Alyxia nummularia Moore ( 1921: 358)

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 : 18

Alyxia nummularia Moore ( 1921: 358) .

Holotype:— NEW CALEDONIA, Mt Dore , elev. 1500 ft, 1 May 1914, Compton 841: BM [ BM000508535 !] ( Figs 9 , 10 )

Species circumscription: — Alyxia nummularia was considered as a distinct species by Boiteau (1981) and then merged into A. tisserantii by Middleton (2002). We follow Boiteau (1981) and consider it as a distinct species, mostly characterized by orbicular leaves, and densely pubescent young stems and leaves. It differs from our conception of A. tisserantii mostly by the young stems and densely pubescent leaves, slightly longer corolla tubes (ca. 2.1–3.1 mm vs 1.1–2.2 mm), and grayish bark. It is most similar to higher-altitude forms of A. kaalaensis by the orbicular leaves, but differs from it by the always axillary inflorescences and shorter corolla tube (ca. 2.1–3.1 mm vs 3–4.5 mm in A. kaalaensis ). Flower dissections also showed that A. nummularia ’s ovary only presents a ring with sparse hairs (ca. 0.1 mm) at the base, while A. kaalaensis has a densely pubescent ovary, with longer hairs (0.15–0.2 mm).

Distribution and habitat:— Alyxia nummularia occurs in the southern half of Grande Terre, between 50 and 1100 m elev. It grows mainly on rocky areas, in shrubland vegetations on ultramafic substrates. Vieillard’s specimens are not presented on the map ( Fig. 12 ), because they are considered doubtful, with mixes of different plants under the same collection number, plus old and unreliable locality names.

Phenology:— From herbarium specimens and pictures available, A. nummularia can present flowers and fruits all year round.

Specimens examined:— NEW CALEDONIA: North province; Kopéto , elev. 300 m, 25 March 2000, Achille 906 (P04257736!) ; Rade de Canala , 1 November 1869, Balansa 1440a (P04260808!), Kopéto, Pouembout, elev. 184 m, 21°11'52''S, 165°1'58''E, 23 February 2019, Fleurot 548 ( NOU105625 !, NOU090229 !) ; Col de Nékoro , 11 October 1972, Jaffré 2206 ( NOU058198 !, P04260780!) ; Massif du Boulinda, elev. 400 m, 23 February 1978, Jaffré 2370 (L.2702481!, NOU058204 !, P05236790!, P04260801!) ; Poya: Avangui , elev. 100 m, 11 April 1969, MacKee 20510 ( NOU058360 !) ; Kopéto: Crête E Mt. Vert , elev. 800 m, 8 July 1970, MacKee 22214 ( NOU058209 !, P04260796!) ; Wagap, 1861, Vieillard 2964 (P04220358!); Gatope, Vieillard 2965 (P04220359!); Kanala, 1855, Vieillard 957 (P04220364!, P04220366!, P04220367!); South Province; Montagne des Sources , 11 February 2000, Achille 671 (P05391660!) ; Rocher Bouremere , à l’embouchure de l’Io, 27 December 1869, Balansa 2440 (P04260784!, P04260809!, P04260803!) ; Col de Plum , 22 August 1950, Baumann-Bodenheim 5593 (P04225785!) ; Col de Vulcain , 11 November 1950, Baumann-Bodenheim 8076 (P04260804!, US2316500 !) ; Col de Vulcain , 1 November 1950, Baumann-Bodenheim 8150 (L.3729964!, P04260810!, US2316501!, U.1088679!) ; Ouroué / Dothio , 29 July 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 14391 (P04225781!, US2316701 !) ; Mont Dore , elev. 500 m, Compton 841 ( BM000508535 !) ; Peak near Col de Mouirange , elev. 300 m, 6 October 1963, Green 1253 ( MEL 0568836 A, P04225732!) ; Col de Plum, elev. 50 m, Guillaumin, Baumann-Bodenheim & Hürlimann 7927 (L.3729962!, P04225735!), Mt Dore , Guillaumin, Baumann-Bodenheim & Hürlimann 11399, (L.3729963!, P04260785!) ; Mt. Dore , 21 March 1951, Guillaumin, Baumann-Bodenheim & Hürlimann 11431 (L.3729961!, P04260782!, US2316594 !) ; Ouroué, Guillaumin, Baumann-Bodenheim & Hürlimann 14342 (L.3729960!, US2316693 !) ; au dessus du sentier de la Dumbéa au Dzumac , elev. 800 m, 29 March 1951, Hürlimann 1122 (P04260802!) ; Mt. Dzumac , elev. 800 m, 15 April 1978, Jaffré 2410 (L.2702428!, L.2702429!, L.2702480!, P04225714!, NOU058278 !) ; Tontouta Valley Near Junction of Kalouéhola , elev. 50 m, 25 December 1955, MacKee 3658, (L.2699547!, P04260786!) ; Piste Dzumac , elev. 400 m, 14 April 1956, MacKee 4343 (E00098780!, P04260788!) ; Confluent Tontouta-Kalouéhola , elev. 50 m, 15 July 1956, MacKee 4910 (E00098782!, P04260787!) ; Confluent des Rivières entre Tontouta et Kalouéhola , elev. 50 m, 25 December 1960, MacKee 7736 (L.2702471!, P04260783!) ; Ouroué , elev. 50 m, 30 April 1967, MacKee 16707 (P04260798!, P04551185!) ; Mt. Dore , elev. 750 m, 29 December 1982, MacKee 41103 (P04225602!) ; Peak Near Col de Mouirange , elev. 300 m, 6 October 1963, McPherson 1253 ( NOU058199 !) ; 17 Km South-West of Thio , elev. 50 m, 17 August 1982, McPherson 4898 ( MO421590 , NOU058299 !) ; Lower reaches of Dumbéa valley , 27 November 1982, McPherson 5216 ( MO420718 , NOU058263 !) ; Col de Mo , 22 August 2004, Munzinger & Létocart 2328 ( NOU006832 !, P04551229!) ; Mont Dore, face Est , 6 May 1966, Nothis 133 ( NOU058253 !, P04225577!, P04225576!) ; Côteaux boisés, Pancher 308 (P04225578!, P00156842!); Rivière Bleue De Prony , 2 October 1969, Schmid 2991 ( NOU058328 !, P04225566!) ; Jardin Botanique de Montravel , 19 November 1967, Sévenet 23 S (P04551367!) ; Mont Dore , elev. 700 m, 29 December 1982, Suprin 2196 ( NOU058276 !, P04225555!) ; Col du Vulcain, elev. 1100 m, 26 April 1973, Veillon 2869 ( NOU058275 !, P05236780!, P04260795!) ; Mont Dzumac, Veillon 3623 (L.2702430!, NOU058283 !, P04220400!) ; Rive Droite de la Tontouta, 7 October 1986, Veillon 6006 ( NOU058201 !) ; Presqu’île Montagnès , 31 January 1991, Veillon 7325 ( NOU058202 !) ; Mont-Dore —pente Sud , 28 June 1939, Virot 213 (P04220379!, P04220381!) .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Alyxia nummularia with detail of an immature fruit (A), flower (B), fertile branch (C) and general habit (D). Photographer: G. Lannuzel from Lannuzel 566.

FIGURE 10. Known distribution Alyxia minimiflora(dots) and Alyxia nummularia (squares). Symbols with “T” represent type specimens. Grayed areas represent ultramafic substrates.

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