''Garnieria'' is a

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

plant

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Proteaceae The Proteaceae form a family of flowering plants predominantly distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises 83 genera with about 1,660 known species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae, they make up the order Pro ...

. Molecular hylogenetic studies indicate that it is nested in the larger Australian genus ''

Persoonia ''Persoonia'', commonly known as geebungs or snottygobbles, is a genus of about one hundred species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae. Plants in the genus ''Persoonia'' are shrubs or small trees usually with smooth bark, simple leav ...

'' where it may be included. It is endemic to

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

where the type specimen was collected at

Prony Bay Prony Bay or Baie de Prony is a bay of the southern end of New Caledonia. A number of small streams flow into the bay, including the Rivière Bleue and the Ruisseau de la Bergerie. Deposits of red clay increased between 1955 and 1968 due to exten ...

in 1868–1870 by

Benjamin Balansa file:Benjamin Balansa par de Lacger Toulouse.jpg, Benjamin Balansa Gaspard Joseph Benedict Balansa, also known as Benjamin Balansa or Benedict Balansa (25 March 1825 – 2 November 1891) was a French botanist. Born in Narbonne in 1825, Balansa mad ...

. The only species is ''Garnieria spathulifolia''.

Description

The plant grows as a shrub up to 2 m in height, sometimes a small tree up to 4 m. Its shiny leaves are dark green above, paler below. The fruits are green at first, becoming dark crimson to brown. The flowers are white and scented.

References

Proteaceae Endemic flora of New Caledonia Monotypic Proteaceae genera Taxa named by Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart Taxa named by Jean Antoine Arthur Gris {{Proteaceae-stub