Phyllanthus chrysanthus var. deverdensis, M. Schmid

Verwijs, J. I. M., Bouman, R. W. & Welzen, P. C. van, 2019, A taxonomic revision of Phyllanthus subgenus Macraea (Phyllanthaceae), Blumea 64 (3), pp. 231-252 : 236

b. var. deverdensis M.Schmid

Phyllanthus chrysanthus Baill.var. deverdensis M. Schmid (1991) 53. — Type: HS MacKee 30021 (holo P ( P00066096 ); iso K, NOU, P ( P00066097 )), New Caledonia, Cap Deverd , Gomen.

Prostrate shrubs; branches subcylindrical, older branches ridg- ed, glabrous, younger branches without ridges, shortly puberulous; internodes 0.2‒1 mm long. Stipules c. 1.5 by 0.8 mm, margin entire. Leaves: petiole c. 0.2 mm long; blade elliptic or orbicular, 1.5‒3.5(‒5) by 1‒2 mm, 1‒2 times longer than wide, glabrous, green, base rounded, apex rounded or obtuse; lateral veins not visible. Staminate flowers solitary or 2 together, c. 2 mm diam; pedicel c. 1 mm long; sepals c. 1.2 by 0.8 mm, whitish or pale green, apex obtuse; disc glands c. 0.2 mm diam; stamens c. 0.8 mm long. Pistillate flowers c. 3 mm diam; pedicel 2‒2.5 mm long; sepals c. 1.5 by 0.6 mm, whitish or pale green, apex obtuse; disc and ovary not seen. Fruits not seen intact; pedicel 2‒2.5 mm long; columella c. 1 mm long. Seeds c. 1.2 mm high, c. 1 mm wide, verrucae circular, randomly placed or in indistinct longitudinal lines.

Distribution — New Caledonia (Kaala-Gomen, Cap Deverd).

Habitat & Ecology — Maquis shrubland and forests.Altitude: 20–30 m.

Note — No complete pistillate flowers or intact fruits were found in the six specimens studied.