Acacia anegadensis (poke-me-boy)

Acacia anegadensis occurs only in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.

Acacia anegadensis specimen collected by Walter Fishlock in Anegada in 1919 (Image: RBG Kew)

Kew has had connections with the BVI since the early years of the 20th century, when Kew gardener Walter Fishlock became an agricultural instructor on Tortola. During his time in the BVI he accompanied the American botanist, Nathaniel Britton, on a plant-collecting expedition to Anegada, during which Acacia anegadensis was discovered. Britton named the species after the island where it was found (and later named a genus Fishlockia after him for this species).

More recently, conservationists from Kew’s UK Overseas Territories team have carried out intensive botanical studies on Anegada during the course of a project to assess the coastal biodiversity of the island and develop an action plan for its protection. Kew botanists are collaborating on a field guide to the islands’ plants, as well as continuing fieldwork throughout BVI to support the BVI National Parks Trust and other local partners.

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Acacia anegadensis heads of flowers (Image: RBG Kew)

Acacia anegadensis is an extremely spiny shrub or small tree, hence its local name of poke-me-boy. Its leaves are divided into up to four pairs of small leaflets. Clusters of tiny flowers form vivid yellow pompoms. Its curved pods (fruits) are typical of the legume family (the peas and beans), and split open, releasing the seeds.

Acacia anegadensis seedling growing in a glasshouse at the Millennium Seed Bank (Image: RBG Kew)

According to IUCN Red List criteria, Acacia anegadensis is considered to be Critically Endangered, because it lives in a very small area (less than 10 km²), much of which is under threat from housing and hotel developments. It could also face difficulties if sea levels around Anegada rise as a result of global climate change, both from further reductions in the area of suitable habitat and from inundation with salt water. Invasive plants on the island, such as Casuarina equisetifolia, could also overwhelm the tree and its habitat.

The discovery of additional specimens of poke-me-boy on Fallen Jerusalem is cause for optimism, as this island is volcanic in origin and rises to a greater height above sea level than Anegada. Although it is even smaller in size than Anegada, Fallen Jerusalem is already a National Park where building is forbidden.

Acacia anegadensis is in cultivation in the J R O’Neal Botanic Garden on Tortola, the largest island in the BVI. It is also being grown in the nursery glasshouses at Kew. Seeds collected from trees in the wild are in safe storage in Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank.

Although poke-me-boy is not currently used by islanders, reports in the older literature suggest that it was formerly cut for timber, and resin extracted from the tree was used to seal the hulls and decking of boats.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Description of seeds: Average 1,000 seed weight = 19.83 g.
Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: Two.
Germination testing: 100 % germination was achieved with a pre-sowing treatment (seed scarified - chipped with scalpel), on a 1% agar medium, at a temperature of 20°C, on a cycle of 8 hours daylight/16 hours darkness.

Acacia anegadensis is currently grown in Kew’s behind-the-scenes nursery glasshouses where horticulturists are investigating the best environmental conditions for its cultivation.

Pressed and dried specimens of poke-me-boy, including some collected by Kew gardener Walter Fishlock, are held in Kew’s Herbarium, where they are available to researchers from around the world, by appointment.

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species

Darwin Initiative Assessment of the Coastal Biodiversity of Anegada, British Virgin Islands

UK Overseas Territories Online Herbarium

Marine Turtle Research Group