| Description: |
Gossia kaalaensis N. Snow, sp. nov. (Figs 13J-K; 17) Petioles narrowly and deeply sulcate, but broadening distally. Leaves narrowly ovate to ovate, margin somewhat undulate, secondary and tertiary veins of both surfaces prominently raised. Sepals densely short-sericeous below. TYPUS. — New Caledonia. Grande Terre, North Prov., Slopes of Mt Kaala, above village, 20°37’39.00”S, 164°23’12.12”S, c. 550 m, 7.X.1982, G. McPherson 4973 (holo-, P [P00758090]; iso-, BISH [fragment]; MO[MO-3211396]; NOU [NOU030910]). PARATYPI. — New Caledonia. North Prov. Mont Kaala, 4.IV.1968, Bernardi 12528 (BISH [fragment], L, P [P00462920], US, Z); Voh. Massif Katépaï, au bord d’une ancienne piste, 20°55’49.72”S, 164°42’02.92”E, c. 470 m, 19.IX.2016, Munzinger 7853 (leg. Scoptera) (MPU [640685], P [P02090976]). — South Prov. Kongouaou (= Koungouhaou), 650 m, 2.V.1976, Jaffré 1725 (NOU [NOU029644]); Contrefort NW Mt. Taom, 10.V.1979, MacKee 36887 (NOU [NOU029643], P [P02089830]); Crête du Oua-Tilou, 20°50’08.99”S, 164°51’27.00”E, 850 m, 18.V.1983, Morat 7398 (NOU [NOU029645], P [P00462921]); Montagnes de Balade, Vieillard 484 (left branchlet on mixed collection; P [P00463007, P00602546]); Oua Tendé près Gatope, Vieillard 2610 (K [K001000439], P [P00462922, P00462923, P00462924]); circ. Kaala-Gomen; S slopes of Mt. Kaala, c. 500 m, 11.VIII.1968, Webster & Hildreth 14719 (DAV, GH, NSW, P [P00462928]). REPRESENTATIVE HERBARIUM SPECIMEN. — P00758090. ETYMOLOGY. — After the type locality. DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND PHENOLOGY. — Grande Terre from the northwest, where it is most common, sporadically south to Koungouhaou (Fig. 17); in maquis and scrub that grades into lowstature but dense forests, over ultramafics or graywackes, 470- 850 m. Flowering April through July; fruiting May through October. DESCRIPTION Shrubs 0.7- 2 m. Bark Marbled with light and dark gray. Branchlets Terete to laterally compressed; internodes> 5 mm. Leaves Coriaceous, 2 per node; petioles 3-5 mm, deeply sulcate; blades (4.5-)8.0-9.5 × 1.8-3.4 cm, narrowly ... |