Leichhardtia goromotoorum is a narrow endemic shrub (growing up to 0.25 to 1.5 m high) to the base of the Kopéto massif south of Pouembout at the north east of Grande Terre. The species grows in maquis on serpentine (ultramafic) substrate at an altitude range of 0 and 180 m asl. It is not currently threatened by open nickel mining sites as the serpentines where it grows have a low nickel content. Plus, the place is not accessible to the public because it is part of the Société Le Nickel restricted access mining site and fires are not likely to occur in the area. However, the main potential threat to the species is the anthropogenic fires that frequently occur in the near by area at Ouaté. The species seems very rare with only eight plants (five fertile) seen on a 30 m² area. Its Area of Occupancy (AOO) and Extent of Occurrence (EOO) are respectively estimated to be 4 and 4 km² with a number of location equal to 1. Considering the potential impact of a big bushfiree event, Leichhardtia goromotoorum is listed as Critically Endangered (CR), under criteria B1ab(iii,v) + 2ab(iii,v) and D.

Geographical area

Leichhardtia goromotoorum is only known from the base of Kopéto massif, south of Pouembout at the north east of Grande Terre.

Population

The species seems very rare with only eight plants (five fertile) seen on a 30 m² area.

Habitat

The species grows in maquis on serpentine (ultramafic) substrate up to 180 m asl.

Threats

Leichhardtia goromotoorum is not currently threatened by open nickel mining as the serpentines where it grows have a low nickel content. Plus, the place is not accessible to the public because it is part of the Société Le Nickel restricted access mining site and fires are not likely to occur in the area. However, the main potential threat to the species is the anthropogenic fires that frequently occur in the near by area at Ouaté.

Conservation

This autochtonous species is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does not occur in any protected area. It is recommended to inform the local authority responsible for the coordination of the firefighting effort about the presence of the species in the concerned areas.

Bibliography

Boiteau Pierre avec collaboration de Lucie Allorge 1982. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 10 : Apocynacées.

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].

Gâteblé G., Fleurot D., Meve U. & Liede-Schumann S. 2019. An unorthodox, new endemic species in New Caledonian Marsdenia (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Marsdenieae). Phytotaxa(405(3)) , p.121-126.

LIEDE-SCHUMANN S., MEVE U., GÂTEBLÉ G., BARRIERA G. & FICI S. 2020. Apocynaceae p.p., Phellinaceae, Capparaceae : Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.

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

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Héquet, V., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H., Pillon, Y.

Reviewer(s): Veillon, J.

Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Warimavute, G., Gâteblé, G.