Trigonostemon cherrieri Veillon, 1992

Yu, R. - Y. & Welzen, P. C. van, 2020, A taxonomic revision of Trigonostemon (Euphorbiaceae) outside Malesia, Blumea 65 (1), pp. 25-52 : 30

6. Trigonostemon cherrieri Veillon — sect. Tylosepalum — Map 4

Trigonostemon cherrieri Veillon (1992) 55. — Type: Veillon 7385 (holo P, barcode P00057693 ;iso K, barcode K000959366 ,L, barcode L0016479 ,P, barcodes P00057694 , P00057695 , P00057696 ,MO*,barcode MO260396 , NOU*,barcodes NOU005872 , NOU005874 ), New Caledonia, Poya ,south of Mepouiri, not far from the coast.

Shrubs, 2–4 m tall; flowering branches 0.8–3.5 mm diam, pu- bescent when young, glabrous in old parts. Outer bark 0.1–0.2 mm thick, pale brown to grey; inner bark 0.1–0.2 mm thick, red- dish brown; wood pale yellowish. Stipules subulate, 0.15–0.3 mm long, caducous, often indistinct, pubescent at base. Leaves: petiole terete, grooved above, 0.5–2.2 cm long, 0.7–1.4 mm diam, sparsely pubescent or glabrous; blade elliptic, 3.5–11.5 by 1.8–4.9 cm, coriaceous, base acute to rounded, 2 adaxial glands present, margin entire, apex rounded, occasionally with a short notch, both surfaces glabrescent; venation pin- nate, midrib flat above and elevated beneath, base slightly pubescent beneath when young, secondary veins 4–8 pairs, curved and connected along margin, tertiary veins reticulate, often obscure. Inflorescences bisexual or unisexual, terminal or axillary or cauliflorous, fascicled cymes or racemose thyrses; axis terete, up to 5.5 cm long, 0.5–1.1 mm diam, slightly pubescent, 1–2 pistillate flowers at apex, staminate flowers below; bracts lanceolate, 0.5–2.4 by 0.15–0.5 mm, pubescent outside. Staminate flowers 4.2–5.3 mm diam; pedicel 3.8–7.4 mm long, 0.3–0.5 mm diam, slightly pubescent; sepals elliptic to lanceolate, 1.2–2.1 by 0.3–1.2 mm, base connate, margin entire, apex acute to rounded, pubescent outside; petals obovate, 2–3.2 by 1.3–1.7 mm, yellow, glabrous; disc lobes semi-orbicular, c. 0.2 by 0.4 mm diam, apex rounded; stamens 3, androphore c. 1.6 mm long, c. 0.15 mm diam, anthers ellip- soid, 0.5–0.7 mm long. Pistillate flowers (fruiting) c. 2.5 mm diam; pedicel 1.1–1.7 cm long, 0.7–0.8 mm diam, glabrescent; sepals lanceolate to elliptic, 1.5–2.5 by 0.7–1.5 mm, margin entire, apex rounded to acute to sometimes acuminate; petals elliptic, 4–4.3 by 0.7–1 mm, yellow; disc not seen; ovary c. 1.1 mm diam, glabrous, style 0.3–0.5 mm long, stigmas 0.6–1 mm long, apically shortly bifid, free arms 0.15–0.4 mm long. Fruits 0.95–1.2 cm diam, glabrous; pedicel 1.8–3.4 cm long, 1.7–2 mm diam; sepals persistent but not much accrescent; wall 0.5–0.6 mm thick, exocarp partly detaching; columella 6.5–8.7 mm long. Seeds 6–7.5 mm diam, reddish brown; hilum rhombic, 1–2 by 0.5–0.6 mm.

Distribution — New Caledonia (endemic).

Habitat & Ecology — Undergrowth, on black clay. Elevation: c. 10 m. Flowering and fruiting: June and December.

Note — The species is characterised by its relatively small (up to 11.5 by 4.9 cm), coriaceous, elliptic leaves and fascicled short inflorescences.

Figures

Map 4 Distribution of Trigonostemon cherrieri Veillon (■) and T. inopinatus Airy Shaw (▲).