List of endemic flora of Puerto Rico facts for kids

Imagine a plant that only grows in one special place on Earth – that's what we call an endemic plant! Puerto Rico is an island full of amazing nature, and it's home to many plants that you won't find anywhere else in the world. This list introduces you to some of these unique plants, from beautiful flowers to tall trees, all found only in Puerto Rico. They are super important for the island's ecosystem and make Puerto Rico truly special.

A map showing the different ecosystems of Puerto Rico, where these special plants live.

Unique Plants of Puerto Rico

This list shares some of the amazing plants that are found only in Puerto Rico. Each plant has a scientific name, which is like its unique ID. Sometimes, they also have common names that people use.

Apocynaceae Family

• Forsteronia portoricensis (now known as Pinochia corymbosa subsp. portoricensis)
• Tabernaemontana oppositifolia

Aquifoliaceae Family (Hollies)

• Ilex cookii (Cook's holly)
• Ilex sintenisii (Sintenis' holly)

Araliaceae Family

• Dendropanax laurifolius
• Frodinia gleasonii

Asclepiadaceae Family

• Marsdenia elliptica
• Matelea sintenisii
• Matelea variifolia (also called Matelea borinquensis)

Asteraceae Family (Daisies and Sunflowers)

• Chromolaena borinquensis
• Critonia portoricense
• Koanophyllon dolicholepis
• Koanophyllon polyodon
• Mikania odoratissima
• Mikania porosa
• Vernonia proctorii

Begoniaceae Family

• Begonia decandra

Bignoniaceae Family

• Crescentia portoricensis (Higuero de sierra)
• Tabebuia haemantha

Boraginaceae Family

• Cordia bellonis
• Cordia wagneriorum (Luquillo Mountain manjack)

Bromeliaceae Family

• Hohenbergia antillana

Buxaceae Family

• Buxus portoricensis

Cactaceae Family (Cacti)

Harrisia portoricensis growing on Mona Island.

• Harrisia portoricensis (Puerto Rico applecactus)

Campanulaceae Family

• Lobelia assurgens var. portoricensis

Canellaceae Family

• Pleodendron macranthum (Chupacallos)

Celastraceae Family

• Maytenus ponceana

Clusiaceae Family

• Clusia gundlachii

Cyatheaceae Family (Tree Ferns)

• Alsophila amintae
• Alsophila bryophila
• Cyathea portoricensis

Cyperaceae Family

• Eleocharis sintenisii

Ebenaceae Family

• Diospyros sintenisii

Ericaceae Family

• Lyonia truncata var. proctorii

Euphorbiaceae Family

• Acalypha bisetosa
• Acalypha portoricensis
• Hieronyma clusioides

Fabaceae Family (Peas and Beans)

• Calliandra locoensis
• Neorudolphia volubilis
• Poitea florida

Flacourtiaceae Family

• Banara portoricensis

Gesneriaceae Family

• Gesneria citrina
• Gesneria cuneifolia
• Gesneria pedunculosa

Icacinaceae Family

• Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon (Palo de Rosa)

Lauraceae Family

• Licaria brittoniana

Loranthaceae Family

• Dendropemon bicolor

Magnoliaceae Family (Magnolias)

• Magnolia portoricensis
• Magnolia splendens

Malpighiaceae Family

• Heteropteris wydleriana
• Stigmaphyllon floribundum

Malvaceae Family

• Thespesia grandiflora (Flor de maga)

Marcgraviaceae Family

• Marcgravia sintenisii (Bejuco de palma, Bejuco de lira, Bejuco de rana, Lira del Yunque, Pegapalma)

Melastomataceae Family

• Henriettea membranifolia
• Heterotrichum cymosum
• Sagraea portoricensis (Puerto Rico hogwood)

Meliaceae Family

• Trichilia triacantha (Bariaco)

Moraceae Family

• Ficus stahlii

Myrtaceae Family

• Eugenia eggersii
• Eugenia haematocarpa
• Eugenia padronii
• Eugenia stewardsonii
• Marlierea sintenisii
• Myrcia acevedoi
• Myrcia estremerae
• Myrcia luquillensis (Luquillo forest lidflower)
• Myrcia margarettae
• Myrcia paganii
• Psidium amplexicaule
• Psidium sintenisii (Hoja Menuda)

Nyctaginaceae Family

• Neea buxifolia

Orchidaceae Family (Orchids)

• Brachionidium ciliolatum
• Leochilus puertoricensis
• Lepanthes caritensis
• Lepanthes eltoroensis (Luquillo Mountain babyboot orchid)
• Lepanthes woodburyana
• Lepanthes stimsonii
• Psychilis kraenzlinii
• Psychilis krugii
• Psychilis monensis

Passifloraceae Family (Passionflowers)

The beautiful Passiflora tulae flower.

• Passiflora tulae

Phyllanthaceae Family

• Hieronyma clusioides (Cedro Macho)

Piperaceae Family

• Peperomia maxonii

Poaceae Family (Grasses)

• Aristida chaseae
• Aristida portoricensis (Pelos del diablo)

Polygalaceae Family

• Coccoloba rugosa
• Polygala cowellii

Polygonaceae Family

• Coccoloba pyrifolia
• Coccoloba swartzii f. urbaniana

Polypodiales Order (Ferns)

• Amauropelta inabonensis
• Amauropelta rheophyta
• Asplenium corderoanum
• Goniopteris abdita
• Goniopteris hildae
• Goniopteris verecunda
• Goniopteris yaucoensis
• Tectaria estremerana

Rhamnaceae Family

• Reynosia krugii
• Rhamnus sphaerosperma

Rubiaceae Family

• Mitracarpus maxwelliae
• Mitracarpus portoricensis
• Randia portoricensis
• Rondeletia inermis
• Stenostomum obtusifolium (also called Antirhea obtusifolia)
• Stenostomum portoricense (also called Antirhea portoricensis)
• Stenostomum sintenisii (also called Antirhea sintenisii)

Salicaceae Family

• Xylosma pachyphylla (Spiny logwood)

Sapindaceae Family

• Thouinia striata

Sapotaceae Family

• Chrysophyllum pauciflorum
• Manilkara pleeana
• Micropholis garciniifolia
• Sideroxylon portoricense

Schizaeaceae Family

• Anemia portoricensis

Schoepfiaceae Family

• Schoepfia arenaria

Selaginellaceae Family

• Selaginella krugii
• Selaginella laxifolia

Simaroubaceae Family

Simarouba tulae is another unique plant from Puerto Rico.

• Simarouba tulae

Solanaceae Family

• Goetzea elegans
• Solanum drymophilum (Erubia)

Styracaceae Family

• Styrax portoricensis (Palo de Jazmin)

Ternstroemiaceae Family

• Ternstroemia luquillensis (Palo Colorado)
• Ternstroemia subsessilis

Thymelaeaceae Family

• Daphnopsis helleriana

Urticaceae Family

• Pilea leptophylla

Verbenaceae Family

• Cornutia obovata

Zamiaceae Family

• Zamia ambiphyllidia
• Zamia portoricensis

See also

• Fauna of Puerto Rico
• List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
• Grasses of Puerto Rico
• San Juan Botanical Garden