Rev: 19 March 2012

FRED BURTON

Verbesina caymanensis Proctor Taxonomy and Range Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Subclass: Asteridae, Order: Asterales, Family: Asteraceae Genus: Verbesina, Species: caymanensis Verbesina is a tropical American genus of about 150 species (Proctor 2009). Verbesina caymanensis is a species unique to Cayman Brac. The world population is known only from a small area the Bluff cliffs above Spot Bay. Status Distribution: Species endemic to Cayman Brac, known only from one site, a section of shaded cliffs, restricted to the north-facing section of bluff near Peters Cave, Cayman Brac. Cliff of this orientation runs for about 1.5 km, with a height of ca. 40m, limiting Verbesina caymanensis to a sparse population ranging over (up to) ca. 14.83 acres of cliff face. Conservation: Critically endangered CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v), (The Red List, Burton 2008a). Legal: Verbesina caymanensis 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.
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.1.16 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Verbesina caymanensis Page: 1

Natural History Verbesina caymanensis is a small shrub, growing to approximately 1m in height, and bearing small, white flowers. In the wild, the habitat requirements of Verbesina caymanensis appear highly specific. Specimens are confined to the rock crevices of a near-vertical section of north-facing Bluff cliff, which remains in permanent shade for the majority of the year. Under artificial conditions, however, Verbesina caymanensis appears less specific in its requirements. It was grown successfully in cultivation at the QEII Botanic Park for a number of years, though this artificial population does not appear to remain. Associated Habitats and Species for Verbesina ASSOCIATED HABITAT PLANS 2.S.1 Maritime Cliffs and Ironshore 2.T.3 Dry Shrubland Current Factors Affecting Verbesina Extreme range limitation: the world population of Verbesina caymanensis is known only from a small area of the Bluff cliffs above Spot Bay, Cayman Brac; making it especially prone to localised environmental perturbation. Habitat security: the inaccessible nature of the vertical cliff face which constitutes the natural habitat of Verbesina caymanensis affords the population some protection from the habitat clearance and development which threatens many other Bluff-top species. A newly emerging trend for development along the northern Bluff edge, however, may be a cause for concern. Additionally, the localised nature of the cliff-face population makes it susceptible to other impacts, including severe weather, rock fall and wildfire. Invasive species: the cliff-face habitat of Verbesina caymanensis, is currently subject to the establishment of invasive species, including the non-native shrub Shamrock Tacoma stans and Leaf-of-Life Bryophyllum pinnatum. Trail management: in the region of the ascent to Peters Cave, occasional clearance and burning along the trail promote the establishment and spread of invasive species, and increase the risk of wildfire. Landscaping potential: conservation propagation by QEII Botanic Park has shown Verbesina caymanensis to respond to cultivation. It is possible that, with appropriate management, Verbesina caymanensis may be incorporated into suitable schemes. Capacity for protection: given the small and inaccessible nature of the site in which Verbesina caymanensis exists, in situ conservation of the population should be potentially achievable. Opportunities and Current Local Action for Verbesina None. SPECIES ACTION PLAN for Verbesina OBJECTIVES 1. Reverse population decline of Verbesina caymanensis and raise Red List status by at least one category, from critically endangered. 2. Preserve in situ populations of Verbesina caymanensis. 3. Develop inter-situ cultivation and conservation programme for Verbesina caymanensis on Cayman Brac. TARGET 2015 2015 2012 ASSOCIATED SPECIES PLANS Brown Booby Sula leucogaster

Verbesina caymanensis PROPOSED ACTION Policy & Legislation PL1. Pass and implement the National Conservation Law. PL2. Implement the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law.

LEAD

PARTNERS

TARGET

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3 1,2

CIG DoE

DoE CIG Page: 2

2006 2006

Section: 3.T.1.16 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Verbesina caymanensis

Verbesina caymanensis PROPOSED ACTION PL3. Protect Verbesina caymanensis 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. 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. SM1. Use the Environmental Protection Fund to establish a protected area / management agreement with landowners to protect Verbesina caymanensis population in situ, in the vicinity of Peters Cave. SM2. Collect seeds under Millennium Seedbank Project protocol and bank at Kew, with replicate collection for local conservation propagation. SM3. 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. SM4. Investigate potential for establishment of a contingency population within a protected area in Cayman Brac. SM5. Instigate weeding of the cliff-face habitat of Verbesina caymanensis, to remove and deter establishment of invasive species: Shamrock Tacoma stans and Leaf-of-Life Bryophyllum pinnatum. SM6. 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 Verbesina caymanensis.

LEAD DoE DoE RBGK DoP DoP DCB

PARTNERS CIG QEIIBP DoE CIG CIG MP DoE

TARGET 2006 2010 2010

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3 3 1,2

ongoing

1,2

Safeguards & Management CC DoE RBGK QEIIBP DoE QEIIBP DoE DoE DoE MP RBGK NT NT NT, MP DoE CIG 2010 1,2

2012

2010 2010 2010 2015

1,3 1,3 2 1,2,3

DoP DoE

DoE CIG CIG NT

2010 2006

1,2,3 1,2,3

Research & Monitoring DoE NT 2010 2 RM1. REPORT: Preliminary survey of Cayman Brac following Hurricane Paloma reveals spread of Bryophyllum pinnatum and wind damage to Verbesina, however, latter still viable, Nov 2008. RM2. Determine natural fruiting period and 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. RM3. Reassess IUCN Red List status of Verbesina caymanensis locally. CP1. Develop and deploy in situ interpretation related to the value of the maritime cliff adjacent Peters Cave. CP2. Raise public awareness of the unique nature of Verbesina caymanensis and other endemic flora and fauna. DoE DoE RBGK QEIIBP 2010 2015 3 1

Communication & Publicity DoE DoE NT QEIIBP MP CN GC OS SB LCN 2010 2008 1,2 1,2,3

CP2. REPORT: Verbesina caymanensis featured in Red List of Flora (Burton 2008a)

Section: 3.T.1.16 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Verbesina caymanensis

Page: 3

Verbesina caymanensis PROPOSED ACTION CP3. Raise awareness of the value of native landscaping, and promote the use of Verbesina caymanensis. CP4. Utilise native flora and fauna, and associated preservation efforts, in the international promotion of the Cayman Islands.

LEAD DoE NT QEIIBP DoP CIG

PARTNERS MP CN GC NRA SB LCN DoE DoT NT MP QEIIBP

TARGET 2010

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3

2010

1,2,3

References and Further Reading for Verbesina

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. Proctor, G.R. (1984). Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her Majestys Stationary Office. London. ISBN 0-11-242548-8. Proctor, G.R. (2012) Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Publishing. 736 pp. ISBN: 9781842464038

Section: 3.T.1.16 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Verbesina caymanensis

Page: 4