Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Volume 27: Apocynaceae p.p., Phellinaceae, Capparaceae (Faune et Flore Tropicales, Volume 49)

This new volume of the Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie is published jointly by the Paris National Museum of Natural History and the lnstitut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD, Volume 49 in their series Faune et Flore Tropicales). French language text. Keys also in English.

The exceptional floristic wealth of New Caledonia is world famous. More than 3,400 species of native vascular plants are known from there, three-quarters of which are endemic to the archipelago. Endemism does not only apply to species, but also genera (nearly a hundred) and even three families. The ecological diversity, in connection with the original geological history of New Caledonia, has also favored micro-endemism and species dependent on ultramafic substrates. New species continue to be discovered, so it remains necessary to continue prospecting and do botanical research, in order to better understand the origin and evolution of this flora, and to contribute to its preservation.

This volume brings together three families of Angiosperms. That of the Apocynaceae, the classification of which has been radically altered since the publication in 1981 of the fascicle “Apocynaceae”, volume 10 of the Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances: the three sub-families treated here (Periplocoideae, Secamonoideae and Asclepiadoideae) previously formed the family Asclepiadaceae. The Phellinaceae which, with 10 woody species, constitutes one of the three endemic families of the territory. Finally, New Caledonia is home to some species of the cosmopolitan Capparaceae family, all belonging to the genus of the caper (Capparis).

In accordance with the editorial line of the collection, this work includes, for each family treated: a general presentation followed by detailed descriptions of genera and species; identification keys, in French and English; varied illustrations including line drawings and photographs of living plants; distribution maps and an assessment of conservation needs according to IUCN criteria.