Taxonomy

endemique
UICN

Synonyms

Menepetalum schlechteri var. genuinum Loes.Menepetalum schlechteri var. australe Loes.

Red List Status -

Least Concern (LC) , assessed in 20/11/2020

Menepetalum schlechteri is an endemic shrub or tree of New Caledonia distributed across the Grande Terre. It is found in dense humid forest on ultramafic and volcano-sedimentary substrate or in maquis at an altitude range of 200 and 1,100 m asl. This species does not seem to be threatened, altough some subpopulations may be impacted by mining anctivities and bushfires in particular lower supopulations. Therefore with an extent of occurrence (EOO) equal to 10,077 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 140 km², Menepetalum schlechteri is assessed as Least Concern (LC).

Geographical area


Menepetalum schlechteri is endemic to New Caledonia where it is distributed across the Grande Terre.

Population


Population size is unknown.

Habitat


Menepetalum schlechteri occurs in dense humid forest on ultramafic and volcano-sedimentary substrate or in maquis at an altitude range of 200 and 1,100 m asl.

Threats


Menepetalum schlechteri is located in areas impacted by bushfires (mainly its populations at midle range altitude) and by actual or future mining activities but it does not seem to be threatened.

Conservation


Menepetalum schlechteri is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in three protected areas: Forêt cachée, Vallée de la Thy, Côte Oubliée. The experts note a high variability in this group and it can also contain multiple taxa that may deserve species-level recognition. Taxonomic and genetic studies are needed to confirm or refuting these assumptions.

Bibliography


Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].

Morat, P. 1996. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 20 : Celastraceae, Loranthaceae, Alseuocmiaceae, Paracryphiaceae, Tiliaceae.

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Experts


Assessor(s): Bruy, D., Butin, J., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Héquet, V., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Cazé, H.

Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.


Geographical distribution