Gossia clusioides subsp. avanguiensis N. Snow, 2020

Snow, Neil, 2020, A revision of New Caledonian Gossia N. Snow & Guymer (Myrtaceae), Adansonia 42 (7), pp. 131-177 : 146

Gossia clusioides subsp. avanguiensis N. Snow , subsp. nov. ( Figs 7 ; 11A )

Similar to Gossia clusioides subsp. bleuensis subsp.nov. but with leaf blades

4-7 × longer than wide (vs 2-3[-4] × longer in G. c. subsp. bleuensis subsp. nov.), more strongly bullate, and occurring near the west central coast at about 400 m (vs subsp. bleuensis subsp. nov. in the southeast). TYPUS. — New Caledonia. Grande Terre, North Prov. Poya : Avangui , 400 m, 3.VIII.1976, in low forest on rocky serpentine slope, MacKee 30824 (holo-, P [ P02089852 ]).

PARATYPUS. — New Caledonia. Grande Terre, North Prov. Poya:Avangui, 2.I.1976, MacKee 30629 (NOU[NOU029543], P[P02089853]).

REPRESENTATIVE HERBARIUM SPECIMEN. — P02089852. ETYOMOLOGY. — After Avangui, the type locality.

DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY AND PHENOLOGY. — Poya (Avangui) ( Fig. 7 ); in low forests over ultramafics, to 400 m. Flowering confirmed only for March; fruiting confirmed only for January.

REMARKS

MacKee sometimes returned to the same specimen to collect flowers and fruits at different times, and the two specimens cited likely are from the same tree (P. Lowry pers.comm. 2015). The unvouchered photo ( Fig. 11A ), which almost assuredly is this taxon, is said to be from Näräja, between Ponérihouen and Ouaté, but I have been unable to confirm that location. This subspecies, as presently known from vouchered collections, is a dense, multicaulous shrub of c. 1 meter. However, the non-vouchered digital images ( Fig. 11A ; see also http:// endemia.nc/flore/fiche6365) of a larger shrub appears to rep- resent this subspecies; its developing leaves remain stramineous to light maroon until they reach full size and become green.

Figures

FIG. 7. — Distribution map for subspecies of Gossia clusioides (Brongn. & Gris) N. Snow.

FIG. 11. — Living specimens of Gossia clusioides: A, G. c. subsp. avanguiensis N. Snow, subsp. nov. vel aff.; B, G. c. subsp. taomensis N. Snow, subsp. nov. Vouchers: A, ©Hervé Vandrot, taken at Naraja entre Ouaté et Ponérihoen (http://endemia.nc); B, Munzinger 3015; photo by J. Munzinger.