Diospyros antakaranae Capuron ex G.E. Schatz & Lowry, 2020

Schatz, George E. & Lowry II, Porter P., 2020, Taxonomic studies of Diospyros L. (Ebenaceae) from the Malagasy region. IV. Synoptic revision of the Squamosa group in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, Adansonia (3) 42 (9), pp. 201-218 : 203-205

Diospyros antakaranae Capuron ex G.E. Schatz & Lowry , sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Diospyros antakaranae Capuron ex G.E. Schatz & Lowry , sp. nov. is distinguished from D. squamosa Bojer ex A. DC. by its smaller, elliptic to narrowly elliptic leaves with a cuneate to attenuate base and mature fruit densely covered with appressed golden trichomes c. 1 mm long.

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Diana Region [Prov. Antsiranana], Montagne des Français , 25.II.2007, fr., Razafitsalama 1213 (holo-, MO [ MO6438622 ] ; iso-, CNARP, P [ P00722633 ]!, TAN [ TAN002012 ]!) .

PARATYPES. — Madagascar. Diana Region [Prov. Antsiranana]: Ramena, Andavakoera , 20.II.2007, ster., Guittou 345 ( CNARP, MO, P, TAN) ; Montagne d’Ambre , 29.XII.2011, late ♀ fl., Nusbaumer et al. 3284 ( G, P [ P01060531 ]) ; Antsampano , 11.VIII.2005, bud, Rakotonasolo & Rapanarivo 1036 ( TAN, W) ; Montagne d’Ambre , 18.XII.2011, ♂ fl., Ramandimbimanana & Randimbiarison 181 ( G, P [ P01060546 ]) ; same locality, 20.XII.2011, ♂ fl., Randimbiarison & Ramandimbimanana 40 ( G, P [ P01060533 ]) ; Mahavanona , 25. I.2005, fr., Randrianarivelo et al. 163 ( MO, P [ P01031022 ], TAN) ; Montagne d’Ambre , 31.VIII.1952, ♀ fl., Service Forestier (Randriamanatina) 5795 ( G, K, MO, P [ P03974935 , P03974936 ], TEF) ; Massif d’Ampitiliantsambo , 19.II.1954, fr., Service Forestier 8331 ( MO, P [ P03975401 ], TEF) ; Massif de l’Ambongoabo , à l’ouest de Diégo-Suarez, 26.I.1966, fr., Service Forestier 24457 ( G, MO, P [ P03975365 , P03975366 ], TEF, W) ; Montagne des Français , 12.XI.1979, ster., Service Forestier 29601 ( TEF) ; same locality and date, ster., Service Forestier 29602 ( TEF) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The name Diospyros antakaranae , sp. nov. was written by René Capuron on specimens at P and TEF, but was never published. He appears to have based this name on the Antakarana ethnic group of northern Madagascar, who live in the area inhabited by this new species.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Diospyros antakaranae , sp. nov. occurs in dry forest in the far north of Madagascar, extending from the northern parts of Montagne d’Ambre and nearby areas situated slightly farther north to Montagne des Français, from 116 to 900 m elevation.

PHENOLOGY. — Diospyros antakaranae , sp. nov. has been recorded in flower from August to December, and in fruit in January and February.

VERNACULAR NAME. — Mampingo (Service Forestier 5795).

CONSERVATION STATUS. — Diospyros antakaranae , sp. nov. has a geographic range in the form of an EOO of 421 km 2 and a minimum AOO of 32 km 2. It is present in the protected areas of Montagne d’Ambre and Montagne des Français. It is threatened by fire, grazing, and development outside of these protected areas, and likely also within them. With respect to the principal threat of fire, which will result in projected continuing decline in habitat quality, D. antakaranae Capuron ex G.E. Schatz & Lowry , sp. nov. exists at seven locations, and can therefore be assessed for its risk of extinction as Vulnerable [VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)] ( IUCN 2012).

DESCRIPTION

Shrub to tree 3-7 m tall, 6-40 cm DBH. Young stems whitish, slender, 1 mm in diam., sparsely covered with semi-erect gray trichomes to 2 mm long, glabrescent. Lamina 1.9-5.0 × 0.8-2.5 cm, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, coriaceous, glabrous above and below, base acute to cuneate to attenuate, rarely obtuse, margin micro-revolute and initially sparsely ciliate with grayish trichomes 0.7 mm long, apex acuminate, occasionally slightly falcate, the acumen to 1.1 cm, the very tip rounded, midvein slightly impressed above, raised below, initially covered with sparse grayish trichomes 0.7. mm long below, venation weakly brochidodromous, 7-9 secondary veins per side, completely obscure above, slightly raised below; petiole 3-4 mm, <1 mm in diam., terete to slightly flat adaxially, sparsely covered with semi-erect gray trichomes to 2 mm long, glabrescent. Male flowers solitary in axils of fallen leaves, enclosed within 5 distichous, overlapping, cucullate bracts, becoming progressively larger from base to apex of the pedicel, the largest broadly ovate to round, 3.5 × 4 mm, sparsely covered with minute appressed trichomes to glabrous, the margins minutely ciliate; pedicel 2-3 mm long, 0.5 mm in diam.; calyx urceolate, 3 mm tall, 5-6 mm in diam. at apex, with 5 triangular lobes, 0.5 × 1 mm, densely covered with semi-appressed golden trichomes 1-1.5 mm long; corolla white in vivo, tubular, fused portion 3 mm long, with 5 free, overlapping and spreading, depressed ovate lobes, 2 × 4 mm, the tube glabrous to densely covered with minute appressed trichomes at apex outside, the lobes densely covered with short (0.2 mm) appressed trichomes outside, sparsely covered with minute appressed trichomes inside; stamens c. 15-20, anthers sessile, 2.5-3 × 0.5 mm. Female flowers solitary in the axils of leaves, enclosed within 5-7 distichous, overlapping cucullate bracts, collectively broadly ovate, 2-3 × 2-4 mm, becoming progressively larger from base to apex, rounded to narrowly ovate, densely covered with short, matted appressed golden trichomes outside except glabrous towards the ciliate margins, glabrous inside; pedicel 1.4-5 mm long, 1.2-2 mm in diam., with a dense ring of trichomes at apex subtending the receptacle; calyx urceolate, 4-merous, 4-5 mm tall, 7 mm in diam. at apex, the 4 lobes triangular, 5 × 5-6 mm, margins slightly revolute, densely covered with semi-appressed golden trichomes 1-1.5 mm long; corolla not seen; ovary ovoid, 4 mm tall, densely covered with appressed white trichomes, stigma with 4 bifid branches, 2 mm long. Fruit borne on an accrescent receptacle, to 5 mm long, 3-5- 3.8 mm in diam., with a ring of downward appressed golden grayish trichomes around the base; fruit 17 mm tall, 17 mm in diam., slightly flattened globose, the stylar remnant 1.5-2 mm long, moderately to densely covered towards the apex with appressed golden trichomes c. 1 mm long, calyx in fruit covering c. one half of fruit, 8 mm tall, the lobes 10 × 12 mm, triangular, the apex reflexed, margins of the lobes slightly revolute, covered with dense, matted, appressed golden trichomes.

NOTES

This species can be recognized from other members of the Squamosa group by its relatively small, narrowly elliptic to elliptic leaves with a cuneate to attenuate base, and its mature fruit covered with appressed golden trichomes c. 1 mm long. Because individuals of this species can become large trees and may therefore be targeted as a source of ebony wood, only general locality information has been provided for the cited collections.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Diospyros antakaranae Capuron ex G.E. Schatz & Lowry, sp. nov.: A, fruiting branch; B, detail of leaf venation; C, fruit. A-C, Service Forestier 8331 (P03975401). Illustration by A. Jouy. Scale bars: A, 4 cm; B, C, 1 cm.