Syzygium viriosum Craven & J.W. Dawson in Blumea 55: 98. 2010

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 : 246-247

Syzygium viriosum Craven & J.W. Dawson in Blumea 55: 98. 2010 .

Ξ Piliocalyx robustus Brongn. & Gris in Bull. Soc. Bot. France 12: 185. 1865 [non Syzygium robustum Miq. ].

Lectotypus (designated here): NEW CALEDONIA : Prov. Nord : Balade , Vieillard 529 ( P [ P00522310 ]!; isolecto-: P [ P04633317 ]!) . Syntypi: Balade , 1855-60, Vieillard 529, 530 [label indicates both numbers] ( A [ A00071214 ] image seen, P [ P00522311 , P00522312 , P00522313 ]!) .

Trees to 6 m. Branchlets laterally compressed but expanded prominently below nodes, glabrous. Leaves sessile. Leaf blades 6-12 × 4-7 cm, elliptic to ovate, base cordate and clasping, margin flat to undulate and sometimes revolute, apex obtuse to rounded. Inflorescences terminal, 7-11 × 6-8 cm, many-branched, main axes flattened and swollen beneath branching points, violet. Flowers in bud c. 2-3 mm. Hypanthium c. 2.5-3 × 3-4 mm, campanulate, pinkish to white. Fruits 1.3-2 × 1.3-2 cm, globose, maturing white.

Notes. ‒ In addition to the sessile leaves, the broadly diverging secondary veins (80-85°) are a good diagnostic character of this species. Additional diagnostic traits include: calyptra c. 3-4 mm diameter, with pronounced umbo; stamens 1-3 mm, whitish; anther c. 0.2 mm; style 3-4 × c. 0.6 mm (relatively stout).

The protologue listed three syntypes: Vieillard 529, Vieillard 530 and Pancher s.n. collected in 1860. However, some specimens indicate both numbers of Vieillard (see below). The specimen selected as the lectotype previously was given a red “type” label by an unknown worker.

The species resembles Syzygium bullatum but differs by its flat (non-bullate) leaf texture, leaf bases that often are clasping and cordate, and laterally compressed branchlets that are swollen beneath the nodes (e.g., Barrabé et al. 855).

Additional specimens seen. ‒ NEW CALEDONIA. Prov. Nord: forêt au S de Canala , Balansa 2105 ( P [ P04633319 ]) ; Réserve de l’Aoupinié, route de l’antenne , 15.I.2009, Barrabé 855 ( NOU [ NOU033956 ], P [ P06669074 ], WELTU) ; upper Tchamba River Valley, Poindei forest, along road to Wao Uni , 21°00’25’’S 165°14’27’’E, 500 m, 27.IV.2002, Lowry et al. 5683 ( NOU [ NOU013330 ], MO-04771356 , P [ P04682341 ]) ; crête entre haute Tchamba et haute Amoa , 600 m, MacKee 13696 ( P [ P04633429 , P05265306 ]) ; ibid. loc., MacKee 15663 ( P [ P04633436 ]) ; Pouébo , crête entre Mandjélia et Salandane , 600 m, 26.II.1970, MacKee 21631 ( NOU [ NOU031496 ]; P [ P04633439 ]) ; contrefort NW du Mt. Canala , 700- 800 m, MacKee 24015 ( P [ P04633444 ]) ; Pouébo , Mt Mandjélia , 650 m, 17.II.1977, MacKee 32834 ( P [ P05265222 ]) ; Ponerihouen , Mt Aoupinié, 1000 m, 30.V.1978, MacKee 35208 ( NOU [ NOU013119 ], P [ P05265219 ]) ; Haute Diahot , 600 m, 12.V.1983, MacKee 41465 ( P [ P05265204 ]) ; Aoupinié , 900-1000 m, Morat 7975 ( NOU [ NOU031491 ], P [ P04776436 ]) ; Balade , 1860, Pancher 759 ( K [ K000800629 ], P [ P00522314 ]) ; Aoupinié , 2.IX.1981, Suprin 1347 ( NOU [ NOU073271 , NOU031497 ]) ; Balade , Vieillard s.n. ( P [ P04633318 ]) ; Prov. Sud: Farino , Forêt Mépéou , 13.VII.1965, MacKee 13003 ( G, MO-5813368 , L [ L.4158636 ], NOU [ NOU013792 ], P [ P05265300 , P06603440 ]) .