Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 11/09/2015Protected species -
in Southern Province
Pachystoma pubescens var. gracile is an endemic orchid of New Caledonia known only from one place on Grande Terre : Tango. Despite frequent field surveys, Tango sub-population has never been found again since 1980's. The supposed extinction could have been caused by consumption of bulbs by wild pig. With only one locality threatened and supposed extinct, Pachystoma pubescens var. gracile qualifies as Critically Endangered Probably Extinct (CR PE) B1ab(iii,iv,v)+B2ab(iii,iv,v).
Geographical area
Pachystoma pubescens var. gracile is an endemic orchid of New Caledonia known only from one place on Grande Terre : Tango.
Population
Pachystoma pubescens var. gracile was only known from a little population in Tango.
Habitat
Pachystoma pubescens var. gracile had been found in dense humid forest at an altitude between 200 and 300 m asl.
Threats
The supposed extinction could have been caused by consumption of bulbs by wild pig. The two other threats that can be involved in its presumed extinction are frequent bushfires and passing of machinery in charge of refreshing path.
Conservation
Pachystoma pubescens var. gracile is protected in Province Nord and Province Sud. P. pubescens var. gracile does not occur in any protected area. In order to confirm extinction, field surveys must be conducted at different periods of time on the last locality that we know, Tango, but also on vague localities given by two old collections of Deplanche and Vieillard, Kanala and Wagap.
Bibliography
Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. Le référentiel taxonomique Florical et les caractéristiques de la flore vasculaire indigène de la Nouvelle-Calédonie [The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia]. Adansonia sér 3(34) , p.177-219.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Hallé N.; Aubréville A.; Leroy J. F.; 1977. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 08 : Orchidaceae.
Experts
Assessor(s): Butin, J., Laudereau, C., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Frayssinet, I., Garnier, D., Goxe, J., Gâteblé, G., Veillon, J., Villegente, J.
Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.
Contributor(s): Faria, E.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.