Parsonsia crucifera Lannuzel & Vandrot, 2025

Lannuzel, Guillaume, Bruy, David, Munzinger, Jérôme, Vandrot, Hervé & Gâteblé, Gildas, 2025, Synonymy, nomenclature and taxonomic notes in New Caledonian Parsonsia (Apocynaceae), with the description of four new species, Phytotaxa 710 (2), pp. 131-164 : 140-156

Parsonsia crucifera Lannuzel & Vandrot , sp. nov. ( Figs. 5 , 6 & 7 ) (urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77359146-1)

Diagnosis: — Parsonsia crucifera is most similar to P. effusa and P. bogotensis by its loose inflorescences and lanceolate leaves. It however differs from P. effusa by flowers two times shorter, glabrous corolla throat, and inflorescences mostly axillary instead of mostly terminal in P. effusa . It differs from P. bogotensis by its flowers with half exserted stamens, instead of totally inserted in P. bogotensis .

Type: — NEW CALEDONIA. North province: Poya, Avangui , elev. 400 m, 2 January 1976, MacKee H. S. 30646 (Holotype NOU [ NOU059023 !]; Isotypes P [ P04260663 !d], L [ L.2702828!d], BISH) .

Climber with twining stems, stems up to 1,5 meters long, 2–3 mm in diameter, young stems glabrous; latex white. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, green adaxially, light green abaxially, obovate to lanceolate, petiole (13.9–)20.8–26.8(– 32.3) mm long, ca. 1 mm width, glabrous, tooth-like colleters, two on each side of petiole basis, and a line of three abaxially, at petiole basis; lamina (45.6–)51.5–75.7(–78.7) × (17.7–)21.7–35.3(–50.8) mm, rounded at base, acute at apex, margin revolute, leaf venation brochidromous, visible on both faces on dry material, 6–8 pairs of secondaries veins. Inflorescence a loose axillary panicle, forming a large cross, axes green, glabrous, primary axis (17.4–)34.1– 74(–98.2) mm, pedicels (1–)1.6–3.1(–4.1) mm, glabrous, glossy, bracts acuminate, 1–1.6 mm long.

Flower 5-merous, (3.1–)3.4–3.9(–4) mm long. Calyx lobes appressed to corolla, largely triangular, obtuse at apex, ca. 0.8 mm long, green, glabrous. Corolla greenish outside, whitish to reddish inside, tube (0.8–)1.1–1.5(–1.6) × (1.1–)1.5–1.6(–1.7) mm, glabrous outside and in the throat, lobes lanceolate, glabrous, spreading, 2.1–2.3 mm long.

Anther cone 2.1–2.3 mm long, half exserted; filaments ca. 1.3 mm free then fused, mostly glabrous but with a line of hairs on the inner face, filament tube thus hairy inside. Style ca. 0.8 mm long, glabrous, stigmate conical, included in the anther cone. Ovary 0.4–0.9 mm, ovoid, glabrous, with 5 scales ca. 0.6 × 0.25 mm, oblong, rounded at top, glabrous.

Fruit cylindrical, 5–7 × 0.7–1 cm, acuminate, glabrous.

Distribution and habitat: —The species is known from ultramafic massifs located in the northwest of Grande Terre , at low to mid-elevations. From herbarium sheets and field observations, it grows in shrubby maquis and forest edges.

Phenology: —From herbarium specimens and field observations, the species is flowering and fructifying all year round, with less fertile material in the dry season (September to November).

Etymology: —The species is named after the cross shape of the loose inflorescence, readily distinguishable on herbarium specimens and in vivo.

Conservation status: —This species has been evaluated by the RLA-NC plants as Vulnerable on criteria B, with bushfires and mining exploitation considered as threats to the known localities.

Notes: —The material identified as Parsonsia crucifera was entirely included in P. effusa in Boiteau’s (1981) revision. Further analyses and field observations however led to the distinction of two homogeneous entities, morphologically and geographically. The first clue was the inflorescence placement, mostly axillary in the Northwest while mostly terminal in the South, but flowers also revealed to be very different regarding their size and the very recurved corolla lobes of P. effusa , and spread ones in P. crucifera . The corolla throat also differs: hairy in P. effusa , glabrous in P. crucifera .

Specimens examined: — NEW CALEDONIA. North province: Oua Tilou , 13 April 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 12252 ( P04216054 !d, L.3719401!d) ; Oua Tilou , 13 April 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 12306 ( P04216083 !d) ; Kaala par le village de Gomen, 20°39’6”S, 164°23’33”E, 198 m, 21 April 2022, fr., Bruy et al., 2325 ( MPU1379427 !, NOU112090 , P) ; Plateau des Tiebaghi massif, 15 March 1925, Däniker 1454 (Z-000034050!d, Z-000034051!d) ; Voh, Kathépaï, elev. 330 m, 20°55’53.6’’S, 164°41’37.91’’E, 22April 2019, Fleurot 563 ( NOU090329 !) ; Pouembout, plateau de Tia, elev. 320 m, 21°10’48.48’’S, 164°53’09.08’’E, 12 May 2019, Fleurot 566 ( NOU090358 !) ; Plateau de Tia , 21°10’47”S, 164°53’14”E, elev. 400 m, 9 November 2021, Lannuzel et al. 526 ( NOU108156 !) ; Pouembout, base nord du plateau de Tiéa , elev. 100 m, 04 April 1968, MacKee 18593 ( P05031667 !d) ; Poya, Avangui , elev. 100 m, 12 February 1973, MacKee 26226 ( P04260664 !d, L.2702827!d) ; Pouembout, Tiéa ( Plateau ), elev. 350–450 m, 27 December 1974, MacKee 29578 ( P04260667 !d) ; Poya, Avangui , elev. 400 m, 02 January 1976, MacKee 30647 ( P04260668 !d) ; Mont Taom , crête ouest, elev. 900 m, 08 January 1981, MacKee 38530 ( MPU1357273 !, NOU059018 !, P04910827 !d) ; Plateau de Tiéa , elev. 250 m, 02 October 2005, Munzinger et al. 3009 ( NOU008357 !) ; Voh, massif du Katépaï, elev. 330 m, 20°55’54.51’’S, 164°41’38.87’’E, 07 August 2016, Munzinger (leg. Scopetra) 7597 ( MPU620470 !, MPU620471 !) .

Parsonsia effusa Moore ( 1921: 365) . Lectotype, designated by Boiteau (1981: 259):— NEW CALEDONIA. Riv. NGoye, elev. 400 ft., 21 October 1914, Compton 2105: BM [ BM001040514 !d] ( Figs. 5 & 8 )

= Parsonsia glaucescens Baill. ex Guillaumin (1941: 377) . Type: Nelle-Calédonie, Ouroué, Balansa 3477, first step lectotype, designated by Boiteau (1981: 260): P; second step lectotype, designated here: P[P00624948!d]; isolectotypes: P[P00624947!d; P04216097!d]), nom. illeg. Non Parsonsia glaucescens Mueller (1868: 126) .

Notes: — Guillaumin (1941) cites two syntypes (Balansa 2413 and 3477) for his new species Parsonsia glaucescens Baill. ex Guillaumin in the protologue.Among the six specimens (three for each gathering, P04216096, P04216098 and P04216099 for Balansa 2413 and P00624947, P00624948 and P04216097 for Balansa 3477) found at P, Guillaumin’s handwriting is present only on P04216099 (as Parsonsia glaucescens Baill. ) and on P04216096 (as Parsonsia glaucescens Baill. ex Guillaumin ) while Baillon’s mss. [ Parsonsia (Lyonsia) glaucescens HB ”] is present only on P00624948. Boiteau (1981: 260) cites also these two specimens of Balansa as “ Balansa 2413, Canala, 11.1869 (fl.); 3477, Ouroué, 12.1871 (fl.); type de P. glaucescens H. BAILLON ”. The second semi-colon is here interpreted as a typesetting error because a comma was most probably intended by Boiteau as it was his style throughout his work (see for examples the type citations for Parsonsia baudouinii , P. celastrina , P. rigida …). Balansa 3477 is then considered as a first step lectotypification by Boiteau and we propose a second step one to designate a single specimen from this Balansa gathering.

Two syntypes, Compton 2105 and Compton 352, were cited by Moore (1921) in the protologue of P. effusa . Since Boiteau (1981: 259) wrote “Type: Compton 2105 (holo-,BM!)”, its typification is considered as an error and corrected to a lectotypification ( Turland et al. 2018 - Art. 9.10).

Specimen examined: — NEW CALEDONIA. South province: Vallée de Dumbéa Nord , 20 January 2000, Achille 524 ( P04910814 !d) ; Région de Dumbéa , 1 January 1910, Alleizette 360 ( P04216055 !d) ; Montagne des Sources , 24 January 1950, Baas-Becking 5952 (Z-000034053!d) ; Montagnes éruptives au-dessus d’Ouroué , 1 December 1871, Balansa 3477 ( P00624947 !d, P00624948 !d, P04216097 !d) ; Mé Amméri , 13 August 1950, Baumann-Bodenheim 5416 ( L.3719337!d; P04216081 !d) ; Mont Mou , 15 May 1950, Baumann-Bodenheim 6934 ( P04216080 !d) ; Col de Vulcain , 17 November 1950, Baumann-Bodenheim 8290 ( L.3719402!d, Z-000034047!d) ; Bois du Sud , 29 March 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim & Guillaumin 11656 ( P04216052 !d) ; Bord de la Tontouta, 15 December 1964, Blanchon 1291 ( NOU058887 !) ; sin.loc., Blanchon 581 ( P04216076 !d) ; Mont Dzumac , 22°2’33”S, 166°28’32”E, 15 May 2014, Bruy, Nigote & Trueba-Sanchez 30 ( NOU051915 !, P00932665 !d) ; Mont Dzumac , 22°2’33”S, 166°28’32”E, 15 May 2014, Bruy, Nigote & Trueba-Sanchez 31 ( NOU051914 !, P00932664 !d) ; Riv. NGoye, 21 October 1914, Compton 2105 ( BM001040514 !d) ; Plaine des Lacs , 22 February 1914, Compton 352 ( BM001040513 !d) ; Goro-Nickel , 18 May 2002, Dagostini & Rigault 630 ( NOU058893 !) ; Mt Koghis , 1 February 1926, Däniker 2745 ( P04216056 !d, Z-000034048!d) ; Mt Koghis , 1 February 1926, Däniker 2745a (Z-000034049!d) ; Kanala , 1865, Deplanche 228 ( P04216091 !d) ; Prony, 1914, Franc 1661 A ( P04216048 !d, P04216049 !d, P04216050 !d, P04216051 !d, Z-000034052!d) ; Mont Gouemba , elev. 374 m, 22°10’28”S, 166°56’24”E, 31 August 2016, Gâteblé 810 ( NOU105292 !) ; Dzumac , elev. 920 m, 22°1’56”S, 166°28’0”E, 28 February 2017, Gâteblé 844 ( NOU105275 !) ; La Kwé, 22°16’27”S, 166°56’38”E, 9 February 2016, Girardi 3 ( NOU085030 !) ; La Kwé, 22°16’27”S, 166°56’38”E, 9 February 2016, Girardi 4 ( NOU085031 !) ; Bois du Sud , 29 March 1951, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 11656 ( L.3719400!d, US 2316598!d, Z-000034057!d) ; Oua Tilou , 13 April 1951, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 12252 (Z-000034055!d) ; Kalouéhola , 26 May 1951, Hürlimann 1721 ( P04216053 !d, US 2316436!d, Z-000034056!d) ; Kalouéhola , 23 June 1951, Hürlimann 1675 (Z-000034054!d) ; Higher elevation of Mt. Dzumac , elev. 950 m, 15 March 1992, Koyama 8292 ( P04260665 !d) ; Road to Mt. Dzumac , elev. 900 m, 8 January 2004, Lowry II 6327 ( NOU050190 !, MO2000193 !d) ; Route Montagne des Sources , elev. 200 m, 3 July 1955, MacKee 2682 ( P04216062 !d) ; Route de la Montagne des Sources , 2 January 1956, MacKee 3716 ( L.2703009!d, P04216063 !d, S-PL-24133!d) ; Piste des Dzumacs , elev. 400 m, 14 April 1956, MacKee 4356 ( P04216061 !d) ; Upper Tontouta Valley Near Mine Galliéni , 28 July 1956, MacKee 4971 ( L.2703008!d, P04216064 !d) ; Route de Yaté: Col Dalmates , elev. 200 m, 27 March 1965, MacKee 12314 ( P04216082 !d) ; Crête au Nord de Négropo , elev. 400 m, 6 January 1966, MacKee 14139 ( L.2703082!d, NOU058904 !, P04216072 !d, P04255952 !d) ; Le Carénage ( Baie de Prony ), 25 January 1966, MacKee 14277 ( L.2703084!d, P04216103 !d) ; Ouroué, ancienne Mine Pauline , elev. 300 m, 30 April 1967, MacKee 16694 ( P04216070 !d) ; Route de Yaté: Les Dalmates , 16 July 1967, MacKee 17142 ( P04216078 !d) ; Plaine des Lacs , 9 February 1971, MacKee 23291 ( L.2703085!d, P04216100 !d) ; Prony: Le Carénage , elev. 100 m, 3 March 1971, MacKee 23376 ( P04216102 !d) ; Route de Yaté: Les Dalmates , 5 March 1971, MacKee 23381 ( BPBM428165 , BPBM427844 , L.2703087!d, NOU059044 !, P04216084 !d) ; Plaine des Lacs: Ouénarou , 13 July 1973, MacKee 26932 ( L.2703086!d, P04216060 !d, P04216101 !d) ; Sentier Dzumac , elev. 500 m, 12 November 1975, MacKee 30249 ( P04216059 !d) ; Mont Ouin , 30 November 1975, MacKee 30345 ( BPBM428212 , L.2702830!d, NOU059028 !, P04260658 !d, U.1096033, U.1096032, Z-000034084!d) ; Vallée Dumbéa , elev. 30 m, 29 February 1976, MacKee 30787 ( L.2702823!d), NOU059033 !, P04260653 !d ); Port Boisé , 16 June 1976, MacKee 31406 ( L.2703080!d, NOU058895 !, P04216106 !d) ; Port-Boisé , elev. 50 m, 29 June 1976, MacKee 31436 ( NOU058892 !, P04216105 !d) ; Pente W Mt. Do , elev. 800 m, 23 March 1977, MacKee 32946 ( NOU059036 !, P04260659 !d) ; Mont Oungoné , elev. 400 m, 12 December 1976, MacKee 32465 ( NOU058884 !, P04216104 !d) ; Contrefort N Ménazi , elev. 500 m, 26 June 1977, MacKee 33410 ( P04260662 !d) ; Yaté: Barrage , 19 March 1978, MacKee 34874 ( L.2703088!d, NOU058883 !, P04216079 !d) ; Route de Yaté: Les Dalmates , elev. 150 m, 25 December 1978, MacKee 36290 ( NOU059034 !, P04216108 !d, P05263611 !d) ; Forêt Faux Bon Secours , elev. 300 m, 17 March 1980, MacKee 37907 ( NOU059031 !, P04216107 !d) ; Mont Oungoné , elev. 400 m, 14 December 1980, MacKee 38421 ( MPU1357272 !, NOU059037 !, P04910828 !d) ; Rive Gauche de Basse Tontouta , elev. 50 m, 14 January 1982, MacKee 40203 ( NOU058890 !, P05263705 !d) ; Along road from Dumbéa Valley towards Mt. Dzumac , elev. 650 m, 19 December 1979, McPherson 2260 ( MO1574557 !d, NOU058897 !) ; Dumbéa valley , 27 November 1982, McPherson 5222 ( MO420725 !d, NOU058894 !) ; Grand Lac, Plaine des Lacs , 26 January 1984, McPherson 6275 ( MO421114 !d, NOU059035 !, P04548479 !d) ; Tontouta , 3 July 2004, Munzinger et al. 2177 ( NOU003827 !, P05264027 !d) ; Tontouta , 26 February 2006, Munzinger et al. 3365 ( NOU012171 !) ; Mont Dzumac , 1 June 1966, Nothis 173b ( NOU058891 !, P04910812 !d) ; Prony , 6 June 1966, Nothis 176 ( NOU058888 !) ; Nouméa, Pancher 268 ( P04216095 !d) ; Touaourou , 26 May 1974, Schmid 5007 ( NOU059030 !) ; Crête Dzumac , 1 February 1973, Sévenet 381 ( NOU059021 !) ; Route Dzumac , elev. 500 m, 1 February 1973, Sévenet 383 ( NOU059022 !) ; Mt. Dzumacs , 30 March 1977, Sévenet 1231 ( NOU059019 !, P04548464 !d) ; Mont Dzumac , elev. 850 m, 26 January 1972 Veillon 2492 ( NOU059029 !, P04593780 !d) ; Haute Ouinnée , elev. 800 m, 24 November 1977, Veillon 3356 ( NOU059025 !, P04260656 !d) ; Mont Dzumac , elev. 500 m, 7 July 1978, Veillon 3547 ( NOU059026 !, P04910824 !d, P04910825 !d) ; Montagne de Poila , 1855, Vieillard 985 ( P04216094 !d) .

Parsonsia edulis (Bennett) Guillaumin (1941: 377) . Alstonia edulis Bennett (1867: 150) ; Neotype designated by Boiteau (1981: 254);— NEW CALEDONIA. Hautes montagnes de Kanala, Nov. 1862, Pancher s.n.: P [P00624949!d].

= Parsonsia esculenta Pancher ex Baillon (1888: 767) .— NEW CALEDONIA. Hautes montagnes de Kanala, Nov. 1862, Pancher s.n., first step lectotype, designated by Boiteau (1981: 254): P; second step lectotype, designated here: P[P00624949!d].

Notes:— The name Alstonia edulis first appeared in Bennett (1867), in a correspondence relating the use of the plant as a vegetable in New Caledonia. George Bennett only cited several pods that were brought to him by a friend, D.N. Joubert, who also gave him the name of that plant: Alstonia edulis . Even if Bennet’s article mainly deals with culinary content, some descriptive parts are also found (habit, leaf shape and colour, pod surface texture) and most probably fulfill the requirements of Art. 38.1 ( Turland et al. 2018) so that we will not make a request for a binding decision by the General Committee of the Code ( Turland et al. 2018 – Art. 38.4). Under P. edulis, Boiteau (1981: 254) wrote “Type: Pancher s.n. (holo-, P!) so that it should corrected to a neotypification according to Turland et al. 2018 (Art. 9.10). Boiteau (1981: 254) also wrote in the specimen examined section “Pancher s.n., Kanala (fl. nov. déc.), type” for P. esculenta . The only Pancher s.n. from Kanala found presently in P herbarium (P00624949) is clearly cited by Baillon (1888: 767) as the type of Parsonsia esculenta as “Pancher, Kanala, in sylvis montium excelsiorum. Folia fructusque edibilia”. A few Pancher s.n. specimens were found at P; P00624949, Parsonsia esculenta Panch. , November 1862, rainforests, hautes montagnes de Kanala, annotated by Baillon as P. esculenta Panch. ; P04216065, Parsonsia edulis / esculenta Panch. , December 186?, rainforests without locality, not annotated by Baillon; P04216066, Parsonsia edulis , December (1870?), rainforests without locality, not annotated by Baillon; P04216067, Parsonsia edulis , December 1862, rainforests without locality, annotated by Baillon as “ P. esculenta Panch. ”; P04216068, 1860?, without locality, annotated by Baillon as “ Lyonsia / Echites scabra ”. The specimen P00624949, identified as a type in the P database and most probably determined by Boiteau or Allorge as P. edulis Guillaumin and Alstonia edulis G. Benn. is considered as Boiteau’s neotype of P. edulis . Since Boiteau cited a Pancher s.n. specimen in November and December from Kanala as the type of P. esculenta , both P00624949 and P04216067 are eligible as the type. As a second step lectotypification we choose P00624949 because it perfectly matches Baillon’s protologue.

Parsonsia franchetii Baill. ex Guillaumin ( 1941: 377) . Lectotype, first step designated by Boiteau (1981: 281); second step designated here:— NEW CALEDONIA. Nouméa , 25 Nov. 1868, Balansa 233a P [ P00624942 !]; isolectotypes: P [ P00624940 !; P00624941 !]. ( Figs 9 , 10 & 11 )

= Parsonsia brachiata Baill. ex Guillaumin (1941: 375) . Type: first step lectotype, designated by Boiteau (1981: 278): P; second step lectotype, designated here:— New Caledonia, Deplanche 72; P[P00624962!]; isolectotype: P[P00624961!], syn. nov.

= Parsonsia canescens Baill. ex Guillaumin (1941: 375) . Lectotype: first step designated by Boiteau (1981: 278); second step designated here:— NEW CALEDONIA. 1861, Deplanche 295 P [P00624958], syn. nov.

= Parsonsia deplanchei Baill. ex Guillaumin (1941: 377) . Lectotype: first step designated by Boiteau (1981: 278); second step designated here:— NEW CALEDONIA. Ile d’Icié [Ile Isié], Jan. 1860, Deplanche 300 P [P00624960], syn. nov.

Lectotypifications: — Boiteau (1981) considered Deplanche 72 as the holotype of the name P. brachiata while Guillaumin’s (1941) protologue cites the following syntypes: “ Pancher s.n., Deplanche 72, Thiébaut and Germain?” without locality along with Pancher 268 from Nouméa. Thirteen specimens were retrieved at P and K as probable syntypes; Pancher s.n. (P04910856, P04910857, P04910858, P04910859, K000857627), Deplanche 72 (P00624961, P00624962), Thiébaut [294] (P04910842), Germain s.n. (P04910843, P04910844) and Pancher 268 (P04910837, P04910860, P06620765). The Pancher s.n. (P04910858) specimen is complete (leaves, flowers, fruit) and it bears Guillaumin’s drawings and label annotations that were transcribed in the protologue (volubile de 3 mètres vs. scandens, 3 m. longa; fleurs d’un jaune terne vs floribus subluteis). Even if this Pancher specimen would have been a better lectotype, Boiteau’s inadvertent lectotypification with Deplanche 72 must be followed. Because there are two specimens of Deplanche 72 in P, a second step lectotypification is proposed. The specimen P00624962 bearing a “Type” label most probably added by Boiteau and Boiteau’s determinavit in 1979 is considered as the second step lectotype.

In the description of P. canescens, Guillaumin (1941) cited three syntypes without locality (Deplanche 295, Pancher 29, Vieillard 2984?) and one from Nouméa (Balansa 233), Guillaumin having doubts (?) about its own determinavit for the latter. Seven corresponding specimens were retrieved in P: Deplanche 295 (P00624957, P00624958), Mus . Néocal. [Pancher 29] / Vieillard 2984? (P04910852, P06620764), Balansa 233 (P04223213, P04223214, P04223215). Boiteau (1981: 278), in the specimens examined section of P. brachiata , cites Deplanche 295 (fr.) as “type of P. canescens ” so it should be considered as a first step lectotypification. Between the two Deplanche 295 specimens, we choose P00624958 as the lectotype because it is better preserved.

Guillaumin (1941) cites two syntypes in the protologue of P. deplanchei . Only one specimen of each syntype was retrieved at P: Ile Icié [Ile Isié] Deplanche 300 (P00624960); Nouméa Pancher s.n. [Deplanche 300] (P00624959). Boiteau (1981: 278) in the specimens examined section of P. brachiata , cites Deplanche 300 as “type of P. deplanchei ”. Because both specimens can be considered as Deplanche 300 and because there is no Pancher s.n. specimen cited in Boiteau (1981: 280), it could be infered Boiteau did not choose one lectotype among the two specimens. Among these two specimens, P00624960 is the only one that bears a determinavit by Baillon, Guillaumin’s drawings, and a “type” stamp by an unknown worker. It is here designated as the second step lectotype.

Guillaumin (1941: 377) has described Parsonsia franchetii with Balansa 233a as the type. Boiteau (1981: 281) later confirmed a P specimen as “ Holo- P!”. Three corresponding specimens are housed at P (P00624940, P00624941, P00624942) so a second step lectotypification is needed. Among these specimens, two (P00624940 and P00624941) bear the determinavit P. franchetii by Allorge in 1979, who at the same time designated these specimens as isotypes. P00624942 bears the name Parsonsia (Lyonsia) franchetii by Baillon’s writing and is designated as holotype on a sticker above, probably by Boiteau or Allorge. It also bears drawings resembling Guillaumin’s habit. We therefore follow all these authors and here designate P00624942 as second step lectotype and P00624940 and P00624941 as isolectotypes.

Synonymy: — Boiteau (1981) already considered Parsonsia canescens and P. deplanchei as synonyms of P. brachiata and we here follow his conclusion that the three names represent a single species. In the same work, Boiteau (1981) also considered P. franchetii as a distinct species with Parsonsia hienghenensis Guillaumin as synonym. Here, we discuss the transfer of P. brachiata as a synonym of P. franchetii , and will discuss the reinstatement of P. hienghenensis as a distinct species. The four names ( P. brachiata , P. canescens , P. deplanchei and P. franchetii ) are arranged together (glabrous ovary, disk scales more or less rectangular and as long as the ovary, puberulent corolla lobes) in Guillaumin’s (1941: 379) key along with P. calophylla Baillon ex Guillaumin (1941: 376) , the latter, now synonym of P. affinis , being very different morphologically by its larger leaves, and flowers with spreading corolla. A closer examination of Guillaumin’s very good drawings for these four names that are available from five specimens is shown in Figure 11 . Ovary and disc scales shapes, used by Guillaumin as main characters to distinguish the four species are unsufficient to reach a conclusion. The ovaries drawn ( Fig. 11a, b, c, d, e ) show a similar globose or ovoid shape, with small differences likely due to the difference in maturity of the dissected flowers. The disc scales shapes drawn ( Fig. 11a, b, c ) are similar and only the disc scale of P. brachiata ( Fig. 11d ) is different because of its incurved sides. Our observations led to the conclusion that the incurved sides of the disc scale can as well be explained by the dissection of an immature flower bud so that the scales dried out differently. Boiteau (1981) kept P. brachiata and P. franchetii as distinct species in his key based on the fruit size and shape (7–14 cm, ovoïd, apex attenuate to sharp for P. brachiata , 5 – 6 cm, ovoïd, apex acuminate for P. franchetii ). Yet, measuring fruits present on specimens identified by Boiteau or Allorge, we found specimens identified as P. franchetii (Balansa 233) with fruits 7 – 7.7 cm long, and specimens identified as P. brachiata ( MacKee 28578, MacKee 29556) with fruits 6–7 cm long. In addition, a more recent specimen (Veillon 1116) bears two fruits, apparently mature, one being 5 cm long, the other one being 7, 6 cm long. Our review of all material available thus shows that P. franchetii is indistinguishable from P. brachiata . Because the proposed lectotype of P. franchetii is better preserved, more trustful and more representative of the species than the one of P. brachiata , we propose to retain the former name for this species.

Distribution and habitat: —As it is newly circumscribed, P. franchetii is distributed from islets around the isle of Pines in the South to the Belep archipelago in the North, and along the west coast of Grande Terre in low elevation sclerophyllous vegetations.

Phenology: —From herbarium specimens and field observations, the species seems to be flowering from October to next May, and fructifying from April to October

Conservation status: —This species has been evaluated by the RLA-NC plants as Least Concern, regarding its relatively common distribution.

Specimen examined:— NEW CALEDONIA. North province:Yandé, 7April 1925, Däniker 157 (Z-000030477!d); Nékoro, 14 March 2007, Hequet et al. 3656 (P04548451!d); Ile Pott, 10 December 1975, Jaffré 1610 (NOU058885!, P04216074!d, P04216077!d); Col de Nékoro (entre Népoui et Poya), MacKee 14389 (L.2702936!d, P04223196!d); Poya, elev. 30 m, 28 December 1966, MacKee 16216 (BPBM427839, NOU058969!, P04223252!d); Poya, elev. 30 m, 23 April 1967, MacKee 16673 (NOU058968!, P04223254!d); Koné: Pinjen, elev. 20 m, 16 September 1970, MacKee 22419 (P04223226!d); Népoui, elev. 10 m, 10 December 1970, MacKee 22996 (L.2702930!d, NOU058966!, P04223194!d); Pouembout, elev. 30 m, 16 February 1972, MacKee 25007 (L.2702985!d, NOU058959!, P04223198!d); Népoui, elev. 20 m, 19 February 1972, MacKee 25070 (P05031668!d); Corne de Koumac, elev. 250 m, 13 April 1972, MacKee 25242 (NOU058970!, P04223228!d); Koumac Grande Forêt , elev. 250 m, 25 March 1973, MacKee 26479 (L.2702990!d, NOU058962!, P04223199!d); Koné: Poinda, elev. 20 m, 30 October 1973, MacKee 27650 (P04910802!d); Népoui, elev. 5 m, 23 April 1974, MacKee 28515 (NOU058978!, P04223195!d); Mont Koniambo, elev. 50–250 m, 24 April 1974, MacKee 28536 (L.2702989!d, NOU058963!, P04223200!d); Pouembout, elev. 30 m, 26 April 1974, MacKee 28575 (L.2703083!d, NOU058896!, P04216069!d); Pouembout, elev. 30 m, 26 April 1974, MacKee 28578 (L.2706462!d, NOU058818!, P04910853!d); Plaine des Gaïacs, elev. 20 m, 9 May 1974, MacKee 28666 (P04910803!d); Pouembout: Tiéa, elev. 50–350 m, 27 December 1974, MacKee 29556 (L.2706463!d, P04910848!d); Pouembout: Base W Tiéa, elev. 50, 25 November 1975, MacKee 30303 (L.2706464!d, NOU058820!, P04910849!d); Pinjen, elev. 100 m, 10 March 1976, MacKee 30863 (P04223223!d, P04223224!d); Pouembout: Embouchure de la Tiaoué, 30 December1977, MacKee 34477 (L.2702988!d); Poya: Forêt de Nékoro, elev. 2 m, 16August 1984, MacKee 42138 (NOU058965!, P04548470!d, P04548448!d, P04548471!d, P04548473!d, P04548474!d, P05263664!d); Plateau de Tiéa, elev. 300 m, 4 May 1983, McPherson 5685 (MO421519!d, P04548450!d); Plateau de Tiéa, elev. 250 m, 2 October 2005, Munzinger et al. 3009 (P04548452!d); Pouembout, reste de forêt sclérophylle sur la Tipinga, elev. 10 m, 6 December 1995, Veillon 7885 (NOU058823!, P00070189!d); Montagne de Poila, 1855, Vieillard 937 (P04223205!d); Montagnes de Balade, 1855, Vieillard 938 (P04910801!d); Balade, 1855, Vieillard 944bis (P04910800!d); sin.loc., 1855, Vieillard 979 (P05263668!d).

NEW CALEDONIA. South province: Nouméa: Baie de Tina , 5 January 2000, Achille 502 ( P04910810 !d) ; Nouméa , 25 October 1868, Balansa 233 ( L.2706445!d, P04223213 !d, P04223214 !d, P04223215 !d, Z-000030481!d) ; Nouméa , 25 November 1868, Balansa 233a ( P00624940 !d, P00624941 !d, P00624942 !d, Z-000034043!d) ; Nouméa: Ouen Toro, elev. 78 m, 22°18’25”S, 166°27’22”E, 11 August 2015, Chambrey 136 ( NOU081169 !) ; Saint Vincent, 15 December 1924, Däniker 776 (Z-000034041!d, Z-000034042!d); Col de la Tonghoué, 26 January 1926, Däniker 2692 (Z-000030479!d, Z-000030480!d); sin.loc., 25 February 1925, Däniker s.n. (Z-000030478!d); sin.loc., 1861, Deplanche 295 ( P00624957 !d, P00624958 !d) ; Ile d’Icié, 1860, Deplanche 300 ( P00624960 !d) ; sin.loc., 1867, Deplanche 474 ( P04910799 !d) ; sin.loc., Deplanche 72 ( P00624961 !d, P00624962 !d) ; Nouméa , 1 October 1906, Franc 574 ( P04223206 !d) ; Gouaro, elev. 35 m, 21°35’49”S, 165°22’21”E, 7 January 2015, Gâteblé 976 ( NOU105443 !) ; sin.loc., 1874, Germain s.n. ( P04910843 !d, P04910844 !d) ; Ouen-Toro , 1 August 1977, Jaffré 1937 ( P04910797 !d) ; Ouen Toro , 22 March 1955, MacKee 2250 ( L.2706465!d, P04910841 !d) ; Nouméa, elev. 20 m, 4 April 1955, MacKee 2344 ( P04910836 !d) ; Pente du Ouen Toro, elev. 50 m, 2 May 1964, MacKee 11484 ( P04910845 !d, P04910846 !d, P04910847 !d) ; Nouméa: Ouen Toro , 21 February 1976, MacKee 30724 ( L.2702991!d, NOU058957 !, P04223203 !d) ; Basse Tontouta, elev. 20 m, 28 February 1976, MacKee 30784 ( P04260652 !d) ; Tiaré, elev. 50 m, 8 December 1977, MacKee 34347 ( BPBM427846 , BPBM428166 , L.2702986!d, NOU058960 !, P04223197 !d) ; Pouembout : Embouchure de la Tiaoué, 30 December 1977, MacKee 34477 ( NOU058964 !, P04223201 !d) ; Nouméa: Anse Vata, elev. 30 m, 24 March 1978, MacKee 34900 ( NOU058821 !, P04910850 !d) ; Bouloupari: Ile Lepredour , 28 April 1978, MacKee 35042 ( BPBM427847 !d, L.2702987!d, NOU058956 !, P04223211 !d) ; Boulari , 22 March 1990, MacKee 44858 ( NOU058824 !, P04548438 !d, P04548439 !d) ; Basse Vallée de la Ouenghi, elev. 20 m, 23 July 1991, MacKee 45587 ( NOU058825 !) ; sin. loc., Pancher 29 ( P06620764 !d, P04910852 !d) ; Nouméa, Pancher 268 ( P04910860 !d, P04910837 !d, P06620765 !d) ; Nouméa, Pancher 300 ( P04910855 !d, P00624959 !d) ; sin.loc., 1862, Pancher 498 ( P04223204 !d) ; sin.loc., Pancher s.n. ( K000857627 !d, P04223207 !d, P04910856 !d, P04910857 !d, P04910858 !d, P04910859 !d, Z-000030472!d, Z-000030473!d, Z-000030474!d, Z-000030475!d, Z-000030476!d) ; Anse Vata, Nouméa , 19 January 1968, Schodde 5286 ( P04223202 !d) ; sin.loc., Thiébaut 294 ( P04910842 !d) ; Ouen-Toro, vallée du Sud-Ouest, elev. 100 m, 24 March 1967, Veillon 1116 ( NOU058958 !) ; Noumea: Ouen Toro, elev. 100m, 9 May 1988, Veillon 6799 ( NOU058955 !) ; Ilôt brosse près Kuto (île des Pins), elev. 5 m, 4 March 1943, Virot 996 ( NOU058822 !, P04910838 !d, P04910839 !d) ; Bois de Port-Despointes (Nouméa), 31 January 1945, Virot 1478 ( P04223208 !d) .

Parsonsia hienghenensis Guillaumin (1964: 189) . Lectotype, designated here: — NEW CALEDONIA. Hienghène , 3 Jan. 1961, [about sea level], MacKee 7921: P [ P00624939 !d]; isolectotypes: L [L.2703017!]; US[ US0112445 !] ( Fig. 10 )

Lectotypification: — Parsonsia hienghenensis Guillaumin has been described by Guillaumin (1964) with MacKee 7921 as type. Three specimens were found: P00624939, US 0112445 and L.2703017. The three specimens were identified as P. hienghenensis on the label, but only the specimen in P bears hand-written identification, and the mention “type” by Guillaumin himself on the verbatim, along with Guillaumin’s drawings. P00624939 is therefore designated as lectotype for the name and US 0112445 and L.2703017 as isolectotypes.

Notes: —The name was published after 1 January 1958 and thus must conform to Art.40.1 ( Turland et al. 2018). Even if there is no clear indication of a type in Guillaumin’s protologue the name is validly published since only one gathering (with several specimens) is cited ( Hopkins 2006, Art. 40.2, 40.3 Turland et al. 2018).

Parsonsia hienghenensis has been placed by Boiteau (1981) under synonymy of P. franchetii . However, it is clearly different with corolla lobes spread and bigger inflorescences while P. franchetii (= P. brachiata , synonymy made here) has short inflorescence and is one of the two New Caledonian species of Parsonsia to have erected corolla lobes. Several specimens from the Loyalty islands, also identified as Parsonsia franchetii , apparently belong to the same taxon. Parsonsia hienghenensis can be considered as close to P. scabra with its hairy flowers and recurved corolla lobes. It however differs from it by shorter flowers, corolla lobes glabrous on adaxial side, corolla tube almost glabrous at base, and inflorescences axis pubescent, instead of hirsute in P. scabra . These specimens were also considered to be similar to P. neoebudica Guillaumin (1932: 20) , a species known from Vanuatu. Parsonsia neoebudica however has flowers about 3 mm long, corolla glabrous outside, and inflorescences axis glabrous as well.

We thus reinstate Parsonsia hienghenensis with a known distribution on calcareous substrates in the Loyalty islands and on the north east coast of Grande Terre. Further field surveys should allow to find some more localities in similar environments.

Distribution and habitat: —The species is currently known from the islands of Lifou and Ouvéa, and from the type locality in Hienghène, on the north-east coast of Grande Terre. It grows in forests on calcareous substrates.

Phenology: —From herbarium specimens, flowering occurs between January and March.

Conservation status: —The species has not been evaluated by the RLA-NC. Based on current knowledge, the species is only present in three localities. However, no evident threat can be considered for this species and its supposed environment. It can thus be proposed as Least concerned (LC), according to IUCN (2019) criteria.

Specimen examined:— NEW CALEDONIA. Loyalty island province: Ouvéa, sentier entre Teuta et Hoony, elev. 15 m, 20°25’43»S, 166°37’1»E, 03 March 2016, Butaud 3452 ( NOU081517 !) ; Lifou , Hnanemuaetra , bord de piste menant à Tingeting, 20°40’48.32»S, 167°11’13.55»E, Butaud 3481 ( NOU111496 !, NOU111497 !) ; Lifou : Hauteurs au SE du Cap Lafon, elev. 90 m, 22 February 1974, MacKee 28293 ( BPBM427845 !d, L.2702992!d, NOU058961 !, P04223212 !d, S-PL-20428!d) .

Parsonsia rigida Baillon ( 1888: 766) . Holotype: — NEW CALEDONIA. Mont Poume , vers 400 m d’altitude, May 1871, Balansa 3285: P [ P04216009 !] ( Fig. 12 & 13 )

= Parsonsia angustifolia Baillon (1888: 766) . Lectotype: first step designated by Boiteau (1981: 276); second step designated here:— NEW CALEDONIA. Deplanche 73 P [P00624943], isolectotype: P[P00624944!], syn. nov.

= Parsonsia flexuosa Baillon (1888: 765) . Type : Nouvelle-Calédonie. Collines argilo-ferrugineuses situées au NE de Daaoui de Ero, près de Bourail, 11 Apr. 1869, Balansa 1413; Holotype: P[ P00624945 !], syn. nov.

= Parsonsia taomensis Moore (1921: 366) . Type : New Caledonia, Taom, 1500 ft., 2 Dec. 1914, Compton 2312; Holotype: BM[ BM001040511 !], syn. nov.

= Parsonsia taomensis var. fuscescens Moore (1921: 366) . Type : New Caledonia, Taom, 1000 ft., 2 Dec. 1914, Compton 2311; Holotype: BM[ BM001040510 !], syn. nov.

= Parsonsia terminaliifolia Guillaumin (1945: 81) . Type: Nouvelle-Calédonie, Kanala, Vieillard 2991; first step lectotype, designated by Boiteau (1981: 269): P ; second step lectotype, designated here: P [ P00624925 !] ; isolectotypes: P [ P00624924 !], K [ K000857616 !d], syn. nov .

Lectotypifications: — Baillon (1888) described P. angustifolia citing two syntypes (Deplanche 73 from Kanala, Vieillard 982 from Balade). Boiteau (1981: 276) cites Deplanche 73 as the type of Parsonsia angustifolia so this should be considered as a lectotypification. However, three specimens of Deplanche 73 were found: P04255978, P00624944, P00624943. P04255978 went through the Caen herbarium and was then not seen by Baillon. This specimen was identified as P. carnea by Guillaumin in 1943 when it was moved to P, then as P. flexuosa by Allorge in 1979. Further, it has both linear and lanceolate leaves, while the protologue only cites linear leaves. P00624944 presents a hand-written determination “ Parsonsia angustifolia H.B.”, most probably by Baillon himself. Some flower fragments are present, along with Guillaumin’s drawings, but no entire inflorescence can be seen. The longest leaf on this specimen is about 6 cm, corresponding to the protologue. On P00624943, there is a handwriting identification as Parsonsia (Lyonsia) angustifolia H.B., most probably by E. Drake. This specimen has a ca. 2 cm inflorescence in subapical position (“cymam [...] subcapitatam dispositis” in the protologue). We here suppose that Baillon used both specimens for the description, and thus choose P00624943, the best preserved, as lectotype and P00624944 as an isolectotype.

Among the syntypes (Vieillard 2990 from Gatope and Vieillard 2991 from Canala) cited in the protologue, Boiteau

(1981: 269) made a first step lectotypification for P. terminaliifolia by citing “ Vieillard 2991 (holo-, P!; iso-, K)”. Interestingly and because Vieillard is well known for numbering specimens according to what he believed to belong to a species, an interesting case can be highlighted here. Vieillard clearly recognized two different Parsonsia species by labelling one as Vieillard 2990 from Gatope and Vieillard 2991 from Kanala and an additional one as Vieillard 2989 from Gatope. Almost all, if not all (except maybe the Drake and BM specimens, see Table 1) Vieillard specimens corresponding to both his numbers (2990 and 2991) were sent directly to Lenormand (and stored in his personal herbarium) so that Guillaumin (1941) had no access to these gatherings at P when he published his revision of New Caledonian Apocynaceae . Lenormand’s personal herbarium was transferred to CN after his death following his 1855’s formal will ( Lenormand 1866, Leboucher 1872, Jaubert 1872, Morière 1871, 1873) and later on to P. Soon after (in 1943), Guillaumin was able to look at the CN Vieillard (and Deplanche) specimens and published four additional Apocynaceae species ( Guillaumin 1945). The differences between the first two ( P. laxiflora and P. terminaliifolia ) species (leaf and flower shapes, inflorescence architecture and other characters) are indeed striking so that the two species cannot be confused. While P. terminaliifolia is found in both localities (Gatope and Kanala), P. laxiflora is a species found only in the northwest of Grande Terre (Gatope s.l.) so that the two specimens of P. laxiflora said to be from Kanala (P04223237 and P04223238, see Table 1) are erroneously labelled. The label on P04223237 is not Vieillard’s own label but CN’s one and the locality “Kanala” was added later and independently. The label on P04223238 is Vieillard’s original one but was most presumably glued on the wrong specimen in Lenormand’s personal herbarium where the mix-up probably occurred. P04223237 and P04223238 thus belong to Parsonsia laxiflora Guillaumin. From the two others, only one, P00624925, has Guillaumin’s drawings on, and was designated as type by Guillaumin himself on the label. It is chosen as second step lectotype, and P00624924 as isolectotype.

We here made that long statement of botanical history to corroborate this precise nomenclatural act, but this may be of utility in further taxonomical work in New Caledonia. As a matter of fact, Vieillard and Pancher types are often discussed, but no general rule has been settled since Guillaumin (1933) first raised this issue. Based on the example here, we recommend to botanists dealing with Vieillard’s specimens that have transited through Lenormand’s herbarium not to incriminate (only?) Vieillard but Lenormand and his wife’s curation.

Notes: —As circumscribed here, P. rigida is a liana growing in shrubland on ultramafic substrates in the Northern two third of Grande Terre , its inflorescences are mostly terminal and contracted, often covered by ferruginous hairs, and flowers with short pedicels (ca. 2–3 mm). The species differs from P. carnea by the greenish / yellowish corolla, with lobes shorter (less than 2 mm vs ca. 4 mm) and less acute. The leaves are variable but almost always hairy, while almost always glabrous in P. carnea .

Distribution and habitat: —The species is known from northwest ultramafic mountains on Grande Terre. It grows in shrublands (locally known as “maquis minier”) or at forest edges.

Phenology: —From herbarium specimens and field observations, flowers and fruits can be seen all year round.

Conservation status: —This species has been evaluated by the RLA-NC plants as Least Concern, regarding its relatively common distribution.

Specimen examined:— NEW CALEDONIA. North province: N-E de Daaoui de Ero, près de Bourail , 11 April 1869, Balansa 1413 ( P00624945 !d) ; Mont Poum , elev. 400 m, 1 May 1871, Balansa 3285 ( P04216009 !d) ; Monte Poum , elev. 412 m, 10 April 1968, Bernardi 12663 ( P04216032 !d, US 2749436!d) ; Pente du Dôme de Tiébaghi , 22 January 1965, Blanchon 1460 ( NOU058929 !, P04255941 !d) ; Taom , 2 July 1914, Compton 2311 ( BM001040510 !d) ; Taom , 2 July 1914, Compton 2312 ( BM001040511 !d, P04216018 !d) ; Néhoué , 20 January 2004, Dagostini, Fambart-Tinel, Roumagnac 774 ( NOU002881 !) ; Paagoumène , 11 May 1925, Däniker 1367 (Z-000034088!d) ; Paagoumène , 12 March 1925, Däniker 1392 (Z-000034089!d, Z-000034090!d) ; Koniambo , 15 January 1925, Däniker 917 (Z-000034098!d) ; Néné [Néhoué], 1867, Deplanche 472 ( P04255979 !d) ; Koniambo , 26 September 2003, Fambart-Tinel 45 ( NOU000596 !, P04548455 !d) ; Tiébaghi , elev. 504 m, 20°27’42”S, 164°13’22”E, 8 August 2017, Fleurot 377 ( NOU088730 !) ; Kopéto, Pouembout , elev. 184 m, 21°11’52”S 165°1’58”E, 23 February 2019, Fleurot 547 ( NOU090228 !) ; Pente Est de la Montagne de Poum , elev. 50 m, 1 February 1966, MacKee 14362 ( L.2702980!d) ; Montagne de Poum , 10 September 1969, MacKee 20772 ( L.2702981!d) ; Hauteurs au Nord de Negropo , 25 June 1977, MacKee 33367 ( L.2703331!d) ; Kanala , Unknown 972 ( P04260670 !d) ; Massif du Koniambo, elev. 700 m, 22 February 1972, Jaffré 696 ( NOU058939 !) ; Massif du Boulinda, Pic Poya , elev. 850 m, 9 November 1972, Jaffré 1013 ( NOU058938 !, P04548465 !d) ; Dôme de Tiébaghi , elev. 400 m, 15 October 1975, Jaffré 1381 ( L.2703044!d, NOU058907 !, P04216028 !d) ; Kopéto , elev. 900 m, 20November 1975, Jaffré 1516 ( NOU058953 !, P04255937 !d) ; Mont Boulinda , elev. 850 m, 23 February 1978, Jaffré 2388 ( NOU058947 !, P04910808 !d) ; Tiébaghi , elev. 350 m, 6 May 1978, Jaffré 2464 ( NOU058908 !, P04910826 !d) ; Koniambo , elev. 850 m, 22 November 2002, Jaffré 3537 ( NOU058925 !) ; Ouazangou sommet, elev. 810 m, 20°44’24»S 164°29’45»E, 11 June 2020, Lannuzel 254 ( NOU107102 !) ; Plateau sommet du Mont Koniambo , elev. 800 m, 31 March 1956, MacKee 4285 ( L.2702831!d, P04216023 !d) ; Pente W du Dôme de Tiébaghi, elev. 300 m, 14 June 1956, MacKee 4835 ( L.2703234!d, P04255940 !d, US 2317251!d) ; Pente Est de la Montagne De Poum , elev. 50 m, 1 February 1966, MacKee 14362 ( P04255955 !d) ; Pente Sud Ouest du Dôme Tiébaghi , elev. 300 m, 9 May 1966, MacKee 14947 ( L.2703039!d, P04255942 !d) ; Pente N du Mont Kaala , elev. 400 m, 9 July 1966, MacKee 15261 ( P04216026 !d) ; Pente N du Mont Kaala, elev. 700 m, 25 December 1966, MacKee 16151 ( L.2703050!d, P04216003 !d) ; Plateau de Tiéa , elev. 400 m, 4 April 1968, MacKee 18607 ( P04255929 !d) ; Haute Népoui - Oua Péoué, Contrefort Sud du Kopéto , elev. 600 m, 25 March 1969, MacKee 20410 ( P04222645 !d) ; Montagne de Poum , elev. 350 m, 10 September 1969, MacKee 20772 ( NOU058943 !, P04216029 !d) ; Ile Yandé: Mt. Yandé , elev. 250 m, 7 October 1970, MacKee 22697 ( NOU058900 !, P04255946 !d) ; Négropo, Plateau au Nord du Mont Prokoméo , elev. 700 m, 27 January 1972, MacKee 24950 ( P04260594 !d) ; Pouembout: Plateau Tiéa , elev. 350 m, 27 December 1974, MacKee 29576 ( L.2703042!d, P04216025 !d) ; Pouembout: Plateau Tiéa , elev. 400 m, 1 January 1977, MacKee 32567 ( P04255930 !d) ; Pouembout: Plateau Tiéa , elev. 400 m, 1 January 1977, MacKee 32573 ( BISH428177 , L.2703041!d, L.2702982!d, P04216024 !d) ; Kouaoua, Dahi , elev. 500 m, 30 March 1977, MacKee 32985 ( L.2703329!d, L.2703330!d, P04260593 !d) ; Mont Kaala ( Pente Nord ), elev. 800 m, 17 April 1977, MacKee 33048 ( BISH428160 , L.2702983!d, NOU058906 !, P04216022 !d) ; Hauteurs au Nord de Négropo , elev. 600 m, 25 June 1977, MacKee 33367 ( BISH428168 , NOU059062 !, P04260596 !d) ; Dôme de Tiébaghi, Plateau Nord , 17 July 1977, MacKee 33521 ( BISH428161 , L.2703043!d, NOU058905 !, P04216035 !d) ; Dôme de Tiébaghi ( Base Nord-Est ), elev. 100 m, 11 May 1978, MacKee 35108 ( P04216034 !d) ; Poum , elev. 300 m, 7 July 1978, MacKee 35408 ( P04216031 !d) ; Mont Taom Contrefort Sud-Ouest , elev. 600 m, 4 October 1978, MacKee 35788 ( NOU059063 !, P04260595 !d) ; Canala: Pembi , elev. 5 m, 14 February 1979, MacKee 36565 ( P04223218 !d) ; Canala: Pembi , elev. 5 m, 14 February 1979, MacKee 36566 ( P04223219 !d) ; Monéo , elev. 250 m, 25 April 1979, MacKee 36807 ( NOU059064 !, P04255999 !d) ; Plateau Mont Ouazangou , elev. 800 m, 26 March 1980, MacKee 37949 ( P04255939 !d) ; Poro, Kaseoua , elev. 550 m, 17 December 1992, MacKee 46060 ( NOU058898 !, P04255938 !d) ; Massif de Tchingou , elev. 850 m, 30 March 2001, McPherson & Munzinger 18046 ( MO1570436 , P00239221 !d) ; Montagne de Poum , west of village, elev. 350 m, 29 November 1983, McPherson 6088 ( MO420805 , P04548454 !d) ; Massif du Boulinda, elev. 400 m, 23 February 1978, Morat 5945 ( NOU058936 !, P04910807 !d) ; Massif du Boulinda, elev. 400 m, 23 February 1978, Morat 5949 ( NOU058946 !, P04548996 !d) ; Vavouto , 9 September 2004, Munzinger 2369 ( NOU006847 !) ; Ile Yandé, face Est , elev. 200 m, 5 October 2005, Munzinger 3023 ( NOU008362 !) ; Canala, plateau de Boakaine, sommet Antenne , 17 December 2006, Munzinger & Létocart 4051 ( MPU311723 !) ; Mont Kaala , elev. 700 m, 7 January 1981, Pusset 221 ( NOU058926 !, NOU058927 !) ; Tiébaghi , 14 February 1969, Schmid 2684 ( NOU058915 !, P04910811 !d) ; Dôme de Tiébaghi , 5 November 1975, Sévenet & Boiteau 1122 ( NOU058910 !, P04216027 !d) ; Montagne de Poum , 9 June 1982, Suprin 1944 ( NOU058903 !) ; Massif de Tiébaghi , 18 October 1959, Thorne 28049 ( P04216033 !d) ; Massif du Koniambo , elev. 787 m, 6 January 2003, Tronchet & Roumagnac 680 ( K000224366 !d, NOU004876 !, P00354644 !d) ; Taom - Flanc Ouest , elev. 557 m, 20°47’13»S, 164°34’19»E, 19 May 2020, Vandrot 1608 ( NOU107538 !) ; Voh, Katépahié , elev. 350 m, 20°55’49»S, 164°41’38»E, 28 July 2014, Vandrot 925 ( NOU083912 !) ; Montagne de Poum , elev. 272 m, 25 March 1982, Veillon 4848 ( NOU058901 !) ; Poulaïtche près Gatope , 1861, Vieillard 2986 ( P04223946 !d, P04223947 !d) ; Gatope , 1861, Vieillard 2989 ( P04260671 !d) ; Gatope , 1861, Vieillard 2990 ( P04260669 !d) ; Kanala , 1861, Vieillard 2991 ( K000857616 !d, P00624924 !d, P00624925 !d) ; Balade , 1855, Vieillard 936 ( P04255971 !d, P04255975 !d) ; Balade , 1855, Vieillard 940 ( P04216030 !d) .

Parsonsia scabra (Spreng.) Markgr. in Smith (1936: 130). Thenardia scabra Sprengel (1827: 65) . Lectotype: first step designated by Boiteau (1981: 265); second step designated here:— NEW CALEDONIA. Austro-Caledonia, Labillardière s.n.: P [P00624928!]; isolectotypes: P [P00624930!; P00624929! pro parte, see notes]; BR [BR000000695841!]; FI [FI003985!]; G [G00190758!; G00190759!]; K [K000857617!].

≡ Echites scaber Labillardière (1824: 26), nom. illeg., non Echites scabra Hoffmannsegg ex Roemer & Schultes (1819: 795) .

≡ Lyonsia scabra (Spreng.) de Candolle (1844: 401) .

≡ Parsonsia billardierei Baill. in Guillaumin (1911: 196), nom. superfl.

≡ Parsonsia scabra (Labillardière) Guillaumin (1941: 378) , comb. illeg., and comb. superfl.

= Parsonsia corymbifera Baill. ex Guillaumin (1941: 376) , first step lectotype, designated by Boiteau (1981: 265): P; second step lectotype, designated here: P[P00624927!]

=Parsonia noumeana Baill. in Guillaumin (1941: 376), nom. inval. pro syn.

Lectotypifications: — Labillardière (1824: 26) published the species Echites scabra [scaber], describing both flowers and fruits, and added a sound drawing ( Labillardière 1824 tab. 31). Eight specimens of this collection were retrieved: BR000000695841, G00190758, G00190759, K000857617, P00624928, P00624930, P00624929, FI003985. FI003985 comprises the whole protologue written in the hand of Labillardière. This specimen is probably the original material used by Labillardière and would have made a good lectotype. However, Boiteau (1981) later made a first step lectotypification by designating a specimen in Paris as the Holotype. A second step lectotypification is thus needed within P specimens. P00624928 presents both flowers and fruits, and is part of the Labillardière collection, bought by Webb and later transferred to several herbaria ( Morat, 2010). P00624928 is here designated as second step lectotype, with P00624930, FI003985, K000857617, G00190758, G00190759, BR000000695841 as isolectotypes. The specimen P00624929 is registered in P database as part of the same collection, but is a mixed specimen, with two stems on the left belonging to Parsonsia scabra , and two stems on right belonging to an Alyxia species. This specimen was part of Herbier Moquin-Tandon and Herbier Cosson.

Guillaumin (1941: 376), in describing Parsonsia corymbifera , cited six collections as syntypes, of which 13 specimens were retrieved in P herbarium ; Vallée du Diahot entre Tchiaor et Bondé: Balansa 3282 ( P04260600 , P04260605 , P00624926 , P00624927 ), Gatope: Vieillard 2980 ( P04260632 , P04260635 , P04260636 ), Nouméa: Balansa 2403 ( P04260601 , P04260603 , P04260604 ), Dumbéa: Baudouin 640 ( P04260624 ), s.loc.: Pancher s.n. ( P04260623 ), Le Rat & Le Rat 688 ( P04260625 ). Among all these specimens, Boiteau (1981: 265) designated Balansa 3282 as the type however without specification of which specimen. It thus can be considered as a first step lectoptypification. Among the four specimens found at P, only one bears both Baillon’s determinavit and Guillaumin’s drawing: Balansa 3282 ( P00624927 ). We thus suppose that Guillaumin studied this specimen, and based the species concept and name following Baillon. The chosen second step lectotype is Balansa 3282 ( P00624927 ) .

Notes: —The Labillardière name Echites scabra [scaber] is illegitimate because of the earlier published name Echites scabra Hoffmanns. ex. Roem. & Schult. While combining the epithet under the genus Thenardia , Sprengel’s combination is to be treated as a replacement name with the same type as the illegitimate name (Turland et al. Art. 58.1) so that subsequent combinations only retain Sprengel authorship as the legitimate basionym. The replacement names proposed by Guillaumin (1911, 1941) respectively as P. billardierei Baill. ex Guillaumin and P. scabra (Labill.) Guillaumin are then respectively superfluous and illegitimate.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Known distribution of Parsonsia crucifera (squares) and Parsonsia effusa (dots). Symbols with “T” represent type specimens. Grayed areas represent ultramafic substrates.

FIGURE 6. Flowering branch (A) of Parsonsia crucifera, with detail on flower (B), fruit (C), and the typical cross shaped inflorescence (D). Credit: Lannuzel G. Pictures correspond to Lannuzel 526.c

FIGURE 7. Drawing of Parsonsia crucifera. A—Flowering branches; B—Abaxial side of the leaf; C—Detail of lateral colleters at petiole insertion; D—Detail of colleters on abaxial side of petiole insertion; E—Flower from above, F—Flower, G—Longitudinal section of the flower; H—Fruit. Illustrator: Ramon L.

FIGURE 8. Branch of Parsonsia effusa (A) with detail of inflorescence (B) and flowers (C–D) in the Montagne des Sources locality. Credit: Lannuzel G.

FIGURE 9. Flowering branch of Parsonsia franchetii (A) with detail of inflorescence (B) and flowers (C–D). Credit: Lannuzel G. Pictures correspond to Lannuzel 522.

FIGURE 10. Known distribution of Parsonsia franchetii (squares) and Parsonsia hienghenensis (dots). Symbols with “T” represent type specimens. Grayed areas represent ultramafic substrates.

FIGURE 11. Guillaumin’s drawing on original material of Parsonsia canescens (P04910852 -A), Parsonsia deplanchei (P00624960 - B), Parsonsia franchetii (P00624942 - C) and Parsonsia brachiata (P04910858 - D and P06620765 - E).

FIGURE 12. Parsonsia rigida in its habitat (A), with detail of a flowering twig (B), flowers (C) and fruit (D). Credit: Lannuzel G. Pictures corresponding to Lannuzel 254 (A) and Gâteblé 1271 (B, C, D).

FIGURE 13. Known repartition of Parsonsia rigida (squares). Symbol with “T” represent type specimen. Grayed areas represent ultramafic substrates.