33. Abrahamia turkii Randrian. & Lowry, spec. nova (Fig. 31).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Fianarantsoa: Rég. Vatovavy-Fitovinany, Ranomafana National Park, parcelle 3, S of National road 25 at 7 km W of Ranomafana, Talatakely trail system, 21°15’30’’S 47°25’00’’E, 950-1150 m, 20.X.1993, fl., Solo & J. Randrianasolo 35 (holo-: MO- 6671437!; iso-: G, K, MO- 6671438!, P [P06168911]!, TAN [TAN002002]!, WAG).

Diagnosis

Abrahamia turkii Randrian. & Lowry can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its coriaceous leaves, inflorescence with thick axes and ferruginous indument, and fruits that are small in size (1.8-2 3 1 cm) and glabrous.

Description

Trees 11-30 m tall, 18-100 cm DBH, bark with white latex; young twigs sericeous on tips, lenticellate farther from the tip. Leaves usually alternate, sometimes subopposite; blade obovate, 2.5-8 3 1.5-3.5 cm, coriaceous, apex usually emarginate or retuse, sometimes rounded, margin slightly revolute, sometimes undulate, base cuneate, adaxial surface sparsely pubescent, abaxial surface sericeous or strigose, venation craspedodromous, midvein prominent abaxially, secondary veins 14-24 pairs, 1-4 mm apart, raised on both surfaces, tertiary veins visible on both surfaces; petiole 0.5-1 cm long, 1-1.5 mm in diam., pubescent or scabrous, canaliculate on adaxial surface. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, a panicle, erect, axes thick, 1-5 cm long, reddish brown pubescent. Male flowers 5-merous, c. 3-4 mm long; pedicel c. 0.3-0.5 mm long, reddish brown pubescent; calyx lobes triangular, 1.5-2 3 1-2 mm, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface, pubescent; corolla lobes ovate, 2-4 3 2 mm, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface pubescent; stamens 5, filament 1-2 mm long, glabrous, anthers 1 mm long, ovoid to obloid, glabrous; disk slightly cupuliform, c. 2 mm in diam., glabrous; ovary very rudimentary or absent. Female flowers unknown. Fruits 1.8-2 3 1 cm, ovoid, glabrous, wrinkled when dry (longitudinal striations not as evident as in other species).

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Abrahamia turkii is distributed mainly in south-central and southern Madagascar, although one collection has been made at the Ambohitantely forest, far to the north of the other recorded subpopulations (Map 10). Flowering material has been recorded in October and November, and fruits have been collected in January.

Conservation status

With an EOO of 85,992 km 2, a minimum AOO of 40 km 2 but an estimated value well exceeding 2,000 km 2, and 9 localities, with subpopulations in 6 protected areas (Ambohitantely, Andohahela, Betampona, Kalambatritra, Pic d’Ivohibe, and Ranomafana), representing 9 locations, only some of which may be subjected to pressure from forest exploitation and land clearing, A. turkii is assigned a preliminary conservation status of “Least Concern” [LC] using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN, 2012).

Notes

Abrahamia turkii closely resembles A. ditimena by its medium sized, coriaceous leaves with craspedodromous venation, usually emarginate or retuse apex, and tertiary venation that is visible on both surfaces, and its paniculate inflorescence, but it can easily be distinguished by its short (1-5 vs 2-10 cm) inflorescence covered with reddish brown pubescence (vs glabrescent or tomentose), and its glabrous (vs velutinous) fruits.

Paratypi

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antananarivo: forêt d’Ambohitantely, 18 km NW of Ankazobe, [18°10’S 47°18’E], 1400-1646 m, 21.XI.1985, bud, Barnett et al. 533 (MO, P, TAN). Prov. Fianarantsoa: Ivohibe RS, piste II et III, 22°29’00’’S 46°58’06’’E, 1275 m, 20.X.1997, fl., Rakotomalaza et al. 1434 (G, MO, P, TAN); Ivohibe RS, 5.5 km SE d’Angondongodona, camp 4, 22°25’18’’S 46°53’54’’E, 1150 m, 4.XI.1997, fl., Rakotomalaza et al. 1494 (G, K, MO, P, TAN); Haute Matsiatra, Ialatsara forest, 21°03’07’’S 47°12’42’’E, 12.X.2005, fl., Ranarivelo et al. 719 (CAS, MO); Ranomafana PN, parcelle 3, Vatoharana trail system, 21°17’S 47°26’E, 1100-1250 m, 18.XI.1993, fl., Turk & J. Randrianasolo 585 (G, MO, P, TAN); Andrambovato, E de Fianarantsoa, [21°31’S 47°25’E], 878-1000 m, 24.I.1955, fr., Service Forestier 11590 (G, MO, P, TEF). Prov. Toamasina: RN1 [Betampona], s.d., fl. & y. fr., Anonymous s.n. (G, MO, P [2 sheets]). Prov. Toliara: Betroka, Kalambatritra RS, forêt d’Analamaro, 23°28’28’’S 46°25’15’’E, 1423 m, 9.I.2004, fl., Andrianjafy et al. 601 (MO, P, TAN); Andohahela PN, parcelle 1, 13.5 km NW d’Eminiminy, 24°35’S 46°44’1’’E, 1200 m, 15.XI.1995, fl., Messmer et al. 105 (G, MO) .