Neoschmidia calycina T.G. Hartley, 2003

Hartley, Thomas G., 2003, Neoschmidia, a new genus of Rutaceae from New Caledonia, Adansonia (3) 25 (1), pp. 7-12 : 10-12

2. Neoschmidia calycina T.G. Hartley , sp. nov.

Frutex 0.5-1.5 m alta; ramulis novellis glabris; foliis subtus fere glabris, supra glabris, obovatis vel oblanceolatis, 3.5-6.5 × 0.5-2 cm, apice obtusis vel rotundatis (et retusis), venis secondariis plerumque prominulis; inflorescentiis fere glabris usque puberulis, 1-vel paucifloris, 0.8- 1.5 cm longis, pedicellis 1.5-3 mm longis; sepalis abaxialiter glabris usque sparse puberulis, adaxialiter glabris, in 1/3-1/2 proximali connatis, parte libra late triangulari, 0.8-1.5 mm longa; petalis albis, abaxialiter dense appresse puberulis, adaxialiter glabris; ovariis ut folliculis glabris vel fere glabris.

TYPUS. — MacKee 20419, New Caledonia, haute Népoui, Oua Péoué, contrefort S du Kopéto , 600 m, 25 Mar. 1969, fl., fr. (holo-, P!).

Shrub 0.5-1.5 m high. Young branchlets glabrous. Leaves nearly glabrous below, glabrous above, obovate or oblanceolate, 3.5-6.5 × 0.5-2 cm, apex obtuse or rounded (and retuse), secondary veins usually prominulous. Inflorescences nearly glabrous to puberulent, 1- or few-flowered, 0.8- 1.5 cm long, pedicels 1.5-3 mm long. Sepals glabrous to sparsely puberulent abaxially, glabrous adaxially, connate in proximal 1/3-1/2, the free portion broadly triangular, 0.8-1.5 mm long; petals white, densely appressed-puberulent abaxially, glabrous adaxially; ovaries like the follicles glabrous or nearly so.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Neoschmidia calycina is known only from west-central New Caledonia; recorded from maquis between 400 and 800 m altitude on ultramafic terrains.

PARATYPES. — NEW CALEDONIA: Jaffré 2368, massif du Boulinda, 400 m, 23 Feb. 1978, fl., fr. ( NOU, P) ; MacKee 19568, Kopéto, Mt. Tiaoué , 600-800 m, 17 Sep. 1968, fl., fr. ( CANB) ; MacKee 22201, Kopéto, crête E du Mt. Vert , 700 m, 8 July 1970, fl., fr. ( P) .

Neoschmidia calycina differs from N. pallida mainly in its sepals, which are connate in their proximal 1/3-1/2 and have a free portion 0.8- 1.5 mm long. Also, it lacks the sericeous indumentum seen in N. pallida .