Alyxia celastrinea (Baill.) Guillaumin (1941:365)

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 : 7-8

Alyxia celastrinea (Baill.) Guillaumin (1941:365) .

Gynopogon celastrineus Baillon (1889: 782) .

Lectotype (first step by Boiteau (1981:140), second step by Middleton (2002: 66)):— NEW CALEDONIA, Cours supérieur de la Tamoa, April 1870, Balansa 2825: P [ P00072125 !]; isolectotype: P [ P00072126 !] ( Fig. 2 )

= Alyxia myrtoides Schlechter (1906: 237) . Lectotype (designated by Middleton (2002: 66)):— NEW CALEDONIA, auf den Hügeln am Ngoye, elev. 50 m, 29 November 1902, Schlechter 15133: P [P00156843!]; isolectotype: BM [BM000508518!], BR[BR0000006956400!], G [G00169232!], K [K000894166!], HBG [HBG514665]

= Alyxia doratophylla Guillaumin (1957: 78) . Lectotype (designated by Middleton (2002: 67)):— NEW CALEDONIA, Flanc Est des Monts Kouvelée, elev. 580 m, 30 March 1951, Hürlimann 1129: P [P00072128!]; isolectotype: Z [Z-000000951!].

Notes:— Boiteau (1981) put Alyxia celastrinea (including the names A. doratophylla and A. myrtoides as its synonyms) along with Alyxia stellata in the series Reinwardtiae , which was characterised by 7–10 ×> 10 mm fleshy fruit articles, and peduncles 5–7 mm long. Within this series, both species were differentiated by flower length and calyx lobe shape. Later, Middleton (2002) considered Alyxia celastrinea , as a synonym of A. tisserantii (from Grande Terre and surrounding islands like Isle of Pines, and Belep islands), while A. stellata was restricted, in New Caledonia, to the Loyalty Islands. He also extensively discussed variations in shape and habit among Alyxia stellata in the Pacific and recognized that his conclusion of accepting a broadspecies concept was unsatisfactory and should be clarified by further studies. He noted that leaf shape and size were unreliable as a character, nor was flower size, considering an evolution from the western part of the Pacific ocean, with corolla tubes about 2 mm in length, to the eastern part with corolla tubes about 1 cm in length.

In our work to re-circumscribe A. tisserantii presented below, we narrowed its definition to specimens with small, rounded fruit articles (ca. 4 mm in diameter), and consequently excluded those corresponding to Boiteau’s (1981) Reinwardtiae series (fruit articles more than 7 mm in diameter). We then followed Boiteau’s (1981) hypothesis and compared these specimens both with A. tisserantii as newly circumscribed, and A. stellata sensu Middleton (2002) . To test this, we made measurements on several specimens divided into four groups: A. stellata sensu Middleton (i.e. Loyalty islands), A. celastrinea sensu Boiteau on ultramafic soils and on non-ultramafic soils, and A. tisserantii as here defined. The results ( Table 1) conclusively show that A. tisserantii is different from the three other groups. However, there were no clear differences between these three groups based on the characters considered discriminant by previous authors. We thus concluded that A. celastrinea along with its synonyms ( Boiteau 1981), considered by Middleton (2002) as a synonym of A. tisserantii , should more accurately be considered as close, if not synonym, to A. stellata , as Boiteau (1981) first hypothetised.

However, a deep study on A. stellata in all the Pacific islands is badly needed, in order to clarify every putative taxon contained in it, and is beyond the scope of the present one. Consequently, in the absence of such a study, and without the help of further genetic studies, we prefer not to attempt to make divisions in this group, nor to add further names as synonyms. We thus chose a conservative conclusion, and consider both A. stellata and A. celastrinea as valid species, the former being restricted to Loyalty Islands and coral islets on calcareous substrates, and the latter present on mainland Grande Terre, the Isle of Pines and some of the northern islands, on both ultramafic and non ultramafic substrates.

Specimens examined:— NEW CALEDONIA; North Province; Povila , 29 January 2000, Achille 641 (L.3718457!) ; Hienghène , June 1871, Balansa 3288 (P04225805!) ; Nakety , October 1869, Balansa 2436 (P04260847!) ; Inter Ouegoa et Col d'Amos , elev. 150 m, 18 August 1965, Bernardi 10336 (L.2702421!, P04259038!) ; s.l., Deplanche 287 (P04226215!, P04226218!); Yadek, Lindéralique, Hienghène , elev. 22 m, 20°40'45"S, 164°57'46"E, 21 February 2018, Fleurot 426 ( NOU088621 !, NOU105051 !, P00932025!) ; s.l., 1874, Germain s.n. (P04236840!); Koniambo , 21 December 1950, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 9503 (L.3735049!, P04236861!) ; Koniambo , 21 December 1950, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 9529 (L.3718460!, P00072197!) ; Rivière Voh , 12 April 1951, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 12142 (L.3729968!, P00156844!) ; Plaine des Gaiacs , 26March1978, Jaffré 2406 ( NOU058186 , P04226244!) ; Route Tiwaka—Koné Bopope , 1 April 1988, Jaffré 2969 ( NOU058300 !, P04225719!) ; s.l., Le Rat 507 (P04225712!); s.l., Le Rat 712 (P04260862!); s.l., Le Rat 1108/2 (P04225713!); Nakéty: Saint Pol , elev. 20 m, 4 December 1965, MacKee 13967 (L.2702432!, L.2702474!, P04226190!, P04551236!) ; Pente SE du Mt Koniambo, elev. 350 m, 23 August 1966, MacKee 15500 (L.2699508!, NOU058161 !, P04226200!) ; Plateau de Tiéa , elev. 100 m, 16 September 1968, MacKee 19532 (L.2702469!, L.2702470!, NOU058214 !, P04226192!, P05236764!) ; Balabio , elev. 10 m, 17 September 1974, MacKee 29327 (L.2699559!, NOU058298 !, P04225584!) ; Touho: Pouiou , elev. 150 m, 13 September 1978, MacKee 35685 (L.2702451!, NOU057973 !, P04236856!, P04551203!) ; NW of Canala , elev. 250 m, 4 February 1983, McPherson 5489 ( NOU058173 !, MO421148, P04236853!) ; route Tiwaka-Koné: Bopope , 9 February 1977, Morat 5316 (L.2699510!, P04225574!) ; s.l., Pancher 958 ( BM000508400 !) ; s.l., Pancher s.n. (P04225720!); s.l., Pancher s.n. (P04220362!); s.l., Pancher 273 (P04225768!); Ignambi , 1911, Sarasin 208 (P04236806!) ; s.l., 1 November 1955, Schmid s.n. (P04259014!); Près de Vieux-Touho , 7 November 1975, Sévenet & Boiteau 1134 ( NOU058301 !, P04236864!, P04236865!, P04236866!) ; Route de Bondé—Ouégoa , 26 November 1967, Sévenet 45S (P04551184!) ; Boulinda-Gebiet , 10 March 1964, Stauffer, Blanchon & Boulet s.n. (L.2699511!, WAG.1475247!, WAG.1475197!) ; sin loc., 1847, Védel s.n. (P04225778!); Ile Pott: plateau Sud , 27 August 1978, Veillon 3736 (L.2702433!, NOU058333 !, NOU058334 !, P04260791!, P05236803!) ; Népoui , presqu'île de Pindaï, elev. 100 m, 18 November 1987, Veillon 6575 (P04220401!) ; Népoui , presqu’île de Pindaï, 29 April 1993, Veillon 7627 (P04220395!) ; Ouegoa: piste Arama-Ouegoa , 24 April 1997, Veillon 7963 ( NOU058154 !) ; Poya : presqu’île de Muéo, elev. 30 m, 29 October 1997, Veillon 8057 (L.2699536!, NOU058290 !, NOU058291 !, P04220393!) ; Gatope , 1861, Vieillard 2958 (P04236828!, P04236837!) ; s.l., 1855, Vieillard 949 (P04236818!, P04236820!, P04236821!, P04236822!, P04236823!, P04236825!); Wagap , 1861, Vieillard 954 (P04236848!, P04236849!) ; s.l., Vieillard & Pancher 958 (P04220363!); Gatope , 1861, Vieillard 958 ( K000894168 !, P04225724!) ; s.l., 1855, Vieillard 958a (P04220360!); South Province; La Conception, elev. 700 m, 24 January 1869, Balansa 1401 (P04226219!, P04226222!) ; Au-dessus de la Ferme-Modèle, 1 October 1868, Balansa 213 (P04225810!, P04226234!); Baie du Prony, September 1868, Balansa 218 (P04260849!); Au-dessus de la Ferme-Modèle, September 1868, Balansa 219 (P04226233!); Environs de Nouméa , September 1868, Balansa 219a (P04226236!) ; Au-dessus de la Ferme-Modèle, October 1868, Balansa 220 (P00072130!, P04236788!, P04236789!); Mont d’Or , 17 May 1869, Balansa 2433 (P04226221!, P04226224!) ; Cours supérieur de la Tamoa, April 1870, Balansa 2825 (P00072125!, P00072126!) ; Environs de Nouméa , 1871, Balansa 3015 (P04226225!) ; Nouméa , 1868, Balansa 1400 (P04226220!) ; s.l., 1868, Balansa s.n. (P04226223!); Mont Mou , elev. 300 m, 10 September 1950, Baumann-Bodenheim 5872 (L.3729958!, P04225786!, US2316461 !) ; Mont Mou , 2 February 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 10094 (P04225791!) ; Ile des Pins: Pic Nga , 29 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13676 (P04226238!) ; Pic Nga ( Ile des Pins ), 30 May 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 13818 (P04226239!, US2316671 !) ; Ermitage , 4 July 1951, Baumann-Bodenheim 14496 (L.3735035!, P04260800!, US2316709 !) ; Route du Carénage, elev. 164 m, 10 November 1964, Blanchon 1077 ( NOU058311 !, P04225776!) ; Ouen-Toro, vallée au Sud-Ouest , elev. 50 m, 1960, Blanchon 1123 (P04225779!) ; Nouméa: Ouen Toro , elev. 78 m, 22°18'25''S, 166°27'21''E, 11 August 2015, Chambrey 135 ( NOU081168 !) ; Prony , Cribs 1385 (P04260855!) ; Prony, Cribs 1602 (P04225765!, P04260851!, P04226227!) ; Mont Dore , 26 March 1974, Debray 2203 (P04226214!) ; Port Boisé , Deplanche 285 (P04226217!) ; Prony , 20 November 1914, Franc 1857 (P04260856!) ; Nouméa, Franc 1968 ( US1597539 !) ; Nouméa , 1August 1928, Franc 1988 (P04226208!) ; Rivière des Lacs , 8 October 1950, Guillaumin 1152 (P04225733!) ; Mont Mou , 15 October 1950, Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 6885 (L.3729967!, NY345464 !, P00156845!, US2316483 !) ; Mont Mou , Guillaumin & Baumann-Bodenheim 6943 (L.3735065!, US2316487 !, P04226191!) ; Plaine des Lacs , Guillaumin, Baumann-Bodenheim & Hürlimann 10739 (L.3729959!) ; Nouméa: Ouen Toro , 29 January 1979, Hoff 23 ( NOU058349 !, NOU058155 ) ; Mt Natégou , elev. 250 m, 29 January 1951, Hürlimann 778 (P04225722!) ; secteur du Mont Dore, 4 January 1978, Jaffré 1208 (P04236767!); Ile des Pins , 3 August 1975, Jaffré 1377 ( NOU058190 !, P04226172!) ; Ouen-Toro , 5 July 1977, Jaffré 1872 ( NOU058356 !, P04226170!) ; Ile des Pins: Pic Nga , 25 November 1977, Jaffré 2075 ( NOU058160 !) ; Plaine des Lacs , 20 January 1978, Jaffré 2226 (L.2702450!, NOU058327 !, P04226168!) ; Pic du Pin, elev. 500 m, 1 February 1978, Jaffré 2303 ( NOU058326 !, P04226246!, P05236772!) ; Prony , zone maritime, Le Rat 128 (P04225769!, P04226186!) ; Prony , 1 September 1908, Le Rat 202 (P04226187!, P04260865!) ; Pointe de l’artillerie, Nouméa , 1 September 1902, Le Rat 257 (P04225710!) ; Au pied Ouen Toro , elev. 50 m, 26 February 1955, MacKee 2161 (L.2702435!, P04226197!, US2187245 !) ; Nouméa: rivière Yahoué , elev. 200 m, 27 February 1955, MacKee 2172 (L.2699531!, P04225704!, US2192547 !) ; Pente Ouen Toro , elev. 50 m, 30 September 1955, MacKee 3140 (L.2702447!, P04226198!, US2210092 !) ; Plage de Plum , 14 January 1956, MacKee 3775 (P04236846!) ; Vallée Dumbéa , elev. 200 m, 24 March 1956, MacKee 4148 (L.2699526, P04226195!) ; Nouméa: Parc forestier Montravel , elev. 50 m, 23April 1965, MacKee 12473 (L.2699516!, NOU058344 !, P04226199!) ; Nouméa: Parc forestier Montravel , elev. 50 m, 23 April 1965, MacKee 12474 (P04226196!) ; Ile des Pins : Pente Ouest du Pic Nga, elev. 100 m, 18 December 1965, MacKee 14070 (P04226194!) ; Nouméa : Base SW Ouen Toro, elev. 50 m, 29 December 1971, MacKee 24770 (L.2702475!, NOU053368 !, P04260840!, P05236776!) ; Nouméa : Base SW Ouen Toro, elev. 50 m, 29 December 1971, MacKee 24771 (L.2699532!, L.3735064!, P04260842!, P04260843!, P05236774!) ; Nouméa : Base SW Ouen Toro, elev. 50 m, 29 December 1971, MacKee 24772 (P04260845!, P05236763!) ; Nouméa: Baie Tina , elev. 10 m, 1 November 1972, MacKee 25720 ( NOU058248 !, P04226232!, P04551206!) ; Nouméa: Baie Tina , elev. 10 m, 24 July 1973, MacKee 26963 (L.2702457!, NOU058250 !, P04226230!, P05236771!) ; Crête au Sud de la Baie de Ouinné, elev. 400 m, 10 November 1973, MacKee 27752 (P04225591!) ; Nouméa: Ouen Toro , elev. 50 m, 15 February 1975, MacKee 29753 ( CANB 722300.1 , L.2699518!, NOU058357 !, P04225582!, P05236778!) ; Prony, Rivière Bleue , elev. 200 m, 23 March 1976, MacKee 30893 ( NOU058329 !, P04226235!, P04226237!) ; Baie de la Conception, 5 August 1977, MacKee 33554 (L.2702453!, NOU058260 !, P04226226!) ; Ile des Pins: Ouro , 8 September 1977, MacKee 33832 (L.2699550!, NOU058194 !, P04260859!) ; Ile Nou: Mt.Téréka , elev. 100 m, 26 January 1983, MacKee 41197 ( BISH745441 , L.2702456!, NOU058277 !, P04260792!, P04551237!) ; Koutio: Pic aux Chèvres , elev. 200 m, 25 April 1991, MacKee 45475 (L.2699523!, P04226228!, P05236777!) ; Along road from Dumbéa to Mt. Dzumac , 17 June 1981, McPherson 3835 ( NOU058185 !, P04236812!) ; Pic N'Ga , 23 November 1977, Morat 5744 ( NOU058193 !, P04236852!) ; Col de Mo , 22 August 2004, Munzinger & Létocart 2332 (P04551210!) ; Ilôt Nouré , elev. 5 m, 8 April 2005, Munzinger 2762 ( NOU006252 !) ; Réserve du Pic Du Grand Kaori , 22°17'36"S, 166°53'45"E, 30 August 2007, Munzinger, Barrabé, Rigault & Kurpisz 4484 ( NOU029169 !) ; Ile des Pins , Pancher 576 (P04236813!, P04236824!) ; Ile des Pins , 1862, Pancher s.n. (P04226188!, P04236814!) ; Bois de Saint-Louis , 1880, Pompéry s.n. (P04236826!) ; Bourail , 1881, Pompéry s.n. (P04220390!) ; Auf den Hügeln am Ngoye , elev. 50 m, 29 November 1902, Schlechter 15133 ( BM000508518 !, K000894166 !, P00156843!) ; Ngoye , elev. 50 m, Schlechter s.n. (G-G-153313/1!, HBG514665 !) ; Mont Dzumac , elev. 600 m, 12 July 1966, Schmid 1335 ( NOU058259 !) ; Haute Tontouta , elev. 600 m, 17 December 1970, Schmid 3669 (P04236839!, P04551234!) ; Ouen Toro pente Est , 1 April 1975, Schmid 5287 ( NOU058353 !, P04236816!) ; Ouen Toro , 29 November 1984, Schmid 5442 ( NOU058352 !) ; Ouroué ( Nakéty ), 30 August 1975, Sévenet 1036 ( NOU058168 !) ; Ouen-Toro , 20 May 1976, Sévenet 1168 ( NOU058348 !, P04236809!) ; Ouen-Toro , 28 July 1976, Sévenet 1207 (P04236811!) ; Plaine des lacs, 10 May 1977, Sévenet & Pusset 1249 ( NOU057997 !, P05236804!) ; Port-Boisé , 16 June 1977, Sévenet & Pusset 1264 ( NOU058022 !, NOU058166 !, NOU058167 !, P04551333!) ; Col de Plum , 10 April 1968, Sévenet 181S (P04551183!) ; Rivière des Pirogues , 4 November 1974, Sévenet 760 (P04236854!) ; Ouen Toro , elev. 100 m, 27 February 1964, Stauffer 5719 ( BISH130274 , L.2702445!, L.2702446!, NOU058358 !, P04236815!, P04236817!, WAG.1475194, WAG.1475195) ; Secteur de N'Go , 17 July 1980, Suprin 584 ( NOU058165 !) ; Bourail, Nessadiou , elev. 424 m, 21°36'53"S, 165°31'22"E, 3 September 2016, Vandrot 1164 ( NOU084989 !) ; Haute Vallée du Creek Pernod, Forêt Cachée , elev. 200 m, 9 March 1967, Veillon 1101 ( NOU058331 !, P04226231!) ; Ouen-Toro , elev. 100 m, 24 March 1967, Veillon 1122 ( NOU058351 !) ; Ouen-Toro , elev. 100 m, 24 March 1967, Veillon 1123 ( NOU058355 !, P04220402!) ; Baie de Tina (Nouméa) , 1 November 1987, Veillon 6641 ( NOU058332 !, P04220398!) ; Nouméa: Ouen Toro 100 m, elev. 100 m, 9 May 1988, Veillon 6797 ( NOU058354 !, P04220399!) ; Dumbea: Nakutakoin , elev. 200 m, 5 April 1992, Veillon 7480 ( NOU058164 !) ; Mont Dore , 1855, Vieillard 2 (P04236819!) ; Port de France , 1855, Vieillard 958 (P04260863!, P04260864!, P04220365!) ; Port de France , 1855, Vieillard 960 (P04236834!, P04236836!, P04236838!) ; Pic N’Ga ( Ile des Pins ), elev. 50 m, 1 March 1943, Virot 1066 (P04236842!) ; Ouen Toro , 23 July 1943, Virot 1132 (L.2699515!, P04220373!) ; Port Despointes ( Nouméa ), elev. 40 m, 25 July 1943, Virot 1177 (P04220372!, P04220374!, P04220375!) ; Sentier du Dzumac, elev. 400 m, 8 August 1943, Virot 1206 (P04220370!, P04220371!); Port Despointes , 28 August 1944, Virot 1418 (L.2702460!, P04236841!, P04236844!, P05236773!) ; Ouen Toro , 1 November 1941, Virot 548 (P04220380!) ; Ouen Toro , elev. 50 m, 1 August 1968, Webster & Hildreth 14459 (P04226243!) ; circa Yaté , elev. 300 m, 2 August 1968, Webster & Hildreth 14475 (P04226189!) ; Nouméa , 1 October 1923, White 2139 (P04226241!) ; Nouméa , 1 October 1923, White 2141 (P04226242!) ; Nouméa , 19 October 1923, White 2150 (P04226240!)

Figures

FIGURE 2. Known distribution of Alyxia caletioides (dots) and Alyxia celastrinea (square). Symbols with “T” represent type specimens. Grayed areas represent ultramafic substrates.