Presence of Plumeria sericifolia in Punta Guanos, Matanzas, Cuba

Abstract

Plumeria sericifolia of the family Apocynaceae, is an endemic species of Cuba reported for the west of the island. It inhabits mainly in coastal xeromorphic scrub and on serpentine. In this work the presence of the species is recorded for Punta Guanos, coastal area of the Havana-Matanzas region. This is the first documented report of the species for this locality. As part of the study of the flora and vegetation of Punta Guanos, fixed plots were made in the three main vegetation formations of the area: the rocky coastal vegetation complex, the coastal and subcoastal xeromorphic scrub and the microphyllous evergreen forest where the presence of the species, its frequency of occurrence and other ecological data were noted. This species was dominant in the coastal and subcoastal xeromorphic thicket, although some individuals were observed in the remaining vegetation formations. The data obtained suggest that the population could be healthy at present, however, the coastal and subcoastal xeromorph shrubland is the formation most impacted by the main threats in the area: oil exploitation, urbanization, frequent fires and the presence of invasive plants.