Taxonomy
Synonyms
Marsdenia mackeeorum Meve, Gâteblé & LiedeRed List Status -
Vulnerable (VU) , assessed in 24/10/2019
Leichhardtia mackeeorum is an endemic erect shrub to 30 cm high from New Caledonia, restricted to the Grand Massif Sud of Grande Terre with an extension to the Ouroué and Kouaoua/Canala. This species occurs on serpentine, in moist forests or maquis at an altitude range of 10 and 960 m asl. All the localities are on mining concessions. Plus the subpopulations present in shrubland can also be impacted by bushfires. Its Area of Occupancy (AOO) and Extent of Occurrence (EOO) being respectively estimated to be 44 and 2,156 km² with a number of locations is estimated to be 8. Therefore Leichhardtia mackeeorum is considered Vulnerable VU (ii,iii,v) + 2ab(ii,iii,v) with an estimated decline of the concerned sub criteria.
Geographical area
Leichhardtia mackeeorum is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the Grand Massif Sud of Grande Terre with an extension to the Ouroué and Kouaoua/Canala.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
Leichhardtia mackeeorum occurs in moist forests or maquis on found on ultramafic on derived soils (serpentinite) substrates at an altitude range of 10-960 m asl.
Threats
All the localities are on mining concessions. Plus the subpopulations present in shrubland can also be impacted by bushfires.
Conservation
Leichhardtia mackeeorum is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does not occur in 4 protected areas: Haute Yaté, Barrage de Yaté, Rivière bleue, Montagne des sources. This species should be included in Province Sud legislation for a better protection of the species. It is recommended to inform the DSCGR (emergency services), responsible for the coordination of the firefighting effort.
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].
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Meve U., Gâteblé G. & Liede-Schumann S. 2017. Taxonomic novelties in Apocynaceae subfam. Asclepiadoideae from New Caledonia. Adansonia(sér.3,39(1)) , p.55-70.
LIEDE-SCHUMANN S., MEVE U., GÂTEBLÉ G., BARRIERA G. & FICI S. 2020. Apocynaceae p.p., Phellinaceae, Capparaceae : Flore de la 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.