Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 08/09/2017
Oxera oreophila is a slender liana endemic to New Caledonia, with a scattered distribution from Mt. Paéoua (in the north) to the south of Grande Terre. It occurs in dense humid forest on ultramafic substrate between 700 and 1,600 m asl. It is known from ten locations, and its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are estimated at 56 and 3,278 km², respectively. This species' habitat could be impacted by feral pigs (Sus scrofa), but being located at high altitudes, it does not seem directly threatened at the moment. Therefore, O. oreophila is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Geographical area
O. oreophila is endemic to New Caledonia, with a scattered distribution: in Mt. Paéoua in the north and in the southern part of Grande Terre (from Thio to Mont-Dore).
Population
Population size is unknown. Field observations indicate small population size with regeneration capacity.
Habitat
O. oreophila is found in dense humid forest on ultramafic substrate between 700 and 1,600 m asl.
Threats
The main impact is habitat degradation by feral pigs (Sus scrofa). However this species is present at high altitudes, so it does not seem directly threatened.
Conservation
This species is not protected by any legislation in New Caledonia, but it occurs in numerous protected areas: Mont Mou, Mont Humboldt, Massif du Kouakoué, Haute Yaté, Vallée de la Thy, Haute Pourina, Rivière bleue, Forêt de Saille. This species is cultivated at the IAC (Institut Agronomique de Nouvelle-Calédonie) nursery of Saint-Louis with only a few number of individuals.
Bibliography
Mabberley DJ, de Kok RPJ. 2004. Labiatae. In: Morat P,ed. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendance.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Gâteblé, G. 2016. Flore ornementale 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.
Barrabé L, Karnadi-Abdelkader,G, Ounemoa,J,de Kok RPJ., Robert N, Gâteble,G. 2015. Recircumscription of Oxera (Lamiaceae: Ajugoideae) ta include Faradaya based on molecular and anatomical data. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society(179) , p.693-711.
Experts
Assessor(s): Gâteblé, G., Barrabé, L., Fleurot, D., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Bruy, D., Héquet, V., Vandrot, H., Butin, J., Mandaoué, L., Haverkamp, C., Dumontet, V., Laudereau, C.
Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Warimavute, G.