|
(Last Modified On 5/9/2022)
|
|
Acceptance
:
Accepted
|
|
(Last Modified On 6/14/2022)
|
|
Description
:
Deciduous tree up to 35 m tall, with bole without buttresses; fruit to 40 cm long or more; flowers yellow.
|
|
Phenology
:
Flowers have been observed in March, and April; Fruits in March, and April.
|
|
Habitat
:
It grows in rainforests at altitudes between 200 and 1,000 m.
|
|
Distribution
:
Guinée, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroun
|
|
Distribution Note
:
Originally thought to be endemic to Côte d'Ivoire, Cassia fikifiki has subsequently been recorded in two other West African countries: Guinea and Liberia, it has also been collected in Cameroon. It is known from 5 subpopulations from the Nimba Mountains (Haba et al., 111) and Diécké Classified Forest in Guinea (Haba, 1119), from “Babooni road” (Jongkind et al., 8965), and from St. Paul River (Killian s.n.) in Liberia. It is also known from the Mont Niénokoué (Aké Assi 12834) in Côte d'Ivoire and near Mbu village (Mambo & Thomas 13) in Cameroon.
|
|
Note
:
The species is known from 16 collections made between 1937 and 2000. However, one collection (Harley 30) was excluded because no locality information is provided, and one other (Jongkind & Assi-Yapo 5086) because it has been recorded from the “Botanical Garden of the CNF, Université de Cocody, Abidjan”. The collections represent 13 subpopulations. However, we estimate that 7 historical subpopulations from Côte d'Ivoire have now disappeared.
|
|
More literature
:
Aubreville, A. 1936. La Flore Forestière de la Côte d’Ivoire. Larosse, Paris.
|
|
Zones Clés de Biodiversité
:
Diécké (GIN2), Monts Nimba (GIN9)
|
|
(Last Modified On 6/14/2022)
|
|
Red List Category
:
Endangered
|
|
Status of Conservation Assessment
:
Submitted to Red List
|
|
Date of assessment
:
12 May 2021
|
|
Assessment rationale
:
Cassia fikifiki is a tree up to 35 m tall that grows in rainforests at altitudes between 200 and 1,000 m. This species is endemic to West and Central Africa, where it occurs in Guinea, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon. It is known from at least 15 collections made between 1937 and 2000. These collections represent 13 subpopulations. However, we estimate that 7 historical subpopulations from Côte d'Ivoire are now extirpated. This species is known from 6 subpopulations from the Nimba Mountains and Diécké Classified Forest in Guinea, from “Babooni road” and St. Paul River in Liberia, from the Mont Niénokoué in Ivory Coast, and near Mbu in Cameroon. The area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated at 24 km2, below the upper threshold for “Endangered” status under Criterion B2, and its extent of occurrence (EOO) has been calculated as 269,698 km2, exceeding the threshold for “Vulnerable” status under Criterion B1. The main threat to this species is habitat loss and a reduction in habitat quality due to small-scale agriculture. Thus, we consider that these 6 subpopulations represent 6 locations with respect to the main threat. Moreover, conversion of forests for agriculture and grazing, and commercial logging for other species has been observed, resulting in a population size reduction of 54 % in the past three generations (120 years) based on a reduction in the AOO (52 km2 to 24 km2). This estimated past decline of the AOO of Cassia fikifiki, as well as the number of subpopulations and thus the number of mature individuals, and an observed current decline in the quality of the habitat qualifies this species as Endangered A2c.
|
|
Disclaimer
:
This assessment was prepared on 12 May 2021. The map proposed below is only based on the specimens available on Tropicos, therefore, may not correspond to the information provided in the assessment rationale.
|
|
Specimens whose coordinates are enclosed in square brackets [ ] have been mapped to a standard reference mark based on political
units.
-
Africa & Madagascar
-
Guinea
Nzérékoré, Lola:
948 m,
07°40'26"N 008°23'40"W,
22 mars 2009,
Ouo-Ouo Haba, David Bilivogui & Gononan Traoré 111
(WAG)
-
Guinea
Nzérékoré, Lola:
948 m,
07°40'26"N 008°23'40"W,
22 mars 2009,
Ouo-Ouo Haba, David Bilivogui & Gononan Traoré 111
(BR)
-
Guinea
Nzérékoré, Lola:
948 m,
07°40'26"N 008°23'40"W,
22 mars 2009,
Ouo-Ouo Haba, David Bilivogui & Gononan Traoré 111
(FHO)
|