Alyxia paniensis Lannuzel

Lannuzel, Guillaume, Munzinger, Jérôme, Vandrot, Hervé & Gâteblé, Gildas, 2024, Alyxia Banks ex R. Br. in New Caledonia: a clarification of several species complexes, nomenclatural notes, and a description of three new species, Phytotaxa 649 (1), pp. 1-43 : 22-23

Alyxia paniensis Lannuzel , nom. nov., stat. nov., (urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77336450-1).

Alyxia loeseneriana var. macrocarpa Boiteau (1979: 450) .

Holotype:— NEW CALEDONIA, Slopes of Mt Panié, elev. 1000–1200 m, 1 September 1958, MacKee 6414: P [ P00143130 !] ( Fig. 12 )

Species circumscription:— This species was originally described as A. loeseneriana var. macrocarpa , based only on specimens with fruits. However, McPherson 17791 (NOU058367), with flowers, justifies raising this taxon to specific rank, with a new name due to the earlier name Alyxia macrocarpa Koord. Alyxia paniensis differs from A. loeseneriana by the ca. 8.5 mm long corolla tube vs 3–5 mm in A. loeseneriana , overall flowers ca. 13.5 mm long, and fruit articles 3.5–4 cm long, vs 1.5 cm long in A. loeseneriana .

Distribution and habitat:—This poorly known species occurs in the Mont Panié mountain range, in the Northeastern part of Grande Terre. It is known only from medium to high altitude (400–1200 m elev.) dense humid forests.

Phenology:— The only flowering specimen was collected in October. Fruiting specimens were collected in July, August, September, November and February.

Specimens examined:— NEW CALEDONIA: North province; Mt. Panié , elev. 400 m, 1 September 1958, MacKee 6414 (P00143130!) ; Mt. Panié, above Haut Coulna , elev. 895 m, 28 October 1999, McPherson & van der Werff 17791 ( MO1382522 !, NOU058367 !, NOU058367 !) ; Mont Colnett , elev. 1000 m, 29 October 2003, McPherson, Swenson & Mouly 19061 (L.3735011!, MO1939443 !, MO1939443!, NOU004372 !) ; Mt. Colnett , elev. 990 m, 1 November 2003, McPherson, Swenson & Mouly 19122 ( MO1939875 !, NOU004379 !, NOU004379 !) ; Mont Panié , elev. 900 m, 15 February 2006, Munzinger 3322 ( NOU012199 !) ; Mont Panié , elev. 1200 m, 6 July 1978, Sévenet-Pusset 1500 ( NOU058072 !) ; Mont Panié , elev. 1000 m, 7 September 1978, Sévenet-Pusset 1545 ( NOU058073 !, NOU058074 !, NOU058074 !) ; Mont Panié , elev. 800 m, 17 September 1981, Suprin 1412 ( NOU058075 !) ; Mont Panié , elev. 900 m, 7 July 1978, Veillon 3609 (L.2711016!, NOU058068 !, NOU058068 !, NOU058069 !) ; Ignambi, sentier vers Gomen , elev. 1000 m, 19 August 1965, Veillon 431 ( NOU058070 !)

Figures

FIGURE 12. Known distribution Alyxia oppositifolia(dots) and Alyxia paniensis (squares). Symbols with “T” represent type specimens. Grayed areas represent ultramafic substrates.