TITLE:
Ecology, Phenology and Conservation Issues of Six Threatened or Remarkable Rubiaceae in the Lesser Antilles
AUTHORS:
Jean-Philippe Claude, Yelji Abati, Philippe Joseph
KEYWORDS:
Lesser Antilles, Rubiaceae, Ecology, Phenology, Conservation
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.16 No.13,
December
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: The study examines the ecology and phenology of six species of the Rubiaceae family, threatened or remarkable within the Lesser Antilles archipelago, with a focus on the island of Martinique. Monthly phenological observations carried out from 2016 to 2020, at the Ethnobotanical Park of the town of Marin in Martinique, were cross-referenced with bibliographic data and more than a hundred floristic inventories carried out between 2015 and 2020 on the island. The Ethnobotanical Park, home to approximately 812 individuals divided into approximately 146 species, 119 genera and 71 families, constitutes a privileged study site for monitoring the cycles of flowering, fruiting and stem growth. The phenological strategies and ecological profiles of Erithalis fruticosa (shrub), Genipa americana (tree), Guettarda scabra (tree), Ixora ferrea (shrub), Randia aculeata (shrub) and Randia nitida (tree) were characterized. The results obtained improve knowledge on the ecological dynamics of these species and can be used for future conservation and ecological restoration strategies in the Lesser Antilles.