CR

Melicope revoluta

Declining

Overview

Melicope revoluta is a species of plant in the family Rutaceae. It is endemic to the island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia.

Melicope revoluta faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited Hawaiian range. Invasive plant species compete directly with native vegetation communities that this endemic shrub depends upon, while feral ungulates damage forest understory through trampling and browsing. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to stochastic events and localized habitat degradation.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Hawaiian shrub inhabits mesic to wet forests on volcanic slopes, typically found in native mixed species forest communities at elevations between 300-1,200 meters. It grows in well-drained soils within the understory and forest edges of native Hawaiian ecosystems.

Other threatened species in RUTACEAE

CR

Melicope quadrangularis

Declining
VU

Melicope wawraeana

Declining
VU

Vepris drummondii

Declining
VU

Zanthoxylum mildbraedii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Melicope revoluta classified as Critically Endangered?
Melicope revoluta is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Melicope revoluta faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited Hawaiian range. Invasive plant species compete directly with native vegetation communities that this endemic shrub depends upon, while feral ungulates damage forest understory through trampling and browsing. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to stochastic events and localized habitat degradation.
Where does Melicope revoluta live?
Melicope revoluta occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Melicope revoluta?
The main threats to Melicope revoluta are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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