Taxonomy
Common name :
Meresaba (xârâcùù), pitchou (drubéa)
Synonyms
Cycas circinalis subsp. seemannii (A.Braun) J.SchusterRed List Status -
Vulnerable (VU) , assessed in 03/07/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province
Listed as Vulnerable based on a decline in habitat as a result of agriculture and use as a landscape plant. Decline is estimated as >30% over the past three generations (120 years) and is expected to continue.
Geographical area
This species occurs on several of the Fijian Islands, on Vanuatu, the Tonga Island group and New Caledonia. Recorded from sea level up to 600 m asl. In New Caledonia, it occurs on the sea shore, on some islets and on Isle des Pins.
Population
This species is common on stabilized coastal dunes developed on coral sand or coral limestone, less commonly on basaltic loams and other heavier soil types. Drier areas on rocky open slopes and ridges.
Habitat
This species is common on stabilized coastal dunes developed on coral sand or coral limestone, less commonly on basaltic loams and other heavier soil types. Drier areas on rocky open slopes and ridges.
Threats
A great deal of its habitat has been replaced by agriculture, yet, many plants are still encountered in patches of undisturbed forest.
Bibliography
Whitelock, L.M. 2022. The Cycads..
Keppel, G. and Osborne, R. 2004. Focus on Cycas seemannii.. Encephalartos(78) , p.12-20.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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].
Keppel, G. 2009. Morphological variation, an expanded description and ethnobotanical evaluation of Cycas seemannii A.Braun (Cycadaceae). The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science(27) , p.20-27.
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.
Jones, D.L. 2022. Cycads of the World (2nd edition)..
Hill, K.D. 1994. The Cycas rumphii complex (Cycadaceae) in New Guinea and the western Pacific.. Australian Systematic Botany(7) , p.543-567.
Hill, K.D. and Stevenson, D.W. 2006. The Cycad Pages. 1998-2006. Available at: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.gov.au/PlantNet/cycad/..
Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK..
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., McCoy, S., Suprin, B., Veillon, J.
Reviewer(s): Thomas, P., Jaffré, T., Munzinger, J., Gardner, M.
Contributor(s): Gueugnier, C., Butaud, J.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Maura, J.