Alyxia spathulata Guillaumin (1957: 80)

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 : 27

Alyxia spathulata Guillaumin (1957: 80) .

Lectotype (designated by Boiteau (1981:121):— NEW CALEDONIA, Ile des Pins , Germain s.n.: P [ P00072149 !]; isolectotype P [ P00625016 !] ( Figs. 16 , 18 )

Species circumscription: — Alyxia spathulata was considered as a distinct species by Boiteau (1981) and then as a synonym of A. tisserantii by Middleton (2002). While narrowing the concept of A. tisserantii , we choose to follow Boiteau and consider A. spathulata as a species readily distinguishable by its smaller oblong to spathulate leaves (1.3–2.1 cm), short corolla tube (0.7–1.6 mm), and blackish bark. Further, all specimens come from the Pic N’Ga hill, on the Isle of Pines, where no A. tisserantii specimen is found, and where all specimens are very stable in leaf and fruit shapes.

Distribution and habitat:— A. spathulata is only known from Pic N’Ga, on the Isle of Pines. It grows at low altitude (50–150 m elev.) in shrublands on ultramafic substrates.

Phenology:— From herbarium specimens and pictures, flowers of A. spathulata can be seen in January and June. Fruits are known from May to November.

Specimens examined:— NEW CALEDONIA; South Province; Ile des Pins : Pic N'Ga, 26 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13487 (L.3735043!, P04236779!, US2316656 !) ; Pic N'Ga, Ile des Pins , 26 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13499 (L.3735052!, P04236780!, US2316658 !) ; Pic N'ga ( Ile des Pins ), 26 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13503 (L.3735042!, P04236781!, US2316659 !) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, 29 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13677 (P04236783!) ; Pic N'Ga, Ile des Pins , 29 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13681 (L.3735036!, P04236782!, US2316667 !) ; Pic Nga , 29 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13689 (P00156846!, US2316668!image) ; Ile des Pins , Pic N'Ga, 29 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13731 (P04236777!) ; Ile des Pins ( Kunié ), Pic Nga, elev. 150 m, 18 July 1965, Bernardi 10051 (L.2702448!, P04236796!) ; Ile des Pins , Germain s.n. (P00072149!, P00625016!) ; Ile des Pins : sommet du Pic N’Ga, 27 July 1980, Hoff 2467 ( NOU058264 !) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, 25 November 1977, Jaffré 2082 ( NOU058266 !, P04236769!, P05236823!) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, 25 November 1977, Jaffré 2084 ( NOU058267 !, P04236803!) ; Ile des Pins: Mt. Nga , elev. 100 m, 5 August 1956, MacKee 5027 (P04236778!) ; Ile des Pins: Mt. Nga , elev. 100 m, 05 August 1956, MacKee 5028 (P04226193!, L.2702444!) ; Ile des Pins: Pic Nga , elev. 150 m, 18 July 1965, MacKee 13101 (P04236795!, P04236799!) ; Ile des Pins: Plateau Méréque , elev. 50 m, 7 June 1966, MacKee 15060 (L.3729842!, P04236801!) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, elev. 50 m, 14 October 1966, MacKee 15823 (P04236800!) ; Pic N’Ga , 23 November 1977, Morat 5731 ( NOU058195 !, P04226212!) ; Pic N’Ga , 23 November 1977, Morat 5743 ( NOU058196 !, P04226211!, P04551308!) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, 9 June 1967, Schmid 2058 ( NOU058316 !, P04236798!) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, 9 June 1967, Schmid 2059 ( NOU058317 !, P04226206!) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, 9 June 1967, Schmid 2060 ( NOU058318 !, P04236797!) ; Ile des Pins : Pic Nga, 9 June 1967, Schmid 2061 ( NOU058265 !) ; Ile des Pins : plateau, 9 September 1975, Sévenet 1050 ( NOU058315 !) ; versants du Pic N’ga (île des Pins), elev. 50 m, 1 March 1943, Virot 1077 (P04236775!).

Figures

FIGURE 16. Alyxia spathulata with detail of an immature fruit (A), flowers (B), a fertile branch (C), and habit (D). Photographers:A, C & D: B. Henry, B: C. Laudereau.

FIGURE 18. Known distribution of Alyxia spathulata (dots) and Alyxia tisserantii (squares). Symbols with “T” represent type specimens. Grayed areas represent ultramafic substrates.