Virotia azurea (Proteaceae: Macadamieae), a striking new species endemic to New Caledonia and notes on V. francii and V. leptophylla

Hopkins, Helen C.F.; Pillon, Yohan

Virotia azurea (Proteaceae: Macadamieae), a striking new species endemic to New Caledonia and notes on V. francii and V. leptophylla

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Hopkins, Helen C.F.

Pillon, Yohan

Date published

May 12, 2020

Abstract

Virotia azurea H.C. Hopkins & Pillon (Proteaceae), the seventh species in the endemic genus Virotia L.A.S. Johnson & B.G. Briggs from New Caledonia is described and illustrated. A distribution map and preliminary conservation assessment are provided. This new species occurs principally on non-ultramafic substrates in a restricted area of central Grande Terre. It has relatively long narrow leaves, often with distally undulate-sinuate or bluntly toothed margins and a pointed apex, plus blue flowers and laterally flattened, markedly beaked fruits containing seeds with blue to mauve cotyledons. Its characters are compared with those of other species of Virotia and a key to species is provided. A handful of specimens previously identified as Virotia francii (Guillaumin) P.H. Weston & A.R. Mast are determinated mostly as Virotia leptophylla (Guillaumin) L.A.S. Johnson & B.G. Briggs and other species; the former is now confined to ultramafic substrates in southern Grande Terre and the latter is more widespread, principally occurring on non-ultramafic substrates though occasionally found on ultramafic ones in the south of the island as well.