Taxonomy
Blepharoglossum elegans
Synonyms
Liparis indifferens J.J.Sm. • Cestichis elegans M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
Stichorkis elegans (Lindl.) Marg.
• Liparis gracilis Hook.f.
• Liparis stenostachya Schltr.
• Cestichis stenostachya (Schltr.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
• Stichorkis stenostachya (Schltr.) Marg.
• Cestichis indifferens (J.J.Sm.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
• Stichorkis indiferens (J.J.Sm.) Marg.
Red List Status -
Vulnerable (VU) , assessed in 18/02/2016
Endemic orchid of New Caledonia, Liparis indifferens is known on Dzumac and Plaine des lacs areas for the southern part of Grande Terre and from Houaïlou to Tiébaghi for the northern part. L. indifferens is a species of shrubland and humid forest on ultramafic and volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitudinal range 50-800 m asl. Threats such as bushfire, Rusa rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and nickel mining are causing a continuous decline of L. indifferens and its habitat. Using criteria B, L. indifferens is considered Vulnerable (VU) with criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v).
Geographical area
Endemic orchid of New Caledonia, Liparis indifferens is known on Dzumac and Plaine des lacs areas for the southern part of Grande Terre and from Houaïlou to Tiébaghi for the northern part.
Population
Population size is unknown. Nevertheless field observations in Colnett and Col d'Amoss mentions 2-3 mature individuals while thousands of individuals are observed in Povila.
Habitat
L. indifferens is a species of shrubland and humid forest on ultramafic and volcano-sedimentary substrates at an altitudinal range 50-800 m asl.
Threats
Bushfire constitutes a major threat on Houaïlou and Povila localities, this last area has been severely degraded for 15 years. Nickel mining in Tiébaghi and Goro are also responsible of a decline of the habitat quality and the number of individuals. As a geophyte orchid, L. indifferens may be impacted by rusa rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) (Rusa timorensis), one of the major invasive animal species in New Caledonia.
Conservation
L. indifferens is protected in Province Sud and Province Nord and is found in one protected area of Province Sud : réserve naturelle du barrage de Yaté.
Bibliography
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.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Butin, J., Laudereau, C., Antheaume, C., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Letocart, D., Letocart, I., McCoy, S.
Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.