Will Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae) in the Erin Savanna, Trinidad Become Locally Extinct?

Authors

  • Linton Lee Arneaud University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Moriche Palm Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae-Calamoideae) is an arborescent palm species found throughout much of South America. In Trinidad, it is found predominantly in the Aripo Savannas [Strict Nature Reserve] Environmentally Sensitive Area (ASESA) on ecotones between savannas and swamp forest (Arneaud et al. 2017). Other locations where M. flexuosa exist are associated with open areas that are permanently or temporarily inundated during the wet season, such as boundaries of the herbaceous swamps in the Nariva and Los Blanquizales wetlands (Arneaud and Duncan 2019, Comeau et al. 2003). The Erin Savanna (ES) is an assemblage of small areas of grassland situated within the Erin Forest Reserve; directly east of Buenos Ayres village and north of the Erin-Cap de Ville road (Beard 1953).

Published

2020-12-31

Issue

Section

Nature Notes