Myrsine andersonii Fosberg & Sachet

Myrsine andersonii Fosberg & Sachet

Arbuscula glabra foliis laminis oblongo-obovatis subcoriaceis sparse nigro-punctatis supra papillatis vix venosis, apicibus rotundis basibus subcordatis, petiolis 4 mm longis 1.5 mm latisque vix alatis; floribus masculis subsessilibus, calycibus acetabuliformibus lobis triangularibus, corollis valde lobatis marginibus dense glandulo-ciliolatis, antheris et lobis calycis corollaeque valde nigro-notatis.

Shrub to 2 m, branchlets glabrous, about 4 mm thick; leaves oblong-obovate, to 9.5 × 4.5 cm, blades subcoriaceous or thinly coriaceous, rounded at apex, subcordate at base, venation not prominent 12–16 main veins on a side, some lesser ones between them, anastomosing into a rather irregular submarginal vein, network rather obscure, both surfaces sparsely black punctate, upper surface sparsely papillate, both surfaces also very finely black marked (possibly due to fungus infection), petiole 4 mm long, 1.5 mm thick, very slightly winged by very narrowly decurrent blade tissue; staminate flowers whitish, subsessile in 3–7 flowered fascicles, flowers subtended by broad rounded scales, calyx saucer-shaped, strongly black-dotted without, divided about ⅔ into 4 triangular erose to ciliate lobes about 1 mm long; corolla divided nearly to base into 4 oblong-ovate lobes about 2–2.5 mm long, strongly marked on back with prominent black dots and lines, margins densely glandular-ciliolate, apexes obtuse to acutish; stamens 4, anthers broadly ovate-subsagittate about 1.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, obtuse with a broad blunt terminal umbo, with 1 or 2 rows of prominent very black dots or short lines, filaments flat, shorter than anthers; pistillode low conic or ovoid, with disk- or collar-like stigma. Pistillate flowers and fruits unavailable.

This species differs conspicuously in leaf shape and texture from the other Rapa species, M. rapensis. It may be most closely related to M. taitensis A. Gray, but differs notably in the smaller, narrower, thinner leaves, and especially in the subsessile rather than long-pedicellate flowers.

It is named for Mr. Donald Anderson, co-collector of the type, our long-time collaborator in Pacific natural history, and stimulating field companion.

SPECIMENS SEEN.—Austral Islands: Rapa: slope above Area, 75 m, Fosberg & Anderson 11421 (BISH, type).

Myrsine andersonii is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia.