Tropicos | Name - Vincentella ogouensis Aubrév. & Pellegr.

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 2/22/2019)

Acceptance : Accepted

Taxon Profile (Last Modified On 10/25/2021)

Description: Small tree with pubescent stipules and with very small flowers in few fascicles in the axils of the leaves.

Plante à stipules pubescentes, subpersistantes. Feuilles oblongues, acuminées, cunéiformes aiguës à la base, le limbe étant décurrent sur le pétiole ; limbe de 8-13 cm de long, sur 2-4 cm de large, glabre, très coriace. Très petites fleurs en fascicules, peu nombreuses, à l'aisselle des feuilles ; longs pédicelles grêles, 15-17 mm ; sépales 5, libres, ovés, un peu pubescents extérieurement ; corolle d'environ 3 mm de long ; tube très court, 0,75 mm. Fruit inconnu.

Habitus: Shrub up to 7 m, Tree

Phenology: Flowers have been observed in october.

Habitat: Known from undergrowth of the terra firme forest around 300 m in elevation.

Distribution: Gabon (endemic)

Distribution Note: It is endemic to Gabon and is only known from one collection, made by Le Testu (7575) in 1929 in the region of Lastourville in Ogooué-Lolo province.

Phytogeographical type: Région Guinéo-Congolaise, Domaine Bas-Guinéen, Type phytogéographique Bassin de l'Ivindo.

Note: This species is recognized by its shorter stamens than staminodes (Aubréville, 1961).

Literature:

Case Study: Ivindo

Conservation assessment (Last Modified On 10/25/2021)

Red List Category: Critically Endangered

Status of Conservation Assessment: Published on the Red List

Date of assessment: 23 April 2020

Assessment rationale: Synsepalum ogouense is a small tree up to 7 m with pubescent stipules and with very small flowers in few fascicles in the axils of the leaves, known from the undergrowth of the terra firme forest around 300 m in elevation. The species is endemic to Gabon and is only known from one collection, thus one occurrence, made by Le Testu in 1929 in the region of Lastourville in the Ogooué-Lolo province. Based on a 2 km x 2 km cell size, the AOO is estimated as 4 km², below the upper threshold for “Critically Endangered” status under Criterion B2. The EOO cannot be calculated because this species is known from a single occurrence. This occurrence represents, therefore, the sole known subpopulation of the species. Considering the forest coverage, which is still important in this area, we consider the subpopulation as not extirpated. However, this occurrence is located outside of protected areas and is threatened by logging that induces degradation of the quality of the habitat of this species. As a consequence, this occurrence represents 1 location (sensu IUCN 2019), with regards to the most important threat (logging). We infer a current and a future continuous decline in the extent and the quality of its habitat. This species is thus assessed as CR B2ab(iii).

Red List DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T172516435A172516449.en.

Disclaimer: This assessment was prepared on 23 April 2020. 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.

Conservation measures: Since this species is threatened by logging, various conservation measures must be considered. First, it should be regarded as an HCV1 (High Conservation Value), and as a consequence, should be included in the management plan of the logging concessions within which it occurs. Second, it should be included in Gabon’s list of protected species, and the destruction of its habitat and possible harvesting must therefore be limited. Third, ex situ conservation should be tested, both within Gabon and internationally. Finally, a public awareness campaign must be conducted involving logging companies and other private actors, NGOs, scientific institutions, and the Gabonese government, to ensure that the species is taken into consideration when decisions are made that could impact its conservation.