Vitex villosissima (Moldenke) Callm. & Phillipson, 2018

Callmander, Martin W. & Phillipson, Peter B., 2018, New combinations and typifications in Vitex (Lamiaceae) from Madagascar, Candollea 73 (1), pp. 131-136 : 136

Vitex villosissima (Moldenke) Callm. & Phillipson , comb. et stat. nov.

Ξ Vitex cauliflora var. villosissima Moldenke in Phytologia 3: 433. 1951 .

Holotypus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Anony , forêt du N du pays Sihanaka , 3.IX.1937, Herb. Jard. Bot. Tananarive 2949 ( P [ P00440352 ]! ; isotype: NY [ NY00138431 ] image seen, P [ P00440353 ]!, TAN) .

Notes. – The species is characterized by its small, chartaceous, unifoliolate leaves (6-9 × 1.3-2.6 cm). Furthermore, this species has a different indument on both the corolla and other parts of the inflorescence (see Table 1 ). This species is known from mid-elevation evergreen forests around Lake Alaotra.

Conservation status. – Vitex villosissima is known only from 4 locations with only one encompassed in the protected area network (Zahamena). The other locations are from other eastern escarpment evergreen tropical forests that are threatened by habitat degradation due to tavy and forest over-exploitation. With an EOO of c. 240 km 2 and an AOO of 20 km 2, V. villosissima is therefore assigned a preliminary IUCN conservation status of “Endangered” [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)].

Specimens examined. – Vohimena, [17°21’S 48°36’E], 1000 m, 8.IX.1946, Cours 2871 ( G, MO, P) ; Zahamena PA, Ankosy , 17°28’45”S 48°44’10’’E, 996-1250 m, 15.VII.2000, Ratovoson et al. 252 ( CNARP, MO, P, TEF) ; ibid. loco, Ambarihely (2 km à l’E d’Ankosy), 17°28’43”S 48°44’17”E, 1000 m, 13.VII.2005, Ratovoson 1027 ( MO, TEF) ; ibid. loco, 12.VII.2000, Rakotonandrasana et al. 405 ( CNARP, MO, P) ; ibid. loco, au bord de la piste vers Antevibe , 17°33’34”S 48°54’34’’E, 750 m, 26.X.2000, Rakotonandrasana et al. 457 ( CNARP, MO, P, TAN) ; ibid. loco, Andranofantsona à 10 km au S de Manakambahiny, 17°39’20”S 48°56’46”E, 610 m 27.X.2002, Razafitsalama 157 ( CNARP, MO, P, TEF) .