MBC Palm Conservation Expedition Trinidad & Tobago | April 2-21, 2007 Project Staff and Contact Information M. Patrick Griffith, Ph.D. Larry R. Noblick, Ph.D. Montgomery Botanical Center Executive Director Palm Biologist 11901 Old Cutler Road [email protected] [email protected] Coral Gables, FL 33156 (305) 667-3800 SUMMARY The Montgomery Botanical Center 2007 Trinidad and Tobago Palm Conservation Expedition successfully met its objectives. COLLECTIONS Of 22 species of native palm in Trinidad and Tobago, population collections of 14 taxa were obtained within three weeks. Montgomery Botanical Center (MBC) staff made 69 separate seed collections from those 14 species, for a total of 4,884 seed collected. Fourteen herbarium vouchers (one for each species) were made, and duplicates of all specimens were deposited at the National Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago (TRIN). COLLABORATION This project was accomplished through close collaboration with the National Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, which provided logistical support, guidance, and expertise. The Herbarium, University staff, and Trinidad and Tobago Forestry Department participated in fieldwork. Both Dr. Griffith and Dr. Noblick presented MBC research through seminars to the Life Sciences Department at UWI. The crucial funding partnership of the South Florida Palm Society enabled the project. The 2007 MBC Trinidad and Tobago Expedition, Mrs. Yasmin Baksh-Comeau, lead authors of “The Palm funded by the South Florida Palm Society, sent Book of Trinidad and Tobago”, to discuss MBC’s collect- Dr. Larry Noblick and Dr. Patrick Griffith to Trini- ing plans. Collecting permits were obtained on April 3 dad and Tobago from April 2 through April 21. through the Wildlife Division and the National Her- Trinidad and Tobago have a number of unique barium of Trinidad and Tobago (TRIN), and collecting habitat types which support an interesting palm began on April 4. flora. The island nation is at From April 4 through a biogeographic crossroads; April 11, MBC collected being the southernmost palm seed and vouchers in islands of the Caribbean, Trinidad from the Aripo and seven miles off the coast Savannas Scientific Reserve, of Venezuela, the flora is the Nariva Swamp, Radix influenced by both South Point, the Northern Range, American and Caribbean St. Patrick’s County, and phytogeography, and this is the mountains above St. borne out in the palms. Augustine. April 12, Dr. Coccothrinax, a promi- Griffith and Dr. Noblick nent palm genus of the travelled to Tobago, and Caribbean, has its south- collected in the Central ernmost distribution in Tobago Forest Reserve and Trinidad. Trinidad is also above Bloody Bay. home to the southernmost As part of MBC’s distribution of Euterpe collaboration with The Uni- broadwayi, and is the only versity of the West Indies, Antillean site of many more MBC staff offered seminars typically South American on their research. April 13, palms such as Astrocaryum Dr. Griffith presented a aculeatum, Attalea maripa, seminar to the Life Sciences Euterpe oleracea, Mauritia Department at UWI, titled flexuosa, Manicaria saccifera, “Cultivating Discoveries: and Oenocarpus bataua. Atta- Integrating Collections and lea butryacea, distributed also Dr. Larry Noblick measures an 18-foot long leaf of Research,” and on April 20, in Central and South Amer- Manicaria saccifera. Dr. Noblick presented a ica, finds its easternmost Aripo Savannas Scientific Reserve, Trinidad seminar titled “Unraveling distribution in Trinidad and the Butia Palm Puzzle.” Tobago. Therefore, population collections of these palms From April 14 through April 20, seeds were cleaned are crucial for biogeographic study, and germplasm from and plant materials prepared for transport, including these populations may have horticultural potential more obtaining phytosanitary certificates. April 15, Dr. Grif- suited for south Florida, owing to the marginal ranges of fith returned with a great deal of seed, and Dr. Noblick these taxa in Trinidad and Tobago. returned on April 21 with additional seed and all Arriving on April 2, Dr. Griffith and Dr. Noblick voucher specimens. made contact with botanists Dr. Paul Comeau and Expedition Report | Trinidad & Tobago April 2007 2 COLLECTIONS MBC located 21 of 22 native species of palm in much easier. Yasmin also collected with MBC in the Trinidad and Tobago, and was able to collect seed of 14 Nariva Swamp. MBC also appreciates being able to species over the three week period (see chart this page). conserve voucher specimens from this project at TRIN. MBC collected a total of 14 voucher specimens and 69 The guidance of Trinidad and Tobago foresters, seed collections for a total of 4,884 seed. One species Edmund Charles and Mervyn Atkinson, saved valuable not definitively observed was Euterpe oleracea, which was time owing to their expertise and extensive knowledge not readily distinguish- of local palm popula- able from E. precatoria at tions. Victor Quesnel the field sites visited. The and Anthony James eight species not col- graciously offered per- lected did not have ripe mission and assistance fruits or available seed. to collect on their prop- COLLABORATION erty. Jaumark Pierre and Camille Comeau helped The very significant collect in the Nariva help and support of the Swamp and Radix Point botanical and forestry areas. Renson Jack and community in Trinidad Shoba Maharaj offered and Tobago enabled the important advice on success of this expedition. collecting on Tobago Important links between and Trinidad, respec- the botanical community tively. Gerard and Oda of Trinidad and Tobago Ramsawak helped with and MBC, developed many logistical details through this project, will and provided extensive lead to further collab- knowledge of natural orative achievement of history. Yudishtir Maha- the missions of both. rajh offered important Dr. Paul Comeau’s practical advice. expert advice on coor- CONCLUSION dinating and planning site visits enabled the The goals of this most efficient use expedition were to of MBC’s time in document biogeog- Trinidad and Tobago. raphy and collect Paul accompanied MBC on a great many col- germplasm of native Trinibagonian palms. This lecting days, and his expert botanical guidance was to be accomplished through close collabora- made this project a successful endeavor. tion with the botanical community of Trinidad and Mrs. Yasmin Baksh-Comeau, director of the National Tobago. Both goals were robustly accomplished. Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago at the University The generous funding and encouragement of of the West Indies, provided crucial advice and guid- the South Florida Palm Society is deeply appreci- ance on doing fieldwork in Trinidad and Tobago. ated. As partners in this project, the MBC team Yasmin coordinated MBC’s permitting processes, and gratefully acknowledges the shared mission, her gracious hosting of MBC’s herbarium work in the goals, and interests of the South Florida Palm very well-equipped facilitates at TRIN made the work Society in palm research and conservation. Expedition Report | Trinidad & Tobago April 2007 3.