Goniothalamus hmoope is an endemic plant of New Caledonia, restricted to the north east of Grande Terre. "All the collections come from the Mont Panié and Ton-Non (Roches de la Ouaième) massif, except for one at the Plateau de Tango, towards Mont Grandié, which is a little off- centre in the south, while the northernmost population is Mandjélia" (Munzinger et al. 2023). This species occurs in dense humid forest between 300 and 700 m asl.. Some subpopulation at Ouaième occurs in forest edges. Uncontrolled bushfires are frequent and constitute a threat to subpopulations at low elevation and on forest edges. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 203 and 32 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be eight.Therefore, Goniothalamus hmoope is listed as Vulnerable (VU) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v), with a continuing decline of all the concerned sub-criteria.

Geographical area

Goniothalamus hmoope is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the north east of Grande Terre. "All the collections come from the Mont Panié and Ton-Non (Roches de la Ouaième) massif, except for one at the Plateau de Tango, towards Mont Grandié, which is a little off- centre in the south, while the northernmost population is Mandjélia" (Munzinger et al. 2023).

Population

The population size is not known. Field observations indicate a species locally abundant in dense humid forest.

Habitat

This species occurs in dense humid forests and some subpopulations at Ouaième occurs in forest edges at an altitude range of 300 and 700 m asl.

Threats

Uncontrolled bushfires are frequent at the north east part of Grande Terre and the low elevation subpopulations and the forest edges subpopulations may be threatened.

Conservation

Goniothalamus hmoope is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in one protected area : Mont Panié. 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

Munzinger J., Johnson D. M. & Saunders R. M. K. 2023. Novitates neocaledonicae XIV: A third species of Goniothalamus (Blume) Hook.f. & Thomson from New Caledonia and lectotypification of G. obtusatus (Baill.) R.M.K. Saunders.. Adansonia(45(20)) , p.327-335.

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.

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].

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Barrière, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.

Facilitator(s): Fourdrain, A., Warimavute, G.