Ponytail Palm

In 1997, Cardel and collaborators reported a total of 6,000 individuals of Beaucarnea gracilis in 900 km², with a density of 16.7 individuals/ha. In this demographic analysis, the ecological status of  Beaucarnea gracilis population was described as relatively good for adult individuals. They also reported a low rate of survival for seeds and seedlings, and an absence of young individuals without apparent reason. More recently, a study conducted field samples considering the populations of this species in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán region.These samplings were carried out in places where the same populations were studied years earlier. As a result, a reduction of individuals of 33% in the last decade was measured, without any new plant established in this period (Hernández Sandoval et al. 2012). However, these authors found a 89.9% of seed germination rate in lab conditions. In a preliminary plants age assessment, it was found that most of the present plants in the studied populations have over 50 years old, with specimens probably about 500 years old (L. Hernández-Sandoval pers. comm. 2019). The population trend is experiencing a continuing decline due to low natural recruitment, illegal trade, and threats to the habitat. In fact, it is considered that a population size reduction of 50% has taken place in the last three generations (E. Martínez Salas pers. comm. 2019).