Syzygium francii (Guillaumin) N. Snow, Byng & Munzinger, 2017

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 : 243

Syzygium francii (Guillaumin) N. Snow, Byng & Munzinger , comb. nov. ( Fig. 1C ).

Ξ Piliocalyx francii Guillaumin in Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Paris ser. 2, 10: 625-626. 1939.

Typus: NEW CALEDONIA. Prov. Sud : bords de la Tontouta , Franc 2427 (holo-: P , not found).

Shrubs or trees, 3- 16 m. Bark unknown. Branchlets terete, greenish. Petioles 1-8 mm. Leaf blades 4-8 × 2-3.5 cm, obovate to narrowly elliptic, base long-attenuate, margin flat (yellowish green and matching color of midvein), apex rounded to acute. Inflorescences mostly axillary, 1.6-4 × 1.2-2 cm. Hypanthium c. 1.5-2 mm, cupulilform, color unknown. Fruits 1.5-2.5 × 1.5-3.0 cm, subglobular to globular, green maturing to pale red.

Notes. ‒ The type specimen at P of Piliocalyx francii sent on loan 90/100 to WELTU (prior to barcoding) was photocopied and is in the working notes of JWD, but the specimen remains missing despite our attempts to relocate it. It was marked “type” with a type label evidently written in Guillaumin’s hand. Given that the information (locality, collector, number, year) on the specimen label matches exactly the same information in the protologue ( GUILLAUMIN, 1939: 625-626), and because no other specimens with that number were found at P, we do not hesitate to refer to that specimen as a holotype.

One atypical specimen, tentatively placed here, has some obovate leaves with a retuse apex (Veillon 2888).

Additional specimens examined. ‒ NEW CALEDONIA. Prov. Sud: Réserve de Nodéla , 29.I.2008, Dagostini & Barrabé 1557bis ( NOU [ NOU048988 ]) ; Plateau de Dogny , 29.X.1959, Thorne 28318 ( P [ P06603483 ]) ; Farino, parc des Grandes Fougères , 7.IV.2009, Dagostini (leg. Apiazari & Nigote) 1671 ( NOU [ NOU050105 ]) ; col d’Amieu ( versant de Canala ), 24.VIII.1965, MacKee 13338 ( MO-6452864 , P [ P01032003 , P05265288 , P01032004 ]) ; Farino , forêt de Mépéo , 22.II,1966, MacKee 14424 ( NOU [ NOU013819 ], P [ P05265277 , P01029350 , P01048166 ]) ; Ouroué ( Embouchure de la Dothio ), 8.VIII.1966, MacKee 15481 ( P [ P04633431 ]) ; vallée de la Dumbéa , XII.1979, MacKee 37663 ( NOU [ NOU013803 ], P [ P00805946 , P00805947 ]) ; Thy River valley , c. 12 air-km NE of Nouméa, 1.XII.1979, McPherson 2176 ( NOU [ NOU013817 ]; P [ P04807648 ]) ; along Tontouta River and its tributary , the Kalouéhola , 20.X.1981, McPherson 4230 ([ NOU013815 ], P [ P01060994 , P01060995 ]) ; valley of the Dothio River , 5.XI.1981, McPherson 4316 ( NOU [ NOU013814 ]) ; Ninga , 21°45’22”S, 166°8’57”E, 10.XII.2008, Munzinger et al. 5600 ( MO-6153881 , NOU [ NOU049622 ], NSW, P [ P06669056 ]) ; col d’Amieu , forêt de Pumbaï , 5.XI.1980, Suprin 836 ( P [ P04884376 ]) ; Berge de la Kalouehola , V.1973, Veillon 2888 ( NOU [ NOU013812 ]) ; W slopes near summit of Mt Dzumac , 7.VIII.1968, Webster 14628 & Hildreth ( P [ P04884374 ]) .

Figures

Fig. 1. – Living Syzygium P. Browne ex Gaertn. A-B. Syzygium baudounii (Brongn. & Gris) N. Snow,Byng & J.W. Dawson; C. Syzygium francii (Guillaumin) N. Snow, Byng & Munzinger; D. Syzygium ignambiense (Baker f.) N. Snow & Byng; E. Syzygium neoeugenioides N. Snow & Byng; F. Syzygium neolaurifolium N. Snow & Byng.