Taxonomy
Synonyms
Alsophila cicatricosa (Holttum) R.M.TryonRed List Status -
Data Deficient (DD) , assessed in 10/06/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province
Description
notes
Emails from Macrus Lehnert to Leon Perrie, 28 and 29 August 2017 about putative distinguishing characters: Stipes green in Cyathea cicatricosa; whereas they are brown in C. alata even in the shade. Trunks with prominent round, tightly packed stipe scars in C. cicatricosa; stipe scars plane, more elliptic and spaced apart in C. alata. The main distinguishing character is the presence of bullate scales in C. alata and their absence in C. cicatricosa, which is generally hairier and scalier with flat scales.
Cyathea cicatricosa is an endemic tree fern of New Caledonia, is found in the center (Farino region) and in the north east (Mont Ignambi, Ouégoa) of Grande Terre. It occurs in forest at an altitudinal range of 400-1,000 m asl. This species deserves to be more collected in order to enhance the knowledge of this species. Cyathea cicatricosa is therefore assessed as Data Deficient (DD) for taxonomy and provenance reasons.
Geographical area
Cyathea cicatricosa is an endemic tree fern of New Caledonia, which under current taxonomic delimitation, is found in the center (Farino region) and in the north east (Mont Ignambi, Ouégoa) of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
It occurs in dense humid forest at an altitudinal range of 400-1,000 m asl.
Threats
There is no threat identified.
Conservation
Cyathea cicatricosa is protected by legislation in Province Sud and occurs in one protected area: Aoupinié. Taxonomy needs to be clarified. The taxonomic outline of the species needs to be clarified, in particular doubts are expressed about the actual distinction between Cyathea cicatricosa and C. alata. Therefore field surveys in Aoupinié area are recommended in order to address this issue.
Bibliography
Brownlie G. 1969. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 03 : Pteridophytae.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Barrabé, L., Cazé, H., Chambrey, C., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Letocart, D., Letocart, I.
Reviewer(s): Perrie, L., Tanguy, V.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Warimavute, G., Maura, J.