The endemic plant families and the palms of New Caledonia: a biogeographical analysis

New Caledonia's unique plant biodiversity, including three endemic families and several genera, reveals distinct biogeographical patterns shaped by tectonic history. The study identifies four palm clades with allopatric regional connections spanning western Indonesia to the eastern Tasman/Coral Sea, including Lord Howe Island Group. These patterns are attributed not to dispersal or adaptive radiation but to the complex fusion of eight terranes during New Caledonia's formation. Trans-tropical Pacific links trace back to Cretaceous igneous plateaus that migrated across the Pacific, influencing modern flora distribution. This analysis underscores the significance of geological processes in shaping regional biodiversity.

Heads, M. (2010). The endemic plant families and the palms of New Caledonia: a biogeographical analysis. Journal of Biogeography, 37(7), 1239–1250. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02292.x