Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Data Deficient (DD) , assessed in 10/09/2015Protected species -
in Northern ProvinceMedicosma gracilis is a narrow endemic shrub restricted to the north-west of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is insufficiently known. It could be composed by two sub-populations (Yago, Poro) which are areas threatened by mining operations. It is found in shrubland and remanant forest on an ultramafic substrate. This taxon is insufficiently collected and not well known. Medicosma gracilis is therefore assessed as Data Deficient (DD) for taxonomic and provenance reasons.
Geographical area
Medicosma gracilis is a narrow endemic shrub restricted to the north-west of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. It could be composed of two sub-populations (Yago, Poro).
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
Medicosma gracilis is found in shrubland and remanant forest on an ultramafic substrate.
Threats
Main threats identified are uncontrolled bushfires and rusa rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) on Yago sub-population and mining activities and rusa rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) on Poro sub-population.
Conservation
The genus Medicosma should be taxonomically clarified in order to be able to assess the extinction risks of this species.
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.
L'Huillier L.; Jaffré T. and Wulff A. 2010. Mines et Environnement en Nouvelle-Calédonie : les milieux sur substrats ultramafiques et leur restauration.
Wulff AS, Hollingsworth PM, Ahrends A, Jaffré T, Veillon J-M, L’Huillier L, et al. 2013. Conservation Priorities in a Biodiversity Hotspot: Analysis of Narrow Endemic Plant Species in New Caledonia.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Tanguy, V., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Barrière, R., Fleurot, D., Gailhbaud, P., Garnier, D., Suprin, B.
Reviewer(s): Vandrot, H.
Contributor(s): Wulff, A.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S., Tanguy, V.