Beach Jacquemontia
Beach Jacquemontia
Jacquemontia reclinata
| Status | Endangered |
| Listed | November 24, 1993 |
| Family | Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory) |
| Description | Sprawling, perennial vine with fleshy oval leaves, with glabrous margins and-flowers in the axils. |
| Habitat | Tropical maritime hammocks or the coastal strand vegetation. |
| Threats | Habitat loss due to creation of parking lots, pedestrian routes, and picnic areas. |
| Range | Florida |
Description
The beach jacquemontia is a sprawling, perennial vine whose stems are 3.3 ft (1 m) long. The elliptic to oval leaves are fleshy, with glabrous margins. Younger leaves and stems are hairy enough to appear white. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves and may be in groups or solitary. The outer sepals of the flower have tiny hairs along the margins.
Habitat
The beach jacquemontia inhabits disturbed or sunny areas in tropical maritime hammocks or the coastal strand vegetation. Associated species included sea grape shrubs, Madagascar periwinkle, sand spurs, and dwarfed trees. Occasionally, the beach jacquemontia is found in the beach dune community associated with sea oats.
Distribution
The beach jacquemontia is native to coastal barrier islands in southeast Florida and Miami northward to Palm Beach County. This plant is known from Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Dade County, Florida.
Threats
Much of this plant's habitat has been destroyed by urban development. Its primary habitat (beach strand and maritime hammock vegetation) is being destroyed and modified for parking lots, pedestrian routes, picnic areas, and other park uses.
Habitat degradation due to exotic plant invasion has adversely affected this plant. A site in northern Palm Beach County is being overgrown by Brazilian pepper. Mowing, possible herbicide use, and park maintenance activities also threaten the beach jacquemontia.
Conservation and Recovery
The beach jacquemontia has been propagated from seed at Fairchild Tropical Garden and is thriving in cultivation at the Garden despite Hurricane Andrew.
Contacts
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office
1875 Century Blvd., Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
http://southeast.fws.gov/
Jacksonville Ecological Services Field Office
6620 Southpoint Dr. South, Suite 310
Jacksonville, Florida 32216-0958
Phone: (904) 232-2580
FAX: (904) 232-2404
Panama City Ecological Services Field Office
1612 June Ave.
Panama City, Florida 32405-3792
Phone: (850) 769-0552
FAX: (850) 763-2177
References
Humphrey, Stephen R. 1985. "How Species Become Vulnerable To Extinction and How We Can Meet the Crisis." Animal Extinctions: What Everyone Should Know. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 24 November 1993. "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Determination of Endangered Status for the Plant Jacquemontia reclinata (Beach Jacquemontia)." Federal Register 58.