Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Vulnerable (VU) , assessed in 22/03/2023Protected species -
in Northern Province
Alyxia kaalaensis is an endemic shrub from New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the northwestern massifs of Grande Terre. This liana or upright shrub, sometimes a climber, grows in shrubland on serpentine up to 929 m asl. Known from six locations, its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are estimated to be 80 km² and 36 km², respectively. The main threats are uncontrolled bushfires and indirectly mining activities (road constructions, soil erosion, urbanisation). Therefore, A. kaalaensis is listed as Vulnerable (VU) under criteria B1ab (iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) and a estimated continuing decline of the concerned sub-criteria .
Geographical area
Alyxia kaalaensis is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the northwestern massifs of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
This liana or upright shrub, sometimes a climber, grows in shrubland on serpentine up to 929 m asl.
Threats
The main threats are uncontrolled bushfires and indirectly mining activities (road constructions, soil erosion, urbanisation).
Conservation
Alyxia kaalaensis is protected by legislation in Province Nord and it does not occur in any protected areas. To ensure the persistence of the known population, it is proposed that monitoring should occur on the mining site, as well as information of the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas.
Bibliography
Lannuzel et al. 2024. Alyxia Banks ex R.Br. in New Caledonia: a clarification of several species complexes, nomenclatural notes, and a description of three new species. Phytotaxa(649 (1)) , p.1-43.
Boiteau Pierre avec collaboration de Lucie Allorge 1982. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 10 : Apocynacées.
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.
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): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Eltabet, N., Garnier, D., Fleurot, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.
Facilitator(s): Fourdrain, A., Warimavute, G.