Taxonomy
Synonyms
Phyllanthus helenae M.SchmidRed List Status -
Data Deficient (DD) , assessed in 20/08/2020
Description
Phyllanthus helenae is an endemic species of New Caledonia. This species has been originally collected in two seperate locations, in Mt. Canala by Balansa in 1869 and in 1907 at Téné by Franc, I. More than a century later (2011), it was collected by Vandrot at Canala in riverine forests. This species could be locally common as it is well known by local populations to make fishing spears (person.comm. Vandrot Hervé). This species seems to be a good species however, with one observation in a very remoted location rarely visited by botanists, the knowledge of its habitat and its potentiel threats is very scare. Phyllanthus helenae is therefore listed as Data Deficient (DD).
Geographical area
Phyllanthus helenae has been originally collected in two seperate locations, in Mt. Canala by Balansa in 1869 and in 1907 at Téné by Franc, I. More than a century later (2011), it was collected by Vandrot at Canala.
Population
Population size is unknown. This species could be locally common as it is well known by the local populations to make fishing spears (person.comm. Vandrot Hervé).
Habitat
Under current knowledge, Phyllanthus helenae occurs in riverine forests.
Threats
Threats are unknown
Conservation
Phyllanthus helenae is protected by legislation in Province Nord. Under current knowledge, none of the known subpopulations occurs in a protected area. It is highly recommended to realise field surveys in near by areas such as Koh, Téné, Dogny and Parc des Grande Fougères and collect more samplings in order to better estimates its distribution range, habitat, threats and population size.
Bibliography
McPherson, G.; Schmid, M. 1991. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 17 : Euphorbiaceae II Phyllanthaceae.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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): Amice, R., Barrière, R., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Héquet, V., Laudereau, C., Vandrot, H., Veillon, J.
Reviewer(s): Lannuzel, G.
Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Warimavute, G.