Novitates neocaledonicae XII: Two additional new species of Cryptocarya R.Br. from New Caledonia

Two endemic species of Cryptocarya R.Br. are described from New Caledonia. Cryptocarya conduplicata Munzinger & McPherson, sp. nov. was previously confused with C. aristata Kosterm., which it resembles in its typically numerous lenticels and oblate fruit, but from which it differs most noticeably in its leaf blades partly folded longitudinally (vs blades flat), and its smaller fruits (13-15 mm long vs 20-30 mm long). Cryptocarya ovoidea Munzinger & McPherson, sp. nov. can be distinguished most easily from C. pluricostata, its sister species according to molecular data, by its indument (hairs sparse, whitish, cream-grey to blackish, quickly falling vs. hairs dense, ferrugineous sublanate and subpersistent in C. pluricostata). As well, the fruit of C. ovoidea, sp. nov. is ovoid and its perianth is caducous, in contrast to the fruit of C pluricostata, which is ellipsoid and retains its perianth. The two new species are trees occurring in dense humid forest, and are restricted to non-ultramafic substrate. Cryptocarya conduplicata sp. nov. is common, known from three protected areas, and is assigned a preliminarily Least Concern IUCN status, while C. ovoidea sp. nov. is only known from two individuals on Mont Aoupinie, a protected area, where many inventory plots were established without finding any individuals; thus, we assign it a preliminary status of Critically Endangered (CR).

Automated summary

Two new endemic tree species of Cryptocarya R.Br., Cryptocarya conduplicata and Cryptocarya ovoidea, have been discovered in New Caledonia. They have distinct leaf and fruit characteristics, and are found in dense humid forests with limited distribution.