Argophyllum ellipticum is a shrub endemic from New Caledonia. It is widely distributed across the Grande Terre, from the southern limit at Dumbéa-Yaté Area to Kaala Gomen- Ouegoa at the northern part of the main land. It occurs in humid forets and scrubland (maquis) mainly on ultramafic and more rarely non ultramafic substrates at an altitudinal range of 400-1,634 m asl. Some subpopulations may be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires and mining activities at Kouaoua in the south east coast. However Argophyllum ellipticum is common, occurs in several protected areas. Therefore with an Area of Occupancy (AOO) and an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) equal to 380 and 9,279 km², respectively, Argophyllum ellipticum is not thought to approach the requirements for listing as threatened. It is listed as Least Concern (LC).

Geographical area

Argophyllum ellipticum is endemic to New Caledonia where it is widely distributed across the Grande Terre, from the southern limit at Dumbéa-Yaté Area to Kaala Gomen-Ouegoa at the northern part of the main land.

Population

The population size is not known. Field prospections indicate that the species is very common.

Habitat

Argophyllum ellipticum occurs in humid forests and scrubland (maquis) mainly on ultramafic and more rarely non ultramafic substrates at an altitudinal range of 400-1,634 m asl.

Threats

This species does not seem to be threatened nowadays although some subpopulations may be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires and mining activities at Kouaoua in the south east coast.

Conservation

Argophyllum ellipticum is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in several protected areas: Haute Dumbéa, la Dumbéa, Massif du Kouakoué, Mont Do, Mont Humboldt, Côte Oubliée, Forêt de Saille.

Bibliography

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].

Pillon, Y.; Hequet, V. 2021. A New Species of Argophyllum (Argophyllaceae) with Notes on the Species from New Caledonia and Nickel Hyperaccumulation. Plants(10 (4)) , p.701.

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Gâteblé, G., Garnier, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., McCoy, S., Vandrot, H., Pillon, Y.

Reviewer(s): Fourdrain, A.

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