Trichilia triacantha, the bariaco, is a species of plant in the family Meliaceae. It is endemic to Puerto Rico.
Description The bariaco is a shrub or a tree reaching up to tall. It has leaves made up of several leathery, spine-toothed leaflets and the flowers are white.USFWS. Determination of Endangered Status for the Plant Trichilia triacantha (Bariaco). Federal Register February 5, 1988. The fruit is a capsule with a red aril.Ventosa-Febles, E. A. (2007). Distribution and habitat characteristics of Trichilia triacantha (Meliaceae) in Puerto Rico. Endanger Species Res 3 267-71.
Habitat The plant grows in dry forest habitat on limestone substrates, often near intermittent streams.
Conservation As of 2007 there were 10 populations of the tree containing a total of 109 individuals. 47 of these were found to be fertile. Six of the ten populations were located in the Guánica National Forest. Two of these were composed of single individuals located several kilometers from other members of the species, and so are unlikely to reproduce.
This plant has been overharvested because its wood is useful and attractive. It is additionally threatened by habitat loss, and as such is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
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