Trichilia triacantha

Trichilia triacantha, the bariaco,[2] is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family. It is endemic to Puerto Rico. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

Trichilia triacantha
Trichilia triacantha fruit

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Trichilia
Species:
T. triacantha
Binomial name
Trichilia triacantha

The bariaco is a shrub or a tree reaching up to 9 meters tall. It has leaves made up of several leathery, spine-toothed leaflets and the flowers are white.[3] The fruit is a capsule with a red aril.[4]

The plant grows in dry forest habitat on limestone substrates, often near intermittent streams.[3]

As of 2007 there were 10 populations of the tree containing a total of 109 individuals. 47 of these were found to be fertile. Six of the ten populations were located in the Guánica National Forest. Two of these were composed of single individuals located several kilometers from other members of the species, and so are unlikely to reproduce.[4]

This plant has been overharvested because its wood is useful and attractive.[3]

References
  1. World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Trichilia triacantha. 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 17 August 2011.
  2. "Trichilia triacantha". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  3. USFWS. Determination of Endangered Status for the Plant Trichilia triacantha (Bariaco). Federal Register February 5, 1988.
  4. Ventosa-Febles, E. A. (2007). Distribution and habitat characteristics of Trichilia triacantha (Meliaceae) in Puerto Rico. Endanger Species Res 3 267-71.


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