Lactuca palmensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	MAGNOLIOPSIDA	ASTERALES	COMPOSITAE

Scientific Name:	Lactuca palmensis
Species Authority:	Bolle
Taxonomic Notes:	Lactuca palmensis Bolle is a wild relative of lettuce, L. sativa L.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2011
Assessor/s:	Santos Guerra, A.
Reviewer/s:	Kell, S.P. & Nieto, A.
Contributor/s:	Kell, S.P. & Hargreaves , S.
Justification: The population of Lactuca palmensis is thought to be increasing, mainly due to the eradication of goats. Although it is still affected by some grazing pressure, as well as road and building construction, it is not thought that these pressures pose a significant threat to the population in the foreseeable future. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	L. palmensis is endemic to La Palma (Greuter 2006–2009) where it can be found in the high mountain areas of the north and south (Caldera de Taburiente and Cumbre Vieja).
Countries:	Native: Spain (Canary Is.)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is common and widespread throughout the north of the island where it occurs as two isolated subpopulations. The population is increasing due to the eradication of goats.
Population Trend:	Increasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It grows in shrubland above the tree line and in open areas of the upper limit of the pine forest in communities dominated by Adenocarpus viscosus. This habitat is common in the north of the island and less common in the south where the species tends to grow in open areas caused by past volcanic activity and in open areas of the pine forest.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The species is threatened by grazing by the introduced Arrui, feral goats and rabbits. It is also affected by the construction of new roads and construction works for astronomical research.

Major Threat(s):

The species is threatened by grazing by the introduced Arrui, feral goats and rabbits. It is also affected by the construction of new roads and construction works for astronomical research.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	L. palmensis occurs in the National and Natural Park on La Palma. EURISCO reports two germplasm accessions of L. palmensis which are stored in the genebank of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain (EURISCO Catalogue 2010). Germplasm collection and duplicated ex situ storage is a priority for this species.

Conservation Actions:

L. palmensis occurs in the National and Natural Park on La Palma.

EURISCO reports two germplasm accessions of L. palmensis which are stored in the genebank of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain (EURISCO Catalogue 2010). Germplasm collection and duplicated ex situ storage is a priority for this species.

Citation:	Santos Guerra, A. 2011. Lactuca palmensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2013.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided