Taxonomy
Synonyms
Argophyllum sericeum Poir.Red List Status -
Least Concern (LC) , assessed in 06/12/2021
Argophyllum nitidum is a small tree endemic from New Caledonia. It is widely distributed across the Grande Terre, from the Bourail-Canala area to the far north of the main land as well as an isolated observation at Koghis at the south west of the main land. It occurs in forests and also on savannah on non ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 5-1,000 m asl. Some subpopulation may be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires. However Argophyllum nitidum is common and seems to prefer the degraded areas. It does not seem to threatened. Therefore with an Area of Occupancy (AOO) and an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) equal to 192 and 11,332 km², respectively, Argophyllum nitidum is not thought to approach the requirements for listing as threatened. It is listed as Least Concern (LC).
Geographical area
Argophyllum nitidum is endemic to New Caledonia where it is widely distributed across the Grande Terre, from the Bourail-Canala area to the far north of the main land as well as an isolated observation at Koghis at the south west of the main land.
Population
The population size is not known. Field prospections indicate that the species is very common and it seems to prefer the degraded areas.
Habitat
Argophyllum nitidum occurs in forests and also on savannah on non ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 5-1,000 m asl.
Threats
Some subpopulation may be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires. However Argophyllum nitidum is common and seems to prefer the degraded areas. It does not seem to be threatened.
Conservation
Argophyllum nitidum is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in three protected areas: Parc des Grandes Fougères, Mont Panié, Vallée de la Thy.
Bibliography
Pillon, Y.; Hequet, V. 2021. A New Species of Argophyllum (Argophyllaceae) with Notes on the Species from New Caledonia and Nickel Hyperaccumulation. Plants(10 (4)) , p.701.
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].
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.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Gâteblé, G., Garnier, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., McCoy, S., Vandrot, H., Pillon, Y.
Reviewer(s): Fourdrain, A.
Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Warimavute, G.