Included here is New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and the Isle of Pines.

Neocaledonian Calcareous Maquis

Virtually confined to ultrabasic soils, maquis is often characterized by species of Grevillea and Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae) such as the endemic Hibbertia baudovinii. The species composition of associated taxa varies from place to place, but may include Callistomom pancheri, the endemic Soulamea muelleri (Simaroubaceae) and various species of Gardenia and Myrtopsis. There is also a distinctive upland maquis with a prostate form of Baeckia ericoides often representing the dominant species, and on the southern massif, species such as Greslania montana and Xeronema moorei and confined to upland maquis. On the Massif de Koniambo a somewhat different type of maquis occurs in which Tristania guillainii is the dominant species. Other characteristic species include the endemic Styphelia balansae and S. macrocarpa (Epacridaceae) and species of Guioa (Sapindaceae) such as the endemic Guioa fusca.

References

Compton, R. H. 1917. New Caledonia and the Isle of Pines. The Geographical Journal, 49: 81-106.

Heads, M. 2008. Panbiogeography of New Caledonia, southwest Pacific: basal angiosperms on basement terrains, ultramafic endemics inherited from volcanic island arcs and old taxa endemics to young islands. Journal of Biogeography, 35: 2153-2175.

Ladiges, P. Y. 2008. Synthesizing biotic patterns and geology for New Caledonia (Commentary). Journal of Biogeography, 35: 2151-2152.

Morat, P., Jaffre, T. & Veillon, J. 2001. The flora of New Caledonia’s calcareous substrates. Adansonia, ser 3, 23: 109-127.

Moret, P., Veillon, J. M. & MacKee, H. S. 1984. Floristic relationships of New Caledonian rain forest phanerogams. In: Biogeography of the Tropical Pacific (Proceedings of a Symposium). Eds. F. J. Radovsky, P. H. Raven and H. Sohmer. Bishop Museum Special Publication No. 72.

Mueller-Dombois, D. & Fosberg, F. R. 1998. Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands. Springer.

Proctor, J. 2003. Vegetation and soil and plant chemistry on ultramafic rocks in the tropical Far East. Perspective in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 6: 105-124.

Schmid, M. 1978. The Melanesian forest ecosystems (New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Fiji Islands and Solomon Islands). In: Tropical forest ecosystems. Natural Resources Research Vol. XIV. UNESCO

Specht, R. L. 1979. “Maquis” vegetation of New Caledonia. In: Ecoystems of the World (9A) – heathlands and related shrublands: descriptive studies. Ed. R. L. Specht. Elsevier Science.

Thorne, R. F. 1965. Floristic relationships of New Caledonia. University of Iowa Studies in Natural History, 20: 1-14.