Neoschmidia T.G. Hartley, 2003

Hartley, Thomas G., 2003, Neoschmidia, a new genus of Rutaceae from New Caledonia, Adansonia (3) 25 (1), pp. 7-12 : 7-8

Neoschmidia T.G. Hartley , gen. nov.

Frutices, trichomatibus simplicibus et compositis (2-5 brachiis radiantibus); foliis alternis, simplicibus, sessilibus vel subsessilibus, saepe confertis et ascendentibus, coriaceis, glanduloso-punctatis, pinnatinervibus, basi cuneatis usque attenuatis, in ramulis decurrentibus, margine integris, revolutis; inflorescentiis cymosis vel ad flores solitarios redactis, bracteatis, axillaribus, saepe inter folia occultis; floribus actinomorphis, bisexualibus, in alabastro pentagone ovoideis; sepalis 5, basi vel usque 1/2 longitudine connatis, in alabastro valvatis, in fructu persistentibus; petalis 5, distinctis, in alabastro anguste imbricatis vel valvatis, crassis et carnosis, 1-nervibus, carinatis, ovatoellipticis usque lanceolatis, 4-6 mm longis, apice adaxialiter aduncis, in fructu deciduis; staminibus 10, alternatim inaequalibus, staminibus antisepalis longitudine c. 4/5 perianthii partes aequantibus; filamentis distinctis vel basaliter connatis, subulatis, ciliatis, apicem versus saepe glanduloso-papillatis; antheras glabris, ellipsoideis, 0.6-0.8 mm longis, dorsifixis, versatilibus, introrsis, sine appendicibus basalibus, apice obtusis usque mucronulatis; disco intrastaminali, glabro, pulvinato; gynoecio 5-carpellato et 5-loculato, in disco partim incluso, ovariis basaliter connatis et lateraliter a stylo junctis, aliter distinctis, circa 1 mm longis, placentatione axiali, ovulis in quoque loculo 2, subcollateralibus, stylo glabro, cum stigmate 0.5-1.5 mm longo, stigmate capitato, inconspicue 5-lobato; fructu ex folliculis 1-5 constanti, carpellis abortivis, si ullis, persistentibus, folliculis basaliter connatis, ± asymmetrice ellipsoideis usque obovoideis, 4-6 mm longis, saepe rostro stylari brevi et/vel appendice calcariformi extra-stylari usque 1 mm longa praeditis; epicarpio sicco, subligneo, costato; endocarpio glabro, sub dehiscentia cum semine dimisso; seminibus solitariis (cum ovulo abortivo gemellis), reniformibus, 3-4 mm longis; testa tenui et fragili, granulosa, lustrata, atrobrunnea vel nigra, parte interior nigra, sclerenchymata, apertura chalazali basali, circulari; endospermio copioso; embryone recta, hypocotylo supero, cotyledonibus planis, complanatis, elliptico-oblongis, hypocotylo circa duplo latioribus.

TYPUS. — Neoschmidia pallida T.G. Hartley.

Shrubs, trichomes simple and compound (2- 5 arms radiating from base). Leaves alternate, simple, sessile or subsessile, often crowded and ascending, coriaceous, glandular-punctate, pinnately veined, base cuneate to attenuate, decurrent on branchlets, margin entire, revolute. Inflorescences cymose or reduced to solitary flowers, bracteate, axillary, often hidden among leaves. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, pentagonally ovoid in bud; sepals 5, connate at base or up to 1/2 their length, valvate in bud, persistent in fruit; petals 5, distinct, narrowly imbricate or valvate in bud, thick and fleshy, 1-nerved, keeled, ovateelliptic to lanceolate, 4-6 mm long, hooked adaxially at apex, deciduous in fruit; stamens 10, alternately unequal, the longer (antisepalous) ones about 4/5 as long as perianth; filaments distinct or basally connate, subulate, ciliate, often glandularpapillate toward apex; anthers glabrous, ellipsoid, 0.6-0.8 mm long, dorsifixed, versatile, introrse, without basal appendages, apex obtuse to mucronulate; disc intrastaminal, glabrous, pulvinate; gynoecium 5-carpelled and 5-loculed, partially embedded in disc, ovaries connate basally and joined laterally in the style, otherwise distinct, c. 1 mm long, placentation axile, ovules 2 per locule, subcollateral, style glabrous, including stigma 0.5-1.5 mm long, stigma capitate, inconspicuously 5-lobed. Fruit of 1-5 follicles, abortive carpels, if any, persistent, follicles basally connate, ± asymmetrically ellipsoid to obovoid, 4-6 mm long, often with short stylar beak and/or extra-sty- lar spur-like appendage up to 1 mm long; epicarp dry, subwoody, ribbed; endocarp glabrous, the ventral part thinly fleshy, tearing free and persistent on the seed as a transversely elliptic to broadly obovate piece of tissue, remainder of endocarp (the dorsilateral part) cartilaginous, discharged with the seed when fruit dehisces. Seeds solitary (paired with an abortive ovule), reniform, 3-4 mm long; testa thin and brittle, granulose, dark brown to black, lustrous, with inner layer of dense, black sclerenchyma (the sclerotesta), chalazal aperture (observable on the inner surface of testa) basal, circular; endosperm copious; embryo straight, hypocotyl superior, cotyledons plane, flattened, elliptic-oblong, about twice as wide as the hypocotyl.

ANOMALY. — In Neoschmidia pallida , occasional flowers are 4-merous (sepals, petals, carpels, and lobes of stigma each 4, stamens 8).

ETYMOLOGY. — The generic name commemorates Maurice SCHMID of IRD (ex ORSTOM), Nouméa, and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, authority on the New Caledonian flora and specialist in New Caledonian Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) .

Neoschmidia is characterized mainly by its alternate, simple leaves, axillary inflorescences, bisexual, 5-merous, diplostemonous flowers, nearly apocarpous ovary and fruit, paired ovules, dry, follicular fruit which at dehiscence discharges the endocarp with the seed, thin, brittle testa which has an inner layer of dense, black sclerenchyma, copious endosperm, and its embryo, which has flattened cotyledons that are considerably wider than the hypocotyl.