Syzygium neolaurifolium N. Snow & Byng, 2017

Snow, Neil, Byng, James W., Munzinger, Jérôme, Callmander, Martin W. & Dawson, John W., 2017, New Caledonian Piliocalyx transferred to Syzygium (Myrtaceae) with an updated conspectus of the species, Candollea 72 (2), pp. 239-248 : 245-246

Syzygium neolaurifolium N. Snow & Byng , nom. nov. ( Fig. 1f ).

Ξ Piliocalyx laurifolius Brongn. & Gris in Bull. Soc. Bot. France 12: 186. 1865 [non Syzygium laurifolium (DC.) N.P. Balakr. ].

Lectotypus (designated here): NEW CALEDONIA: sine loc., Deplanche 523 ( P [ P00522320 ]!) . Syntypi: NEW CALEDONIA : Kanala , Vieillard 525 ( P [ P00522318 , P00634228 , P00634229 ]!)

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Shrubs to trees 3- 15 m. Bark gray or brown, rough. Branchlets terete, greenish, sometimes becoming olive-green or with some shades of magenta. Petioles 7-17 mm. Leaf blades (5.5-) 8-15 × (3.5-) 4.5-7.8 cm, elliptic or broadly elliptic to ovate, base attenuate, margins mostly flat or slightly revolute, apex broadly acute to rounded. Inflorescences terminal, axillary or ramiflorous, 1-3 × 1-2 cm, cymose to paniculate. Hypanthium 2-3 mm, cupuliform, calyptrate, apically rounded but without an umbo. Fruits to c. 5 × 5 cm, globular, pink to reddish, the surface often somewhat rough.

Notes. ‒ The adaxial leaf surface is sometimes glossy. The outer wall of the fruit can be up to c. 3 mm thick.

The epithet neolaurifolium is chosen because it is already occupied by the Bandgladeshi species Syzygium laurifolium (DC.) N. Balakr.

Two numbers are mentioned in the protologue (Deplanche 523, Vieillard 525). Of these, Deplanche 523 is represented by four sheets at P, but given three different types of labels affixed to the various sheets it is probable that they represent more than one gathering. The specimen selected as the lectotype has a red “TYPE” label affixed by previous workers and in our view is representative of the species.

Additional specimens examined. ‒ NEW CALEDONIA. Prov. Nord: Haut Diahot, XII.1968, MacKee 19992 ( NOU [ NOU 073256 ]) ; Houaïlou , Ho, IX.1969, MacKee 20838 ( MO-6452978 ; NOU [ NOU 073234 ], P [ P00805953 ]) ; Canala , IX.1970, MacKee 22559 ( NOU [ NOU073233 ]) ; Ponerihouen , XI.1972, MacKee 25769 ( NOU [ NOU073421 ], P [ P00785987 , P05265268 ]) ; Hauteurs du Cap Bocage , XII.1978, MacKee 36252 ( NOU [ NOU073235 ], P [ P00872553 ]) ; Nakéty : Ouen Fémala , forêt de Thalweg , 29.IX.1989, MacKee 44650 ( P [ P05265211 ], NOU [ NOU073239 ]) ; along access roads to dam on Néaoua River S of Houailou , 8. V.1994, McPherson 6529 ( MO-3215239 ) ; Roches de la Ouaième , Panié , Wayem , 4.XI.2010, Munzinger et al. 6172 ( NOU [ NOU063349 ]) ; ibid. loc., 19.XI.2010, Munzinger et al. 6356 ( G, NOU [ NOU063537 ], P [ P00805950 ]) . Prov. Sud: Mt. Koghis, VI.1906, Gandoger s.n. ( MO-700704 ) ; amont de la Rivière Blanche , X.1980, Hoff 2691 ( NOU [ NOU073237 ]) ; plateau de la Montagne des Sources , 10. I.1965, MacKee 11946 ( NOU [ NOU 073230 ]) ; Plateau de Dogny , I.10.1966, MacKee 15716 ( NOU [ NOU 073232 ]) ; Vallée de Mamié , 7.X.1966, MacKee 15762 ( NOU [ NOU 073236 ], P [ P04633435 ]) ; Rivière Blanche , XI.1959, MacKee 37579 ( MO-541798 , carpo.; NOU [ NOU073231 ], P [ P00805944 , P00805945 , P04776438 ]) ; Route de la Yaté : Les Dalmates , 15.III.1989, MacKee 44266 ( NOU [ NOU073240 ], P [ P05265206 ]) ; Thy River valley, c. 12 air-km SE of Nouméa, 5. I.1980, McPherson 2299 ( MO- 3226026 , WELTU-14106) ; Forêt Cachée , 3.X.2004, Munzinger et al. 2416 ( NOU [ NOU006277 ]) .

Figures

Fig. 1. – Living Syzygium P. Browne ex Gaertn. A-B. Syzygium baudounii (Brongn. & Gris) N. Snow,Byng & J.W. Dawson; C. Syzygium francii (Guillaumin) N. Snow, Byng & Munzinger; D. Syzygium ignambiense (Baker f.) N. Snow & Byng; E. Syzygium neoeugenioides N. Snow & Byng; F. Syzygium neolaurifolium N. Snow & Byng.