Harpalyce macrocarpa or “sangre de doncella” (maiden’s blood), is one of the Top 50 most threatened plants of Cuba.Enma Torres leads and interesting project to save this endangered species.
Date: 04/04/2019
Project: Conservation of riparian forests in serpentines of Central Cuba.
Fotos: Ignacio Díaz, Enma Torres y Arnaldo Toledo.
San Felipe’s eldest inhabitants still recall when many years ago, just as Spring was starting, the savanna surrounding the village was as red as “maiden’s blood”. The flowers of Harpalyce macrocarpa were claiming the attention of pollinators and neighbors alike. Today, it is hard to believe that such a vibrant landscape, dominated by Harpalyce macrocarpa, has only three small trees left. But it is not too late to rescue this vast local legend. With just three remaining plants, we intend to bring it back.
Harpalyce macrocarpa is an exclusive plant from Central Cuba. It is a fabaceous, from the bean family, but infinitely more beautiful. Its big red flowers, sometimes orange or yellow, are grouped in clusters covering almost the entire plant, which highlights this small tree among others. The plant can reach up to 4 m in height and relies in the humidity provided by nearby streams to thrive in the dry serpentine ecosystems.
The colorful flowers are pollinated by birds and bees, but despite their successful claim, pollination does not occur efficiently and the number of fruits and seeds have decreased significantly in the past years. The plant’s life cycle it is not then completed and this is where Planta!’s team can make a difference.
“It is just an illusion” -Faife told me when a bright red spot captured our eyes from the distance. We were a little sceptical in our search for flowering plants. A month before our visit none of the trees had flowers due to the intense heat. We walked several kilometers clearing our way through high dry grass. The riparian forest where Harpalyce macrocarpa grows has been continuously altered by illegal logging and the waterbed that this forest borders is very narrow due to the intense drought.
When we arrived, we were delighted to see that the small trees of Harpalyce macrocarpa were flowering, although there weren’t many fresh flowers left. Nevertheless, we were able to carry out several hand pollination experiments.
The fresh flowers were concentrated in the highest branches. We had to check every plant meticulously, from bottom to top, looking for more accessible flowers. More than once we climbed the trees to pollinate the flowers. I must say that my colleagues Michel Faife and Liemnys Vázquez accomplished this task better than I did, I’m still a long way from being a bee.
“This project aims to preserve one of the most colorful plants of the Cuban flora and to restore the massive red color that used to cover the hills of San Felipe”
Coordinator of the project Conservation of Harpalyce macrocarpa
Professor at the University of Las Villas “Marta Abreu“
Even though we encountered an annoying stinging vine (Platygine hexandra) while pollinating the flowers, we were going home filled with hope. The covered flowers will take a few more weeks to produce fruits, but we have already taken the first step. The seeds from these fruits will be used to propagate the species. This is just the beginning. The hills of San Felipe will only have to wait.
by Alejandro Palmarola
A Project from the Madagascar Plant Specialist Group was funded by Planta! as part of the SSC – Internal Grant since January 2020. The Project aims to create an action plan to preserve Critically Endangered regional plants.
by Alina Cuza
Published in 2013 in Bissea, “The top 50 most threatened plants of Cuba” has inspired conservation actions across Cuba. It has been a call for conservationists, local communities, and stakeholders, gathered by the common interest of protecting the unique flora of Cuba.
by Maritza Deroncelé
Maritza Deroncelé is a psychologist turned into a conservationist. Currently the Natural Reserve “El Retiro” manager, she tells us how her work preserving the Aguacate cimarron, changed her life.
