Taxonomy
Pittosporum sessilifolium
Red List Status -
Data Deficient (DD) , assessed in 23/07/2015
Pittosporum sessilifolium is an endemic shrub, which under current delimitation of this taxon is distributed in northern Grande Terre, from haute vallée de la Téné to Mount Koniambo for the west coast and from Houaïlou to Monéo for the east coast. However, recent phylogenetic suggest that P. loniceroides and P. sessilifolium may be conspecific. Until further research is carried out and taxonomic delimitation are clarified, P. sessilifolium qualifies as Data Deficient.
Geographical area
P. sessilifolium is an endemic shrub, which under current delimitation of this taxon, distributed in northern Grande Terre, from haute vallée de la Téné to Mount Koniambo for the west coast and from Houaïlou to Monéo for the east coast.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
P. sessilifolium occurs in shrubland and on forest edges on ultramafic substrate, mostly on high-slope soil.
Threats
The majority of localities, where P. sessilifolium has been found are threatened by mining activities. New Caledonia contains between 20 - 30% of the world’s nickel resources. Intense mining activities since the late 19th century has generated soil erosion (1.2% of bare ground mapped by SPOT5 in 2007). Threats related to damages on P. sessilifolium habitat can also be caused by bushfire and rusa deer (Rusa timorensis). In Bourail, we observed the direct impact of agriculture.
Conservation
P. sessilifolium is not protected by any legislation nor does it occur in any protected areas. In the aim to assess extinction risk of P. sessilifolium, there is an urgent need to conduct morphological and genetic studies and thus clarify the taxonomy between P. sessilifolium and P. loniceroides. A priority for study are the sub-populations of Voh-Koniambo and creek Hervouet which should provide data critical to determining if these are two distinct species.
Bibliography
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Tirel, C. & Veillon J.-M. 2002. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 24 : Pittosporaceae.
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): Gemmill, C., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Maggia, L.
Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.