03. Conservation status of Taxus floridana, acritically endangered evergreen coniferous plant
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Abstract
Taxus floridana Nutt. ex Chapm. is a slow growing, evergreen, coniferous plant restricted along the Apalachicola river in north-western Florida. Owing to its confinement to a small area and its declining population the specie is regarded as critically endangered plant according to IUCN. Besides its slow growth, many factors led to severe decline in the population of this species in past few decades. Ripened cones of T. Floridana are an important source of food for many bird species, beavers chew off the tops of young stems and white tailed-deer also rubs on these trees. Florida yew is also highly sensitive to fire. T. floridana also contains an important anticancer drug “Paclitaxel” which is also found in Taxus brevifolia and T. Canadensis. Paclitaxel is used in the treatment of various forms of cancer. These entire factors led to serious decline in the population of this species in past few decades. Florida yew is ideal to be used as hedge or in foundation planting but it seldom appears in nurseries. T. Floridana should be used in home landscapes in order to avoid its extinction. T. floridana can also be propagated through stem cuttings. It has been observed that mature wood cuttings taken in winter root well under mist. Several conservation studies and efforts were made to conserve it like other species of the same genus, but a more comprehensive and multiple-approach conservation strategy is required to ensure its conservation. Long term monitoring programs and propagation studies may prove fruitful in conserving such critically endangered species.
Keywords: Critically endangered plant, Taxus floridana