Scientific name

Meliola baphiaepolygalaceae Hansf. & Deighton [IndexFungorum. Index of Fungi 1: 264]

Synonyms

None noted.

Vernacular names

None known.

Taxonomic position

Meliolaceae, Meliolales, Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota, Fungi.

Red List assessment

Data Deficient [IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: version 3.1. Level: global].

Rationale

This evaluation is based on 22 records [breakdown: Cybernome (1 record); IndexFungorum (1 record); other catalogues (1 record)]. There are 10 records with dates, the earliest 1939 (the species was first described in 1948), the most recent 1964. Of dated records, 20% are post 1960. This species is recorded from 2 countries in a single continent or region. The fungus is known only in association with Baphia. Although this species is known from more than one country, associated with more than one other species (but only in one genus), and an appreciable proportion of dated records were made after 1960, there are too few records to make any other evaluation.

Reasons for change from previous assessment

None: not previously assessed.

Date of assessment

29 November 2025.

Name/s of the assessor/s

D.W. Minter

Text documentation

Taxonomy. No comment. Geographical distribution. Sierra Leone (North West, Southern); Tanzania (Kigoma). IUCN area statistics [km²] AOO EOO Pre-1961 12 5,514 1961-2000 4 insufficient data Post-2000 0 0 Associated organisms and substrata [IUCN Red List status, if known]. Plantae (part): Baphia kirkii Baker [VU]; Baphia multiflora Harms; Baphia polygalacea Baker (leaf). Habitat and ecology. Threats. Climate change. Not known. Habitat destruction. The following plants associated with this species are listed by the IUCN as threatened: Baphia kirkii [VU]. Persecution. Not known. Pollution. Not known. Population. Not known. With no direct information, observation frequency over time, if available, can be considered as a proxy to infer current population trend; for species associated with trees, loss of woodland cover over time is another possible proxy. Observation frequency over time. The species was first described in 1948. There are 10 datable records of this species. The earliest is 1939 and the most recent is 1964. The profile of dated records is: pre-1961 (8); 1961-2000 (2); post-2000 (0). Observations have declined sharply. Loss of tree cover over time. This species occurs associated with trees in the following countries (percentage loss of tree cover between 2001 and 2024 in brackets): Tanzania (13%) [figures from 'Forest change' tab of Global Forest Watch]. Current trend (inferred). Long-term steep decline possibly driven by habitat destruction. The small number of datable records makes this inference very uncertain. Conservation actions (in situ). None known. Conservation actions (ex situ). Culture collections. Straininfo: check current status. Genome banks. European Nucleotide Archive: check current status; NCBI: check current status. Economic impacts (positive). Bioremediation. None known. Biotechnology. None known. Cultural. None known. Ecosystem services. None known. Feed (animals). None known. Food (human). None known. Medical/veterinary. None known. Economic impacts (negative). Biodeterioration. None known. Disease. None known. Invasiveness. None known.