Sarcochilus hillii var. thycolus is an endemic orchid of New Caledonia, which would be located on Pouembout-Ouaté area and in forêt de la Thy zone. S. hillii var. thycolus is found in dry forest and damaged patches of humid forest at an altitudinal range 180-900 m asl. Despite botanical descriptions, difference between varieties thycolus and hillii are not completely clear which results in misdetermination. As long as taxonomy and collection between both varieties of S. hillii are not clarified, S. hillii var. thycolus qualifies as Data Deficient.

Geographical area

S. hillii var. thycolus is an endemic orchid of New Caledonia, which would be located on Pouembout-Ouaté area and in forêt de la Thy.

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

S. hillii var. thycolus is found in dry forest and damaged patches of humid forest at an altitudinal range 180-900 m asl.

Threats

Excepted the threat of bushfire for Ouaté locality, there would be no particular threats associated with this variety.

Conservation

S. hillii var. thycolus is protected by legislation in Province Nord and in Province Sud. S. hiillii would be in two protected areas, réserve naturelle de la Vallée de la Thy, réserve intégrale de la Montagne des Sources as well as in one protected site managed by Conservatoire des Espaces Natures, namely Conservatoire botanique de Tiéa. Despite botanical descriptions, différence varieties thycolus and hillii are not completely clear which results in misdetermination. In order to clarifiy taxonomy between those two varieties, there is a need to check all collections by a taxonomist, to communicate to neo-caledonian botanists specifities fo those varieties and to collect supplementary materials for NOU herbarium.

Bibliography

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Hallé N.; Aubréville A.; Leroy J. F.; 1977. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 8: Orchidaceae.

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.

Experts

Assessor(s): Butin, J., Laudereau, C., Amice, R., Fleurot, D., Frayssinet, I., Garnier, D., Letocart, D., Letocart, I.

Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.

Contributor(s): Faria, E.

Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.