Bocquillonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, placed within the order Malpighiales. The genus was first described in 1862 and comprises a small group of shrubs and trees known exclusively from New Caledonia, a French territory in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. All species in the genus are endemic to this archipelago, including the smaller islands that form part of the territory, making Bocquillonia a notable example of the high plant endemism for which New Caledonia is internationally recognised.
The genus is closely related to Alchornea, another euphorb genus, and molecular phylogenetic studies suggest that Bocquillonia may be nested within Alchornea rather than forming a fully distinct lineage. This relationship reflects the broader complexity of circumscribing genera within the diverse and ecologically varied Euphorbiaceae family.
Around five to ten species have been described within Bocquillonia, including Bocquillonia castaneifolia, Bocquillonia sessiliflora, Bocquillonia spicata, Bocquillonia longipes, and Bocquillonia grandidens.
Distribution
Bocquillonia is entirely endemic to New Caledonia, a French territory in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. All known species occur within this archipelago, including its smaller satellite islands, making the genus a striking example of the region's exceptional level of plant endemism.
Taxonomy Notes
Bocquillonia was first described as a genus in 1862. Molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that Bocquillonia may be nested within the related genus Alchornea, raising questions about whether it should be maintained as a separate genus or subsumed within Alchornea. Both belong to the family Euphorbiaceae, order Malpighiales.
