Small Caribbean islands are wonderful showcases of biodiversity. All islands of the Lesser Antilles had equal access to a similar suite of invading plants, yet differences in geology, topography, climate, and human habitation have produced very different floristic effects. Study of these differences can contribute to a better understanding of biodiversity, yet thorough and accurate information on what plants are located on each of these islands is not readily available. This floristic study of the island of Sint Eustatius—"Statia" as it is known to its inhabitants—may serve as a model for the assemblage of such information.

The flora of Statia, which surprisingly contains two endemic taxa, has had only one previous complete floristic study, that of Boldingh published in 1909. A little over 50 years later, Stoffers began a more detailed one, which was never finished. The present synoptic flora, consisting of 626 vascular plants, is based mainly on the author’s collection between 2009 and 2014 of over 1,000 specimens. It is intended to meet the needs of botanists, ecologists, and others who wish to know which plants are now present on the island and which previously noted plants are no longer known to be present.

The database is digitally accesible through: UPRRP herbario

Abstract:

A new species from St. Eustatius, Gonolobus aloiensis (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Gonolobinae), is described and illustrated. This new species is endemic to St. Eustatius (northern Leeward Islands) and represents the first record of the genus for the island. It exhibits morphological similarity to continental G. albomarginatus, but can be distinguished in part by abaxial leaf surfaces glabrous, calyx and corolla lobes shorter and narrower, and abaxial corolla lobes completely lacking glandular indumentum and with eglandular indumentum restricted at most to only the top two-thirds of the lobes. An amplified key to species of Gonolobus s. s. in the West Indies is provided.