Taxonomy
Tristaniopsis polyandra
Synonyms
Tristania polyandra Guillaumin • Tristania vieillardii var. grandiflora Bonati & Petitm.Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 17/11/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
Tristaniopsis polyandra is an endemic shrub or small tree from New Caledonia, only known from the Dumbéa basin, in the south of Grande Terre. It grows in shrubland on ultramafic slopes from 50 to 200 m asl. Known from a single location, its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are both equal to 24 km², respectively. The main threats to this species are habitat degradation by recurrent bushfires in the area, as well as myrtle rust (A. psidii) that affects the fruits and thus impedes its regeneration. Therefore, T. polyandra is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B1ab(iii,v).
Geographical area
T. polyandra is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is only known from the Dumbéa basin, in the south of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
T. polyandra occurs in shrubland on ultramafic slopes from 50 to 200 m asl.
Threats
The main threats to this species are habitat degradation by recurrent bushfires in the area, as well as myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) that affects the fruits and thus impedes its regeneration.
Conservation
T. polyandra is protected by legislation in province Nord and province Sud, but it does not occur in any protected areas. This species would benefit from in situ and ex situ emergency conservation actions. It is proposed that monitoring should occur to ensure the persistence of the known population. To ensure the preservation of a viable population, it is recommended to inform the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas. Moreover, 500 individuals have already been reintroduced in the wild, but it is suggested to promote further growing in nurseries or use in green space planning.
Bibliography
Dawson J.W. 1992. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 18 : Myrtacées Leptospermoïdées.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Butin, J., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Goxe, J., Héquet, V., Lannuzel, G., Suprin, B., Veillon, J.
Reviewer(s): Vandrot, H.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Tanguy, V.