Taxonomy
Alphitonia neocaledonica
Common name :
Alphitonia commun, kùa (xârâcùù), bois savon, ouya (drubéa)
Synonyms
Alphitonia vieillardii Lenorm. ex Braid • Alphitonia vieillardii Lenorm. ex Guillaumin
Pomaderris neocaledonica Schltr.
Red List Status -
Least Concern (LC) , assessed in 24/10/2019
Alphitonia neocaledonica is an endemic shrub from New Caledonia, widely distributed across the Grande Terre as well as at Ile des Pins and Belep islands. This species is common and it is found in humid forest, shrubland and secondary vegetation on ultramafic substrates at an altitude range of 3 and 910 m asl. It has an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) equal to 21,522 km² and a minimum Area of Occupancy (AOO) of 640 km² and it does not appear to be significantly threatened at the moment. Therefore, Alphitonia neocaledonica is assessed as Least Concern (LC).
Geographical area
Alphitonia neocaledonica is endemic to New Caledonia where it is widely distributed across the Grande Terre as well as at Ile des Pins and Belep islands.
Population
Population size is not known. Based on field observation, this species is very common.
Habitat
Alphitonia neocaledonica occurs in humid forest, shrubland and secondary vegetation on ultramafic substrates at an altitude range of 3 and 910 m asl.
Threats
This species does not seem threatened although it occurs in areas that may be impacted by bushfires and mining activities at Nakéty-Edouard, Ouazangou, Bonini, Camp des sapins, CFTMC, Kopeto , Kouaoua, Plateau, Poum, Stamboul, Tiebaghi, Union Révolution and Goro.
Conservation
Alphitonia neocaledonica is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia but it does occur in several protected areas: Foret Nord, Haute Dumbéa, la Dumbéa, Massif du Kouakoué, Montagne des sources, Pic du grand Kaori, Rivière bleue, Vallée de la Thy.
Bibliography
Guillaumin A. 1926. Matériaux pour la flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie XX. Révision des Rhamnacées . Bull. Soc. Bot. France(73) , p.104-107.
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., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Héquet, V., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H., Gâteblé, G.
Reviewer(s): Veillon, J.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S., Pillon, Y.