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Endemic Seed Plants in the Bahamian Archipelago

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Abstract

The Bahamian archipelago consists of approximately 2,400 islands occurring in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Florida, Cuba, and Hispaniola. In 1982 Donovan Correll and Helen Correll published the most current synopsis of the floristic diversity of this island chain. Their publication cited a total of 1,371 vascular plant species of which 114 seed plants were listed as endemic to the archipelago (~8 % of the native flora). In the last 30 years, additional herbarium collections and taxonomic studies have shown that a number of species previously indicated to be endemic to these islands also occur in other regions or have been taxonomically merged into other species. The current number of species considered endemic to the Bahamian archipelago is 89 (~6 % of the total flora). There are 50 endemic species that have a known distribution on one (31 species) or two island groupings (19 species). Biogeographical analyses of endemic plant distributions shows three distinct clusters of species: southern, central, and the northern islands, with a fourth cluster that includes islands with a small area and one medium size island that seems that has been underexplored (i.e., Little Inagua). We anticipate that understanding the conservation status of endemic species and their distributions will help to develop legislation to preserve this Bahamian natural heritage.

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Acknowledgments

We dedicate this paper to Pericles Mailles [past board president of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT)] in recognition for his contributions to preserve the natural heritage of The Bahamas. This paper was presented at an international symposium held at Nassau between October 30 and 31, 2012 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the Flora of the Bahama Archipelago (title of symposium: Celebrating 30 Years of the Flora of the Bahamas: Conservation and Science Challenges). Our gratitude to the symposium organizers (The Bahamas National Trust and The College of The Bahamas in collaboration with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and Florida International University) for providing an avenue to present this study. The symposium was funded by the Bahamas Environmental Fund. The Latin American and Caribbean Institute of FIU and FTBG supported attendance to the symposium. The following colleagues helped us to interpret the taxonomy of Bahamian plants, our gratitude for their time and for sharing with us relevant information: J. Ackerman (Orchidaceae), M. S. Appelhans (Spathelia), D. Austin (Evolvulus), P. E. Berry (Euphorbia), M. Hamilton (Varronia), S. Knapp (Solanum), F. Luebert (Heliotropium), S. Liede- Schumann (Metastelma), C. Martínez-Habibe (Bursera), A. W. Meerow (Zephyranthes), J. S. Miller (Varronia), R. Oviedo (flora of Cuba), L. Rico (Fabaceae), T. N. Taylor (Rubiaceae), B. W. Van Eee (Croton), I. Ventosa (Anastraphia), M. A. Vincent (Zephyranthes), and A. Weeks (Bursera). This is contribution number 257 from the Tropical Biology Program of Florida International University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Bahamas National Trust, P. O. Box N-4105, The Retreat, Village Road, Nassau, The Bahamas

    Ethan Freid

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Javier Francisco-Ortega

  3. Kushlan Tropical Science Institute, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33156, USA

    Javier Francisco-Ortega & Brett Jestrow

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  1. Ethan Freid
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Correspondence to Ethan Freid.

Appendices

Appendix 1. List of Endemic Seed Plant Species Currently Recognized on the Bahamian Archipelago

This checklist of Bahamian endemics was originally based on the works of Correll and Correll (1982; accepted endemics coded as “C&C”) and Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong (2012; accepted endemics coded as “A-R&S”). The endemicity status of these species was checked with taxonomic experts (see Acknowledgements) and with recent treatments and monographs. For each species we have assigned the following descriptors:

Bas.: Date of publication of basionym.

Dist.: Insular distribution. See Fig. 1 for island grouping numeric codes.

Notes: Additional relevant information.

Acanthaceae

Stenandrium bracteosum (Britton & Millsp.) Britton in Leonard, Wrightia 2: 77, 1960 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1920. Dist.: 4, 19.

Stenandrium carolinae Leonard & Proctor in Leonard, Wrightia 2: 75, 1960 [A-R&S,, C&C]. Dist.: 1.

Apocynaceae

Matelea correllii Spellman, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 65: 1255, 1979 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 8.

Metastelma inaguense Vail ex Britton, Rhodora 66: 13, 1964 [A-R&S, C&C (listed as “apparently endemic”)]. Bas.: 1906. Dist.: 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 19. Notes: Correll and Correl (1982) listed this species as Cynanchum inaguense (Vail) Howard & Dunbar (Apocynaceae). We follow the taxonomy of Lieve and Mede (1997) and Kings and Endress (2012) and consider that endemic species of Cynanchum L. belong to Metastelma R.Br.

Metastelma sigmoideum (Correll) Acev.-Rodr., Smithsonian Contr. Bot 98: 48, 2012 [A-R&S, C&C (listed as “apparently endemic”)]. Bas.: 1977. Dist.: 20, 21. Notes: Correll and Correl (1982) listed this species as Cynanchum sigmoideum Correll. Notes: See notes for M. inaguense.

Metastelma stipitatum (Correll) Liede, Novon 7: 43, 1997. Bas.: 1977 [C&C (listed as “apparently endemic”)]. Dist.: 1. Notes: Correll and Correl (1982) treated this species as Cynanchum stipitatum Correll. This species is not listed by Kings and Endress (2012); however, in our study it is accepted as a distinct endemic species within Metastelma as suggested by Lieve and Mede (1997). The species is morphologically close to M. northropiae Schltr. and additional research to elucidate taxonomic affinities with the latter are needed (Liede-Schumann, pers. comm.)

Asparagaceae

Agave acklinicola Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 41, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 4, 6. Notes: Gillis (1976) considered that A. acklinicola, A. braceana, A. cacozela, A. indagatorum, and A. millspaughii should be merged with the endemic A. bahamana. Previously Britton and Millspaugh (1920) also were certain is these species should be recognized a distinct species. Until additional taxonomic research is available to clarify the taxonomic distinctiveness of these morphs we have decided to follow the most recent account by Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong (2012).

Agave bahamana Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 40, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20. Notes: See notes for A. acklinicola.

Agave braceana Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 40, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 15, 19, 20. Notes: See notes for A. acklinicola.

Agave cacozela Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 41, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 16. Notes: See notes for A. acklinicola.

Agave inaguensis Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 41, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2. Notes: See notes for A. acklinicola.

Agave indagatorum Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 42, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 8, 11. Notes: See notes for A. acklinicola.

Agave millspaughii Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 41, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 13. Notes: See notes for A. acklinicola.

Agave nashii Trel., Mem. Natl. Acad. Sci. 11: 45, 1913 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 2.

Arecaceae

Coccothrinax inaguensis Read, Principes 10: 30, 1966 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 9, 11

Asteraceae

Anastraphia paucifloscula Wright ex Hitchc., Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 4: 102, 1893 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 13, 15, 17. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) accepted the name Gochnatia paucifloscula (Wright ex Hitchc.) Jervis ex Cabrera (Asteraceae) and listed this species as also occurring in Cuba. We follow the taxonomy of Ventosa and Herrera (2011a, b); Robinson and Funk (2012), and Tellería et al. (2013). This species does not occur in Cuba.

Chromolaena bahamensis (Northr.) R. M. King & H. Rob., Phytologia 20: 199, 1970 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1902. Dist.: 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) accepted Eupatorium bahamense Northr. (Asteraceae). We follow the works of King and Robinson (1987) and Robinson & Funk (2012).

Chromolaena lucayana (Britton) R. M. King & H. Rob., Phytologia 20: 203, 1970 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1920. Dist.: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) accepted Eupatorium lucayanum Britton. We follow the works of King and Robinson (1987) and Robinson & Funk (2012).

Koanophyllon correlliorum (Plettman) R. M. King & H. Rob., Phytologia 37: 458, 1977 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1977. Dist.: 19. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) accepted Eupatorium correlliorum Britton. We follow the works of King and Robinson (1987) and Robinson and Funk (2012).

Lepidaploa arbuscula (Less.) H. Rob., Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 103: 481, 1990 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1831. Dist.: 1, 2, 3, 6, 15, 16. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) listed this species as Vernonia arbuscula Less. (Asteraceae). Taxonomic treatments by Robinson (1990, 1999) and Robinson and Funk (2012) is followed by us.

Symphyotrichum lucayanum (Britton) G. L. Nesom, Phytologia 77: 286, 1995 . Bas.: 1906 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 20. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) regarded this species [listed as Aster lucayanus Britton (Asteraceae)] as the non-endemic Aster concolor L.; however, Nesom (1994) regarded S. lucayanus as a distinct species. Robinson and Funk (2012) listed S. lucayanus as endemic to the Bahamas.

Tetranthus bahamensis Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 5: 318, 1907 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 6, 14.

Thymopsis brittonii Greenman, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 3: 453, 1905 [A-R&S, C&C (listed as “perhaps in Cuba”)]. Dist.: 12, 13, 16. Notes: We follow Robinson & Funk (2012) and consider that until new evidence is available T. brittonii is a species restricted to the Bahamian archipelago.

Wedelia bahamensis (Britton) Schulz ex O.E. Schulz, Symb. Antill. 7: 106, 1911 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1905. Dist.: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17.

Boraginaceae

Heliotropium diffusum Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 122, 1905 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 4, 6, 9.

Heliotropium nashii Millsp,. Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 309, 1909 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2.

Heliotropium nanum Northr., Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 12: 61, 1902 [A-R&S, C&C (listed as “doubtfully endemic”)]. Dist.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18. Notes: We follow Förther (1998) who accepted this species within Heliotropium L.

Varronia bahamensis (Urb.) Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 310, 1909 [A-R&S]. Bas.: 1899. Dist.: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) listed this species (as Cordia bahamensis Urb.) for Florida, Cuba, and Anegada. Wunderlin and Hansen (2011) also recorded this species (as C. bahamensis) for Florida, but these reports need additional research as they seem to refer to naturalized or cultivated plants. It is unlikely that the plants grown in Cuba and Anegada refer to this species (Miller, pers. comm.); although, V. bahamensis is morphologically similar to the Puerto Rico-Anegada endemic V. rupicola (Urb.) Britton (Miller, pers. comm.).

Varronia lucayana Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 311, 1909 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 4, 6. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) listed this species as Cordia lucayana Millsp. (Boraginaceae). In here we follow taxonomic treatments by Miller and Gottschling (2007) and Feuillet (2012).

Brassicaceae

Lepidium filicaule C. L. Hitchc., Madroño 8: 142, 1945 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 1.

Burseraceae

Bursera frenningae Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 60: 157, 1979 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 6, 8, 12, 13, 17.

Cactaceae

Harrisia brookii Britton, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 35: 564, 1909 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 8, 17.

Campanulaceae

Lobelia lucayana Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl.: 428, 1920 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 9, 11.

Celastraceae

Maytenus lucayana Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 140, 1906 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 15, 20.

Convolvulaceae

Evolvulus bahamensis House, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 35: 89, 1908 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 1. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) did not accept this species and they merged it with the Greater Antillean endemic E. arbuscula Poir. More recently Acevedo & Strong (2012) and Austin (pers. comm.) considered this to be an good species endemic to the Bahamas.

Cyperaceae

Cyperus correllii (T. Koyama) G. C. Tucker, Sida 10: 305, 1984 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1976. Dist.: 20. Notes: The species was listed as Torulinium correlli T. Koyama (Cyperaceeae) by Correll and Correll (1982). The taxonomy proposed by Tucker (1984) and Strong & Acevedo Rodríguez (2012) is followed in our study.

Eleocharis bahamensis Boeckeler Beitr. Cyper. 2: 11, 1890 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1.

Erythroxylaceae

Erythroxylum reticulatum Northr., Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 12: 43, 1902 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 13, 15.

Euphorbiaceae

Argythamnia argentea Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 154, 1906 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 7, 17.

Argythamnia lucayana Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 154, 1906 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21.

Argythamnia sericea Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I.: 44, 1859 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 6.

Croton brittonii Acev.-Rodr., Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 98: 324, 2012 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17. Notes: This name was published by Acevedo Rodríguez & Strong (2012) as a synonymy of the illegitimate name C. bahamensis Millsp. These authors regarded this taxon as endemic to the Bahamas. Correll and Correll (1982) merged C. bahamensis with the non-endemic C. humilis L.

Euphorbia cayensis Millsp., Torreya 4: 172, 1904 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 11, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22.

Euphorbia gymnonota Urb., Symb. Antill. 5: 396, 1908 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 6, 9, 11.

Euphorbia inaguaensis Oudejans, Phytologia 67: 46, 1989 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 3. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) referred to this endemic species as E. abbreviata Correll; however, this is an illegitimate name. Oudejans (1989) published the name E. inaguaensis to correct this taxonomic error.

Euphorbia lecheoides Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 163, 1906 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17.

Euphorbia longinsulicola S. R. Hill, Sida 6: 313, 1976 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 8.

Euphorbia proctorii (D. G. Burch) Correll, Sida 8: 319, 1980 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1976. Dist.: 2.

Euphorbia vaginulata Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I.: 52, 1859 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 12.

Fabaceae

Ateleia popenoei Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 62: 261, 1981 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 13.

Caesalpinia murifructa Gillis & Proctor, J. Arnold Arbor. 55: 427, 1974 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 2, 6.

Galactia bahamensis Urb., Symb. Antill. 2: 331, 1900 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Linaceae

Linum bahamense Northr., Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 12: 42, 1902 [A-R&S, C&C (listed as “known only from Inagua and Acklins Islands”)]. Dist.: 15, 16, 17, 19, 20. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) recognized two morphs within this species: L. bahamense f. bahamense and L. bahamense f. corrallicola (Small) Rogers.

Malvaceae

Pavonia bahamensis Hitchc., Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 4: 63, 1893 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 6, 9, 11, 15.

Waltheria bahamensis Britton, Torreya 3: 105, 1903 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20.

Myrtaceae

Mosiera androsiana (Urb.) Salywon, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 1: 899, 2007 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1915. Dist.: 15. Notes: This species is listed as Psidium androsianum (Urb.) Correll (Myrtaceae) by Correll and Correll (1982). Salywon (2007) and Acevedo-Rodríguez (2005) suggested that this Bahamian endemic should be placed within Mosiera Small.

Orchidaceae

Encyclia androsiana Sauleda, New World Orchid. Nomencl. Notes 2: s.n., 2012. Dist.: 15. Notes: see notes for E. gracilis in Appendix 2.

Encyclia caicensis Sauleda & R. M. Adams, Selbyana 2: 340, 1978 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1.

Encyclia fehlingii (Sauleda) Sauleda & R. M. Adams, Brittonia 33: 187, 1981 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1977. Dist.: 15, 16, 19, 20.

Encyclia correllii Sauleda, Orchid Digest 76: 44, 2012. Bas.: 1835. Dist.: 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20.

Encyclia inaguensis Nash in Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl.: 92, 1920 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 3.

Encyclia withneri (Sauleda) Sauleda & R. M. Adams, Brittonia 33: 187, 1981 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1977. Dist.: 12.

Tolumnia sasseri (Moir) Braem, Die Orchidee 37: 59, 1986 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1975. Dist.: 12, 16. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) recognized this species as Oncidium sasseri Moir (Orchidaceae). We have followed most recent taxonomic placements proposed by Braem (1986) and Ackerman (2012).

Passifloraceae

Passiflora bahamensis Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 5: 315, 1907 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 12, 15, 16.

Poaceae

Aristida correlliae P. M. McKenzie, Urbatsch & Proctor, Syst. Bot. 15: 421, 1990 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 1, 6. Notes: This is the most recently described species endemic to the Bahamas. This name honors Dr. Helen Correll (McKenzie et al., 1990). The name was also accepted by Peterson et al. (1990).

Eragrostis bahamensis Hitchc., Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 4: 149, 1893 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9.

Sporobolus bahamensis Hack., Oesterr. Bot. Z. 52: 56, 1902 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 6.

Polygalaceae

Polygala northorpiana R. N. Banerjee, Taxon 28: 418, 1979 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 4, 6, 15, 16, 19, 20.

Portulaceae

Portulaca minuta Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 60: 154, 1979 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 13, 15.

Ranunculaceae

Clematis plukenetii DC., Syst. Nat. 1: 153, 1817 [A-R&S]. Dist.: 4, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20. Correll and Correll (1982) recognize two endemic species within Clematis L.: C. bahamica (Kuntze) Britton and C. orbiculata Correll. However, Moreno (1993) in her unpublished treatment for one of the sections of this genus considered that these taxa do not merit taxonomic recognition as two different species. She also indicated that they refer to an earlier name: C. plukenetii. This taxonomic placement was also accepted by Acevedo-Rodríguez & Strong (2012).

Rubiaceae

Catesbaea foliosa Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 312, 1909 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 6, 9, 12.

Chiococca stricta Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 58: 45, 1977 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 6.

Erithalis diffusa Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 58: 47, 1977 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 6, 11.

Ernodea gigantea Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 58: 49, 1977 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 6.

Ernodea millspaughii Britton, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 35: 207, 1908 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21.

Ernodea nashii Britton, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 35: 208, 1908 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 2, 3.

Ernodea serratifolia Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 58: 50, 1977 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 2, 12.

Guettarda nashii Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl.: 413, 1920 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 2.

Spermacoce brittonii (Standl.) R.A. Howard, Phytologia 65: 287, 1988 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1931. Dist.: 1. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) considered this species as Borreria brittonii Standl. (Rubiaceae). In our study we follow the taxonomy of Howard (1988a) and Acevedo-Rodríguez & Strong (2012) and we accept this species within Spermacoce L.

Spermacoce capillaris (Correll) R. A. Howard, Phytologia 65: 287, 1988 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1979. Dist.: 1. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) considered this species as Borreria capillaris Correll (Rubiaceae). See additional details in notes for S. brittonii.

Spermacoce felis-insulae (Correll) R. A. Howard, Phytologia 65: 288, 1988 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1977. Dist.: 12. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) listed this species as B. felis-insulae Correll. See additional details in notes for S. brittonii.

Spermacoce inaguensis (Britton) R. A. Howard, Phytologia 65: 287, 1988 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1920. Dist.: 3. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) accepted this species as B. inaguensis Britton. See additional details in notes for S. brittonii.

Spermacoce savannarum (Britton & Millsp.) R. A. Howard, Phytologia 65: 287, 1988 [A-R&S, C&C (listed as “apparently endemic”)]. Bas.: 1920. Dist.: 1, 2, 6. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) regarded this species as B. savannarum Britton. See additional details in notes for S. brittonii.

Spermacoce thymifolia (Griseb.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(3): 123, 1898 [A-R&S, C&C]. Bas.: 1861. Dist.: 1, 2. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) accepted this taxon as B. thymifolia Britton. See additional details in notes for S. brittonii.

Rutaceae

Spathelia bahamensis Vict., Contr. Inst. Bot. Univ. Montréal 63: 76, 1948 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 12, 17.

Sapindaceae

Thouinia discolor Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I.: 127. 1859 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21.

Verbenaceae

Lantana balsamifera Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 123, 1906 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 1, 3, 18.

Lantana demutata Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 175, 1906 [A-R&S, C&C]. Dist.: 2, 8, 12, 13, 17.

Zamiaceae

Zamia lucayana Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 5: 311, 1907. Dist.: 8. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) merged this species with the non-endemic Z. pumila L.

Appendix 2. Species Delisted as Endemic to the Bahamian Archipelago

This appendix includes those species that were accepted as Bahamian endemics by Correll and Correll (1982) (coded as “C&C”) or Acevedo-Rodriguez and Strong (2012) (coded as A-R&S) that we do not consider as part of the endemic flora of the archipelago. Each name is followed by a short discussion under the “Notes” descriptor. For those species that have not been the subject of recent taxonomic treatments or that have not been included in the “Flora de la República de Cuba” project we have checked for their distribution outside the Bahamian archipelago at the FLA, MO, and NY herbaria.

Amaryllidaceae

Zephyranthes cardinalis C. H. Wright, Bot. Mag. 140: t. 8553, 1914 [A-R&S]. Notes: The original description of this species was based on material cultivated in New Providence. It is likely that it refers to plants of Z. bifolia grown in gardens of the archipelago (Meerow, pers. comm., Vincent, pers. comm.)

Anacardiaceae

Rhus bahamensis G. Don, Gen. Hist. 2: 72, 1832 [A-R&S]. Notes: Gillis (1971) indicated that R. bahamensis is a nomem nudum, and that it is likely that this name refers to Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze (Anacardiaceae). The latter is also found in USA and Mexico.

Apocynaceae

Metastelma bahamense Griseb., Cat. Pl. Cub.: 174, 1866 [A-R&S]. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) listed this species for Cuba and according to Gillis (1974) the species is also found on this island. We have located specimens from Cuba at NY (i.e., NY1622615 and NY1622616, both annotated by D. Correll). Metastelma bahamense is morphologically similar to M. northropiae Schltr. and additional research is needed to determine if both species should be kept separately (Liede-Schumann, pers. comm.).

Neobracea bahamensis (Britton) Britton, in Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl.: 335, 1920 [C&C (listed as “apparently endemic to the Bahamas”)]. Notes: This species also occurs on Cuba (León & Alain, 1957; Fong et al., 2005; Figueredo Cardona et al., 2009; Krings & Endress, 2012). We located one herbarium specimen collected in Cuba for this species at NY (NY01335760).

Asteraceae

Vernonia bahamensis Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I.: 352, 1861 [C&C]. Notes: Robinson (1990) merged this species with the Bahamian endemic Lepidaploa arbuscula (Less.) H. Rob.

Burseraceae

Bursera inaguensis Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 3: 443, 1905 [C&C (listed as “probably also Cuba”)]. Notes: This species also occurs in Cuba (Martínez-Habibe, 2012).

Boraginaceae

Heliotropium eggersii Urb., Symb. Antill. 5: 481, 1908 [C&C]. Notes: In his treatment for Heliotropium L., Förther (1998) accepted this name although indicating that he was unable to examine any material. Feuillet (2012) considered this species as a synonym of the widespread neotropical species Euploca procumbens (Mill.) Diane & Hilger (Boraginaceae). Earlier taxonomic revisions within the family merged this Bahamian species with Heliotropium procumbens Mill. (Johnston, 1928, 1937).

Rochefortia bahamensis Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 5: 317, 1909 [C&C]. Notes: Klotz (1982) considered this taxon as an endemic subspecies of R. cuneta SW.; however, in this treatment he was not aware of Rochefortia spinosa (Jacq.) Urb. as the legitimate name [basionomy Ehretia spinosa Jacq. (Boraginaceae)] to refer to plants of R. spinosa. An infraspecific placement for the Bahamian individuals, within R. spinosa, has not been published yet. Such taxonomic arrangement is made in our study as follows: Rochefortia spinosa (Jacq.) Urb., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 13: 472, 1915 ssp. bahamensis (Britton) Freid & Jestrow comb. nov. (basionomy: Rochefortia bahamensis Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 5: 317, 1909, type Bahamas Insulae (Watlings Islds.) leg. Britton & Millspaugh 6167).

Cactaceae

Cephalocereus bahamensis Britton, Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 12: 415, 1909 [C&C]. Notes: This species is a synonym of Pilosocereus polygonus (Lam.) Byles & Rowles (Cactaceaea), a species restricted to the Bahama archipelago, Cuba, Florida, and Hispaniola (Zappi, 1994; Acevedo-Rodríguez & Strong, 2012).

Opuntia bahamana Britton & Rose, Cact. 1: 203, 1919 [C&C]. Notes: This species is considered as a synonym of O. stricta (Haw) Haw (Hunt, 2006; Acevedo-Rodríguez & Strong, 2012). The latter is found throughout the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Southeastern USA (Hunt, 2006).

Opuntia lucayana Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 141, 1906 [C&C]. Notes: This species is believed to be an intergeneric hybrid between O. stricta and Consolea macrantha (Griseb.) A. Berger (Hunt, 2006).

Opuntia nashii Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 3: 446, 1905 [C&C]. Notes: This species has been transferred to Consolea Lemaire (Cactaceae) and it also occurs in Cuba (C. nashii (Britton) A. Berger subsp. gibarense Areces). C. nashii subsp. nashii is a Bahamian endemic (Areces-Mallea, 2001).

Celastraceae

Crossopetalum aquifolium (Griseb.) Hitch., Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 4: 70, 1893 [C&C (listed as “possibly Cuba”)]. Notes: This species is also found in Cuba (Mory, 2010).

Crossopetalum coriaceum Northr., Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 12: 48, 1902 [C&C]. Notes: This species also occurs in Cuba (Mory, 2010).

Combretaceae

Bucida spinosa (Northr.) Jenn., Carnegie Mus. 11: 201, 1917 [C&C]. Notes: This species is also found in Cuba, Belize, Hispaniola, Mexico (Yucatan), and Puerto Rico (Stace, 2010).

Convolvulaceae

Evolvulus squamosus Britton, New York Bot. Gard. 3: 399, 1905 [C&C]. Notes: This species is also found on the Cayman Islands (Proctor, 2012) and the Virgin Islands (Britton, 1916; D’Arcy, 1971).

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia abbreviata Correll, Sida 8: 317, 1980 [C&C]. Notes: This is an illegitimate name. Oudejans (1989) published the name E. inaguaensis to correct this taxonomic error.

Euphorbia brittonii Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 159, 1906 [C&C]. Notes: This taxon is considered a synonym of Euphorbia minutula Boiss. (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012; Berry, pers. comm.; Van Ee, pers. comm.), a species endemic to the Bahamian archipelago and Cuba [the type of this species is a specimesn from Cuba collected by C. Wright (MO1809734) (Burch, 1966)].

Euphorbia exumensis (Millsp.) Correll, Sida 8: 319, 1980 [C&C]. Notes: This species is currently treated as E. lecheoides Millsp. var. exumensis (Millsp.) Oudejans (Oudejans, 1992). Euphorbia lecheoides is endemic to the Bahamas

Euphorbia wilsonii (Millsp.) Correll, Sida 8: 319, 1980 [C&C]. Notes: This endemic taxon is currently accepted as E. lecheoides Millsp. var. wilsonii (Millsp.) Oudejans (Oudejans, 1992). Euphorbia lecheoides is a Bahamian endemic.

Pedilanthus bahamensis Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 359, 1913 [C&C]. Notes: Steinmann (2003) considered this taxon as an endemic subspecies of the widespread and non-endemic Euphorbia tithymaloides L.

Fabaceae

Acacia acuifera Benth., London J. Bot. 1: 496, 1842 [C&C]. Notes: The accepted name for this species is Vachelia acuifera (Benth.) Seigler & Ebinger (Fabaceae). It is also found in Cuba (González-Gutiérrez, 2007; Clarke et al., 2009).

Caesalpinia ovalifolia Urb., Symb. Antill. 2: 273, 1900 [C&C (listed as “apparently endemic”)]. Notes: This species is considered a synonym of Guilandina ciliata Bergius ex Wikstr. (Fabaceae) [Howard, 1988b (as Caesalpinia ciliata (Bergius ex Wikstr.) Urb.); Acevedo-Rodríguez & Lewis, 2012; ILDIS, 2013]. The species also occurs in Hispaniola (Liogier, 1985), Lesser Antilles (Howard, 1988b), and Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (Acevedo-Rodríguez, 2005).

Caesalpinia reticulata Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 118, 1905 [C&C]. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) was not certain about the taxonomic status of this species indicating that it might be a morphological variant of C. bahamensis. Previously Gillis (1971) merged both species, in our study we concord with this taxonomic arrangement and consider that C. reticulata is a synonym of C. bahamensis. This placement is also followed by Acevedo-Rodríguez & Lewis (2012) and ILDIS (2013). Caesalpinia bahamensis occurs in the Bahama islands, Cuba, and Hispaniola (Barreto Valdés, 1999; Acevedo-Rodríguez & Lewis, 2012).

Calliandra haematomma (DC.) Benth., London J. Bot. 3: 103, 1844 [C&C (listed as “apparently endemic”)]. Notes: This species also occurs in Cuba, Bolivia, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico (Barneby, 1998). Calliandra haematomma var. correllii Barneby is the only taxon of this species complex endemic to the Bahamian archipelago.

Cassia caribaea Northr., Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 12: 39, 1902 [C&C]. Notes: This species is considered as part of the Chamaecrista caribaea (Northr.) Britton complex, a taxonomic group that has three varieties, with two of them (C. caribaea var. caribaea and C. caribaea var. lucayana (Britton) Irwin & Barneby) endemic to the Bahama archipelago (Irwin & Barneby, 1982). The third one (C. caribaea var. inaguensis (Britton) Irwin & Barneby) is found in the Bahama islands and also in Hispaniola (Irwin & Barneby, 1982).

Cassia lucayana Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 138, 1906 [C&C]. Notes: This species is considered a variety of Chamaecrista caribaea. See futher details in notes for Cassia caribaea.

Mimosa bahamensis Benth., J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 408, 1842 [C&C, A-R&S]. Notes: This species is also found in Central America and Mexico (Martínez-Bernal et al., 2008; Parker, 2008).

Loranthaceae

Dendropemon bahamensis Britton in Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl.: 109, 1920 [C&C]. Notes: Kuijt (2011) merged this species with D. loranthoideus (Baill.) Tiegh., a taxon endemic to the Bahamian archipelago and Hispaniola.

Dendropemon brevipes Britton in Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl. 108, 1920 [C&C]. Notes: This species has been included within D. purpureus (L.) Krug & Urb. The latter is endemic to the Bahama islands, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico (Kuijt, 2011).

Malvaceae

Hibiscus brittonianus Kearney, Leafl. West. Bot. 7: 121, 1954 [C&C]. Notes: Areces Berazaín & Fryxell (2007) merged this species with Hibiscus clypeatus L. subsp. membranaceus (Cav) O. J. Blanch. The latter is endemic to the Bahama islands, Cuba, and Haiti.

Phymosia abutiloides (L.) Desv. in Ham., Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occid. 50, 1825 [C&C]. Notes: This species also occurs in Hispaniola (Fryxell, 1972; Liogier, 1981). We have located several specimens from Hispaniola in FLA (i.e., FLAS209854, FLAS177242), MO (i.e., MO1992581, MO1570484, MO2137524, MO765762), and NY (i.e., NY01440741)

Orchidaceae

Encyclia gracilis (Lindl.) Schltr., Orchideen: 209, 1914 [A-R&S, C&C]. Notes: This name has been used for a endemic orchid species that is relatively common in the archipelago; however, a recent study of its original description and type specimen shows that this taxon as originally published corresponds with the natural hybrid Encyclia x lucayana Sauleda & Adams (accepted name Encyclia x gracilis (Lind.) Schltr.). Bahamian plants that have been traditionally assigned to “Encyclia gracilis” have been assigned a to the recently described species Encyclia correllii Sauleda (2012) (see Appendix 1).

Oncidium lucayanum Nash in Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl.: 98, 1920 [C&C]. Notes: This species (accepted name Tolumnia lucayana (Nash) Braem) also occurs in Cuba and Hispaniola (Ackerman, 2014).

Tetramicra urbaniana Cogn. in Urb., Symb. Antill. 6: 551, 1910 [C&C]. Notes: This species is considered as a synonym of Tetramicra parviflora Lindl. The latter is also found in Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica (Ackerman, 2014).

Vanilla correllii Sauleda & R. M. Adams, Brittonia 33: 192, 1981 [C&C]. Notes: Soto Arenas and Cribb (2010) placed this species within V. poitaei Rchb. f. The latter is endemic to the Bahamian archipelago, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.

Plumbaginaceae

Limonium bahamense Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 142, 1906 [C&C]. Notes: This species also occurs in Hispaniola [as L. bahamense var. var. haitense (S.F. Blake) Alain] (Acevedo-Rodríguez & Strong, 2012). We have located specimens from Hispaniola in MO (i.e., MO2532, MO25446, MO6496, MO46468, Ekman, 7-11-1929, Zanoni et al. 11-12-1981,), and NY (i.e., NY1624311, NY1624315)

Polygalaceae

Polygola wilsonii Small in Britton & Millsp., Bahama Fl.: 216 [C&C (listed as “known only from Salt Cay Bank, Anguille Isles”)]. Notes: This species also occurs in Cuba (Rankin Rodríguez, 2003).

Primulaceae

Ardisia bahamensis (Gaertn.) A. DC., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 128, 1834 [A-R&S]. Notes: This species [accepted name Heberdenia bahamensis (Gaertn.) Sprague (Primulaceae)] is a Macaronesian island endemic (Ståhl, 1996).

Ranunculaceae

Clematis bahamica Kuntze (Britton), Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 117, 1906 [C&C]. Notes: Moreno (1993) considered this species as a synonym of the Bahamian endemic C. plukenetii DC.

Clematis orbiculata Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 58: 40, 1977 [C&C]. Notes: Moreno (1993) considered this species as a synonym of the Bahamian endemic C. plukenetii DC.

Rhamnaceae

Ziziphus taylori (Britton) M. C. Johnst., Amer. J. Bot. 51: 1118, 1964 [C&C]. Notes: This species also occurs in Puerto Rico (Island of Mona) (Britton, 1915; Liogier & Martorell, 2000).

Rubiaceae

Erithalis salmeoides Correll, J. Arnold Arbor. 58: 49, 1977 [C&C]. Notes: This species is also found in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Jamaica (Negrón-Ortiz, 2005).

Ernodea cokeri Britton in Coker, Bahama Is. (Shattuck) 264, 1905 [C&C]. Notes: This species also occurs in Florida (Negrón-Ortiz & Hickey, 1996).

Ernodea taylori Britton, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 35: 208, 1908 [C&C]. Notes: This taxon is also present in the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Haiti (Negrón-Ortiz & Hickey, 1996).

Scolosanthus bahamensis Britton, Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 3: 452, 1905 [C&C]. Notes: The species also occurs in Cuba (Fong et al., 2005; Gonzalez Gutiérrez et al., 2006). We have located specimens from Cuba at NY (i.e., NY01331083, NY1331084, NY1331085).

Spermacoce bahamensis (Britton) R. A. Howard, Phytologia 65: 287, 1988 [C&C (listed as Borreria bahamensis Britton)]. Notes: This species has an unusual disjunct distribution between the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles (Howard, 1989). Herbarium specimens for the Lesser Antilles were located in MO (i.e., MO807516, Meagher 4037, and Meagher 02/16/10/94) and NY (i.e., NY01331217, NY01331218, NY01331219, and NY01331219).

Santalaceae

Phoradendron northropiae Urb. in Northrop, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 12: 33, 1902 [C&C]. Notes: This species also occurs in South America (Kuijt, 2003).

Solanaceae

Solanum didymacanthum Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 183, 1906 [C&C]. Notes: This taxon is considered as a synonym of S. microphyllum (Lam) Dunai, a species endemic to the Bahamas and Hispaniola Knapp (2009).

Solanum bahamense L., Sp. Pl. 1: 188, 1753. Notes: Correll and Correll (1982) did not provide details pertinent to the distribution status of this species. Strickland-Constable et al. (2010) indicated that this species has a wide distribution in the Bahamian archipelago, Florida and the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Verbenaceae

Nashia inaguensis Millsp., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 2: 177, 1906 [C&C]. Notes: This species also occurs on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (Cedeño-Maldonado & O’Reilly, 1996).

Stachytarpheta fruticosa (Millsp.) B. L. Rob., Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts Sci. 51: 531, 1916 [C&C]. Notes: This species is also found in Cuba (Méndez Santos, 2001).

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Freid, E., Francisco-Ortega, J. & Jestrow, B. Endemic Seed Plants in the Bahamian Archipelago. Bot. Rev. 80, 204–230 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-014-9137-z

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