Scientific name: Acmopyle sahniana J.T. Buchholz & N.E. Gray 1947

Synonyms: Parasitaxus vodonaivalui Silba

Common names: Fijian acmopyle, Drautabua (Fijian)

Description

Tre to 8(-12) m tall, with trunk to 0.2 m in diameter. Bark grayish brown, generally smooth, dimpled at first and later sparingly minutely warty. Crown openly dome-shaped, with widely spaced, upwardly angled to horizontal branches. Short shoots typically 4-11 cm long. Foliage leaves sparingly hairy along the edge, shiny dark green above, with two narrow, waxy whitish green stomatal bands beneath, (0.2-)1-2.5 cm long and (0.6-)2-3.5(-4.8) mm wide. Pollen cones 1.5-7.5 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. Seed cones on a scaly stalk about 5-6 mm long, the podocarpium (united fleshy bracts and cone axis) dark green to dark purple with traces of grayish wax, (5-)7-9 mm long by 7-8 mm thick. Combined seed coat and epimatium grayish purple with a whitish waxy coating, 7-9 mm long by 5-6 mm thick. The species name honors Birbal Sahni (1891-1949), an Indian paleobotanist who did his doctoral research on the anatomy of New Caledonian Acmopyle soon after it was placed in this then new genus and who recognized that some specimens from Fiji probably belonged to the same genus.

Viti Levu, Fiji. As scattered trees or small groves in the understory of lower montane rain forest; 800-1,050 m.

Conservation Status

Red List Category & Criteria: Critically Endangered

The previous assessment of Critically Endangered under Criterion D (population less than 50; vers. 2.3) is no longer applicable as new subpopulations have been found and the criteria used for that assessment have been superseded.

The total population of mature (reproducing) individuals is estimated to be less than 100 and no subpopulation has more than 50 mature individuals. This indicates an assessment of Critically Endangered under criterion C2a(i). It also qualifies for listing under Criterion B because the Mt Koroyanitu subpopulation is assumed to be extinct, the estimated extent of occurrence is therefore less than 100 km2 and the subpopulations are severely fragmented. If found to still be extant, then criterion B would have to be dropped.

Endemic to Fiji where it occurs in central Viti Levu. Known from localities in Namosi and near Mt Tomanivi. It was also known from the Koroyanitu Range in western Viti Levu (Mba Province) but recent searches have failed to find it there. The extent of occurrence is less than 100 km2 if the Koroyanitu subpopulation is assumed to be extinct; further surveys are needed to confirm this. The area of occupancy is likely to be more than 10 km2 using standard IUCN calculations. Subpopulations are likely to be severely fragmented and undergoing continuing decline.

Grows on steep, narrow forested mountain ridges in areas of high rainfall.

Acmopyle sahniana occurs within a very restricted habitat over a very small area. As such it is very susceptible to disturbance from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The subpopulation on Mt Koroyanitu, first recorded in 1947, has not been located since 1997 despite surveys. Other subpopulations in the Korobasabasaga Ranges are threatened by mining activities.

This species is listed under Schedule 1 of Fiji's Endangered Species Act (2002). Recently discovered subpopulations are within an area that has been identified as one of the priority forests for conservation (Olson et al. 2009) although it does not have formal protection yet.

References

Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Eckenwalder, J.E. (2009) Conifers of the World: The Complete Reference. Timber Press, Portland.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Cambridge, UK /Gland, Switzerland