Taxonomy
Orthiopteris firma
Synonyms
Saccoloma firmum (Kuhn) C.Chr. • Saccoloma moluccanum sensu
Davallia campylura sensu
• Saccoloma moluccanum var. firma Kuhn
• Davallia moluccana sensu
Red List Status -
Least Concern (LC) , assessed in 30/10/2019
Orthiopteris firma is an endemic terrestrial fern of New Caledonia, where it is widely distributed across Grande Terre. It grows in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary or ultramafic substrates up to 1,000 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and minimum area of occupancy (AOO) are 7,825 and 136 km², respectively. Although some subpopulations might suffer or even be at risk of disappearing because of the impact of Rusa Deer, overall this species does not appear to be significantly threatened at the moment. Therefore, O. firma is listed as Least Concern (LC).
Geographical area
O. firma is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is widely distributed across Grande Terre, from Forêt Nord to Mt. Panié.
Population
Population size is unknown. Field observations indicate that it could be declining in some areas, but the overall population trend is uncertain.
Habitat
This terrestrial fern grows in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary or ultramafic substrate up to 1,000 m asl.
Threats
Although some subpopulations might suffer or even be at risk of disappearing because of the impact of Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis), overall this species does not appear to be threatened at the moment.
Conservation
O. firma is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia, but it occurs in several protected areas: Forêt Nord, Montagne des sources and Mont Panié natural reserves, as well as Rivière Bleue and Côte Oubliée provincial parks.
Bibliography
Brownlie G. 1969. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 03 : Pteridophytae.
Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin. 2019. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia..
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Perrie, L., Suprin, B., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Rouhan, G.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.