Taxonomy

Planchonella luteocostata Munzinger & Swenson
endemique
protegee
UICN

Synonyms

Pouteria sp. ined.

Red List Status -

Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 29/11/2019

Protected species -

in Southern Province , in Northern Province

Planchonella luteocostata is an endemic tree of New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the west coast of Grande Terre. It grows mainly in dry tropical forest on volcano-sedimentary or calcereous substrate up to 600 m asl. The main threats to this species are bushfires and invasive species (deer). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 6,670 and 132 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be higher than ten. Therefore, P. luteocostata is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to Vulnerable under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+B2ab(iii,v).

Geographical area


P. luteocostata is endemic to New Caledonia, where it restricted to the west coast of Grande Terre, from Plum (Mont-Dore) to Ouégoa.

Population


Population size is unknown, but field observations indicate that this species is…

Habitat


This small tree grows in dry tropical or mesophilous forest on volcano-sedimentary or calcareous substrate up to 600 m asl. It has also been occasionally observed on serpentine ground.

Threats


The main threat to this species is posed by bushfires and invasive species (rusa deer Rusa timorensis), which cause habitat degradation. A direct impact from rats on the seeds is also suspected.

Conservation


P. luteocostata is protected by legislation in Province Sud and Province Nord, and it occurs in one protected area: îlot Leprédour natural reserve. Prospection is recommended on the west coast to better estimate the distribution of this species, which is suspected to occur on other sclerophyll forest sites.

Bibliography


Swenson U., Munzinger J. & Bartish I.V. 2007. Molecular phylogeny of Planchonella (Sapotaceae) and eight new species from New Caledonia. Taxon(56(2)) , p.329-354.

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].

Experts


Assessor(s): Barrault, J., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Munzinger, J., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Swenson, U.

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


Geographical distribution