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

1 Coastal Species - Plants Turnera triglandulosa

Rev: 19 March 2012

MAT COTTAM

Turnera triglandulosa Millsp. Taxonomy and Range Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Malpighiales, Family: Turneraceae Genus: Turnera, Species: triglandulosa Mostly a tropical American genus, Turnera comprising more than 60 species (Proctor 2009). Turnera triglandulosa is one of three species of Turnera found in the Cayman Islands. Status Distribution: Species endemic to Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Conservation: Data deficient DD - suspected to be at risk, (The Red List, Burton 2008a). Legal: Turnera triglandulosa currently has no legal protection in the Cayman Islands. Pending legislation, it would be protected under the National Conservation Law (Schedule II). 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.S.1.1 Costal Species - Plants - Turnera triglandulosa

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Natural History Turnera triglandulosa most closely resembles the more common Cat bush Turnera ulmifolia, but has longer leaves (12cm cf. 3cm), which are hairless. The tip of the leaf-stalk is also three-glandular (from which it gets its name), compared with the two-glandular tip of Cat bush. This attractive little shrub attains a height of about 1.5 m, and is to be found in scattered populations along disturbed roadside verges in Little Cayman. Little is known about its natural habitat. Its distribution in Cayman Brac is currently unknown. Associated Habitats and Species for Turnera ASSOCIATED HABITAT PLANS 2.S.5 Coastal Shrubland 2.T.8 Roads Current Factors Affecting Turnera Lack of information: little is known about the current numbers and natural habitat of Turnera triglandulosa. It is listed as data deficient in the Red List, (Burton 2008a). Roadside maintenance: modern populations are best known from man-modified areas, specifically roadside verges on Little Cayman. Effective management of roadside areas has the potential to contribute significantly to maintenance of the Little Cayman population. Lack of protected habitat: the natural habitat of this species is currently unknown, and is likely not represented within the current system of protected areas. Adaptive nature: the adaptive nature of Turnera triglandulosa encourages predominance in disturbed, roadside habitats. Landscaping potential: ease of cultivation from seed, lush green foliage, and attractive yellow flowers make Turnera triglandulosa suitable for landscaping. Opportunities and Current Local Action for Turnera Turnera triglandulosa is currently under cultivation in the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, though not part of any formal conservation programme. SPECIES ACTION PLAN for Turnera OBJECTIVES 1. Conduct population survey to determine natural habitat and acquire data to determine Red List status, and prevent further decline of Turnera triglandulosa. 2. Preserve in situ populations of Turnera triglandulosa. 3. Develop inter-situ cultivation and conservation programme for Turnera triglandulosa based in the Sister Islands. TARGET 2012 2015 2012 ASSOCIATED SPECIES PLANS Cayman Sage Salvia caymanensis Little Cayman Snail Cerion nanus Little Cayman Green Anole Anolis maynardi Sister Islands Rock Iguana Cyclura nubila caymanensis

Turnera triglandulosa PROPOSED ACTION Policy & Legislation PL1. Pass and implement the National Conservation Law. PL2. Implement the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. PL3. Protect Turnera triglandulosa under Schedule II of the National Conservation Law, through establishment of conservation regulations.

LEAD

PARTNERS

TARGET

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3 1,2 1,2,3

CIG DoE DoE

DoE CIG CIG

2006 2006 2006

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Turnera triglandulosa PROPOSED ACTION PL4. Reduce the threat of a catastrophic loss of the remaining populations, 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.

LEAD DoE RBGK DoP DoP DCB

PARTNERS QEIIBP DoE CIG CIG MP DoE

TARGET 2010 2010

MEETS OBJECTIVE 3 1,2

ongoing

1,2

Safeguards & Management SM1. Collect seeds under the Millennium Seedbank Project protocol and bank at Kew, with replicate collection for local conservation propagation. SM2. Incorporate a representative sample of natural habitat and population in protected areas system. SM3. Establish Growing Stations on Little Cayman, from which to propagate, investigate and locally reintroduce key species of plants and trees of significance, targeting private gardens and landscaping schemes. 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. Meet with Little Cayman roads maintenance authority, to discuss positive management of roadside verges for Turnera triglandulosa. A3. Targeted awareness of the need for the National Conservation Law and the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. A3. REPORT: Extensive public outreach Mar-Sept 2010. Research & Monitoring RM1. Conduct field survey of Turnera triglandulosa in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, to determine the fruiting period, population size, and extent of populations in both disturbed and natural habitats. RM2. Subject to RM1, modify SAP and National Conservation Law Schedule II status, as necessary. RM3. 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. RM4. Reassess IUCN Red List status of Turnera triglandulosa locally. DoE DoE DoE DoE NRA SIDA DoE DoE NT QEIIBP NT CIG RBGK QEIIBP 2012 2012 2010 2015 1,2 1,2 3 1 DoP NRA SIDA DoE DoE DoE 2009 1,2,3 DoE RBGK QEIIBP CC DoE DoE DoE NT MP RBGK QEIIBP 2012 2015 2010 2015 3 1,2 1,3 1,2,3

PRCU CIG NT

2009 2006

1,2 1,2,3

Communication & Publicity CP1. Establish and maintain links with Little Cayman roads maintenance authority. CP2. Raise awareness of the unique nature of Turnera triglandulosa and other endemic flora and fauna. CP3. Raise awareness of Turnera triglandulosa with a childrens competition to think of a common name for the plant. PRCU MP CN GC OS SB LCN 2009 2008 1,2,3 1,2,3

CP2. REPORT: Turnera triglandulosa featured in Red List of Flora (Burton 2008a) DoE MP 2012 1,2,3

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Turnera triglandulosa PROPOSED ACTION CP4. Raise awareness of the value of native landscaping, and promote the use of Turnera triglandulosa in Little Cayman. CP5. Utilise native flora and fauna, and associated preservation efforts, in the international promotion of the Cayman Islands.

LEAD DoE DoP NT CIG

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

TARGET 2010 2010

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3 1,2,3

References and Further Reading for Turnera

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

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