Lachanodes arborea

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	MAGNOLIOPSIDA	ASTERALES	COMPOSITAE

Scientific Name:

Lachanodes arborea

Species Authority:

(Roxb.) B.Nord.

Common Name/s:

English

–

She Cabbage Tree

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered C2a(i); D ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2003

Assessor/s:

Cairns-Wicks, R.

Reviewer/s:

Cronk, Q. & Clubbe, C. (South Atlantic Island Plants Red List Authority)

Justification:
The She Cabbage is only known from two wild subpopulations, Osbornes and Coles Rock. These are geographically disjunct subpopulations between which there is unlikely to be any genetic exchange. In the last 10 years there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of trees surviving at these sites: Osbornes 35 trees in 1993 and 7 in 2003; Coles Rock, 6 in 1994, ? in 2003. Of the remaining individuals all are mature or senile being a short lived tree species there is a high probability that it will become extinct in the wild within the next 10 years. There are less than 50 trees in cultivation and reintroduced, non of which can yet be considered to be mature.

History:

1998

–

Vulnerable (Oldfield et al. 1998)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Once a common tree, occurring on the central ridge between 600 and 800 m, the species was thought to have become extinct until three old trees and some seedlings were discovered in 1976 above Osborne's Cottage. Today only seven wild plants are known to exist at the Osborne's site. It is not known how many species are left at Coles Rock.
Countries:	Native: Saint Helena

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	A small tree 6(-7.5) m, flowering in the winter and spring months. Found in 1976 in Pastureland. The genus is monotypic.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Formerly used in building (roofing timbers of old houses like Mount Pleasant). Former habitat range cleared for pasture and flax plantation.

Major Threat(s):

Formerly used in building (roofing timbers of old houses like Mount Pleasant). Former habitat range cleared for pasture and flax plantation.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	A Draft Recovery Action Plan for L. arborea has been produced and over the next five years the objective is to encourage the long-term persistence of the She-Cabbage through coordinated and agreed action between the Environmental Conservation Section of the ANRD, the SNCG and RBG Kew. The specific objectives are: 1. To maintain and encourage the healthy growth of She Cabbages at Osbornes, near Coles Rock and Grape Vine Gut/Beales. 2. To maintain the existing gene banks at Scotland and Behind High Peak and to establish a third field gene bank at Taylors. (and possibly Newfoundland – She cabbage quick growing short lived tree – might help establish succession of endemics in this area which is heavily invaded with exotic pioneers – e.g., Whiteweed) 3. To extend plantings at Napoleon’s Tomb and Mount Pleasant to complement field gene banks. 4. To describe the life history characteristics, genetic diversity and reproductive biology of the She Cabbages as an aid to recovery planning. 5. To establish long-term seed storage at Wakehurst Place Seed Bank. Seedlings have been raised and planted out. It is a short-lived tree (c. 20yrs), which takes considerable effort to conserve in cultivation.

Conservation Actions:

A Draft Recovery Action Plan for L. arborea has been produced and over the next five years the objective is to encourage the long-term persistence of the She-Cabbage through coordinated and agreed action between the Environmental Conservation Section of the ANRD, the SNCG and RBG Kew. The specific objectives are:

1. To maintain and encourage the healthy growth of She Cabbages at Osbornes, near Coles Rock and Grape Vine Gut/Beales.
2. To maintain the existing gene banks at Scotland and Behind High Peak and to establish a third field gene bank at Taylors. (and possibly Newfoundland – She cabbage quick growing short lived tree – might help establish succession of endemics in this area which is heavily invaded with exotic pioneers – e.g., Whiteweed)
3. To extend plantings at Napoleon’s Tomb and Mount Pleasant to complement field gene banks.
4. To describe the life history characteristics, genetic diversity and reproductive biology of the She Cabbages as an aid to recovery planning.
5. To establish long-term seed storage at Wakehurst Place Seed Bank.

Seedlings have been raised and planted out. It is a short-lived tree (c. 20yrs), which takes considerable effort to conserve in cultivation.

Citation:	Cairns-Wicks, R. 2003. Lachanodes arborea. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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