Q: The range of Triphyophyllum and conservation

A: Triphyophyllum occurs in west Africa, in the countries of Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Liberia, and the République de Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). These countries have had difficult recent histories characterized by political unstability and human rights abuses. By most accounts, they are very dangerous places to travel and work, while a few dissenting reports indicate they seemed relatively safe to tourists. I do not know.

In these countries, Triphyophyllum is said to grow in dense, humid, evergreen communities called "Eremosphatha macrocarpa and Diospyros mannii forests."

Triphyophyllum is supposedly readily seen in the Taï National Park in République de Côte d'Ivoire. This park contains the largest remaining example of Guinean rainforest, and was identified as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Unfortunately, the deforestation rate there is one of the highest in the world, reaching levels as high as 6.5% annually. We can only presume that this rapid destruction is impacting the populations of Triphyophyllum.

Page citations: Bringmann, G. et al. 1999; Chatelain, C. et al. 1996; Myers, N. 1990; Schlauer, J. 2002.