Gossia clusioides (Brongn. & Gris) N. Snow subsp. ploumensis (Däniker) N. Snow, comb. et stat. nov.

(Figs 7; 9; 10D)

Differing from other subspecies by the relatively large, elliptic, and moderately to strongly bullate leaf blades.

Austrobaileya 8: 180 (2010). — Eugenia ploumensis Däniker, Beiblatt zur Vierteljahrsschriftder Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zürich, Beibl. 19, 78: 298 (1933). — Austromyrtus ploumensis (Däniker) Burret, Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 15: 504 (1941).

— Typus: New Caledonia. Grande Terre, South Prov ., Ploume, 9.II.1926, A.U. Däniker 2807 (holo-, Z [Z-000016108]; iso-, Z[Z-000016109]).

DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND PHENOLOGY. — Across much of Grande Terre (Fig. 7); in forests; c. 300- 600 m. Flowering August through March; fruiting confirmed from December through June.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — New Caledonia. Grande Terre, North Prov. Silva Peala, ad occidentem Pouebo, 500-600 m, 6.V.1968, Bernardi 12606 (P[P00402719]; Mount Mandjelia and slopes, 540 m, 20°24’19”S, 164°31’01”E, Craven 15027 et al. (CANB, n.v.; P[P02091556]) ; Forêt de Tende (Haute Diahot), exploitation forestière Frouin, 500-600 m, 12.XI.1967, MacKee 17534 (NOU [NOU029693], P[P02088630]) ; Forêt de Tende (Haute Diahot), 500-600 m, 17.IX.1967, MacKee 17550 (P[P02089850]) ; Haute Diahot: Exploitation Forestière, Frouin, Forêt Tendé, 31.III.1969, MacKee 20453 (NOU [NOU 05323]) ; Haut Diahot, Tendé, 600 m, 30. VI.1982, MacKee 40567 (MO[MO-6751044], NOU [NOU029690], P[P02089872]) ; Road leading up to Mt Mandjélia from Ouégoa, c. 650 m, 11.VIII.2003, Snow 9215 et al. (ASU, BISH, BRI, CANB, KSP [KSP016939], MO, NOU [NOU 00683], NY, P[P00459485], WELTU). — South Prov. Mt Mi (= Do Mt sentier Ouanémie [Hopkins & Bradford 2009: appendix 2]), 20.II.1869, Balansa 1490a (P[P00402725, P06669014]) ; Entre St Louis et Ounia, 15.I.1869, Balansa 1490bis (P[P00402726, P00402753, P00402754]; Piste du pont des Japonais, 166°42’40”E, 22°15’31”S, 4.II.2007, Munzinger 4119 et al. (MO n.v., NOU n.v., P[P05321122, P05321125, P05321126], WELTU).

REPRESENTATIVE HERBARIUM SPECIMEN. — P05321125.

REMARKS

This subspecies has large, elliptic and moderately to strongly bullate leaf blades. It occurs from the north to south near the coasts, but I am unable to discern consistent differences between the northern and southern populations. Previously annotated specimens of this subspecies may bear the manuscript names Gossia “grandibullata” or Gossia clusioides subsp./ var. “grandibullata”. Unvouchered photos (Fig. 10D) of a possible specimen of this subspecies taken by J.-L. Ruiz near the River de Pirogues showed honeybees (Apis sp.) pollinating the flowers.