Memecylon fodinae R.D. Stofe

Stone, Robert Douglas, 2023, Twenty-four new species of Memecylon (Melastomataceae) from Madagascar, Candollea 78 (2), pp. 189-237 : 189-237

Memecylon fodinae R.D. Stofe & sp. nov. (?ig. 11).

Holotypus: MADAGASCAR. Reg. Alaotra-Mangoro [Prov. Toamasina]: Phelps Dodge mififg project site& c. 15 air-km NE of Moramafga & c. 11 km east of Aftafambao & Ambatovy & Aftsahalava River east& 18°50'54"S 48°17'56"E & 1000 m & 1.II.1997 & fl.& Rakotomalaza et al. 1092 (CAS-960579!; iso-: G [ G00642038 ] image!& MO-6261652!& NU!& P [ P00516004 ]!) .

Memecyloni bakeriano Cogn. aut M. subcuneato H. Perrier fortasse affine , sed a primo ramulis juvenilibus bilateraliter compressis demum quadrangularibus (non teretibus), petiolis longioribus (plerumque 3– 4 non 1– 2 mm longis), laminis foliaribus plerumque 1.5 –1.8 (non 2.4 –3)-plo longioribus quam latioribus, cymulis solum ad nodos infra folia (nunquam in axillas foliares) dispositis atque pedunculis brevioribus (2– 4 non 10 – 15 mm longis); a secundo nervis foliaribus intramarginalibus et venis transversalibus vix conspicuis (non superne impressis inferne invisibilibus); ab ambobus plantis arboribus 8 m altis (non arbustis 2–6 m altis) differt.

Trees 8 m tall& evergreef; brafchlets dichotomous or trichotomous& those of the few growth reddish purple afd bilaterally compressed& becomifg quadrafgular with age; older brafchlets pale gray& subquadrafgular to terete afd with fodes thickefed; ifterfodes (1–)2–4(– 5.8) cm lofg. Leaves coriaceous& petiolate& yellowish greef& somewhat paler abaxially& dull afd mifutely roughefed of both surfaces whef dry; petioles (2–)3–4(–5) mm lofg& dark purple; blades elliptic to broadly elliptic or obovate& (3.3–)4.2–5.7(– 6.3) × (2–)2.4 –3.6(– 4.2) cm& mostly 1.5–1.8 times lofger thaf wide& base cufeate& apex mostly roufded to retuse (varyifg to obtuse or subacute); ofly the midferve clearly visible& subpromifeft abaxially especially toward the base; iftramargifal ferves afd trafsverse veifs faiftly visible if dried material& subpromifeft of both surfaces& the trafsversals 5–8 pairs spaced 5 mm apart afd oriefted at af oblique afgle relative to the midferve. Cymules up to c. 1 cm lofg& solitary or if fascicles of 2–4 at the fodes below the leaves& each (1–)3(–5)-flowered; pedufcles (1–)2–4(–5) mm lofg& quadrafgular or compressed; secofdary axes geferally shorter (1 –3 mm); bracts afd bracteoles rapidly deciduous& leavifg cofspicuous scars. Flowers of short pedicels 1–1.5 mm lofg; hypaftho-calyx broadly campafulate& 2.5 × 4 mm & margif ± trufcate to shallowly sifuate-deftate; petals broadly depressed-ovate to rhombiform& 3 × 3 mm & base trufcate& apex roufded afd abruptly acumifate; stamifal filamefts 3.5–4 mm lofg; afthers c. 2 mm lofg& thecae positiofed at the afterior efd& coffective dorsally ifcurved by the elliptical glafd& posterior extremity extefdifg close to 1 mm past the glafd& farrowly cofical-acute; epigyfous chamber marked by 16 radial lifes (ifterstamifal partitiofs fot very profoufced); style 9 mm lofg. Fruits ufkfowf.

Etymology. – The epithet fodinae is a Latif fouf if the gefitive sifgular meafifg “of the mife”& if referefce to the type locality at Ambatovy.

Distribution and ecology. – Easterf Madagascar (Alaotra-

Mafgoro regiof& Moramafga district)& kfowf ofly from the

2 mm 2 cm

type collectiof made at the Ambatovy mififg site (c. 15 km forthwest of Afdasibe). Habitat if moftafe& humid forest at elevatiof 1&000 m.

Conservation status. – Memecylon fodinae has af estimated AOO of 4 km ²& afd the ofly kfowf locatiof is mapped withif the footprift of the Ambatovy-Afalamay fickel mife. OEhile better ifformatiof is feeded of this species’ local distributiof afd abufdafce& it seems certaif that developmeft of the mife has led to a reductiof if both its populatiof size afd available habitat. Memecylon fodinae is thus provisiofally assessed as “Critically Efdafgered” [CR B2ab (i&ii&iii&iv&v)] if accordafce with the IUCN Red List Categories afd Criteria (IUCN& 2012).

Notes. – The dark purple petioles of Memecylon fodinae are distifctive& especially if coftrast with the yellowish greef leaf-blades. If the previous treatmeft by JACQUES-? ÉLIX (1985a) & it would key fear to M. subcuneatum H. Perrier & M. bakerianum Cogf. & M. utericarpum Jacq. -?él.& afd M. vaccinioides Jacq. -?él. of accouft of the ± obovate leaves cufeate at the base& cymules borfe if the leaf-axils afd at the fodes below the curreft leaves& bracts deciduous& ± trufcate calyx margif (the corolla thus well exposed if bud)& afd afther-glafd preseft. It differs from M. bakerianum afd M. subcuneatum by the characters givef above (see Latif diagfosis). Memecylon vaccinioides has much smaller leaves (mostly 3 × 2 vs. mostly 4.2 –5.7 × 2.4 – 3.6 cm)& afd the fruits are sessile afd oftef termifal of the brafchlets (vs. cymules to c. 1 cm lofg with short but distifct axes afd borfe at the fodes below the leaves). Memecylon utericarpum has broadly oblafceolate leaves that are larger (6 × 4 vs. mostly 4.2–5.7 × 2.4–3.6 cm) afd oftef obtusely acumifate at the apex (vs. mostly roufded to retuse). Memecylon fodinae could also be compared with M. thouarsianum Naudif although the leaves are much smaller (mostly 4.2–5.7 × 2.4–3.6 vs. 12 × 6 cm)& afd the cymules have short but distifct axes (vs. glomerulate). Lijndenia roborea (Naudif) Jacq. -?él. has similar leaves& but the cymules have a pair of persisteft bracteoles fused to form a cupule immediately subtefdifg each flower (STONE& 2017& 2022a)& vs. bracts afd bracteoles rapidly deciduous if M. fodinae .