Ehretia seyrigii J.S. Mill., 2002

Miller, James S., 2002, A revision of Ehretia (Boraginaceae) for Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, Adansonia (3) 24 (2), pp. 137-157 : 154-156

7. Ehretia seyrigii J.S. Mill. , sp. nov.

Frutex vel arbor usque ad 8 m alta, ramunculis glabris vel sparsim puberulis. Folia decidua, alterna vel in fasciculos ramulis lateralibus brevibusinsidentes disposita; lamina elliptica , 1.6-4.5(-7) cm longa, 0.8-2(-4) cm lata, apice acuminata usque acuta, basi cuneata , margine integra, utrinque puberula vel glabra ; petiolo 2-5(-15) mm longo. Inflorescentiae terminale, cymosae, usque ad 3 cm latae. Flores bisexuale, calyce campanulato, c. 2 mm longo, inaequaliter puberulo et margine ciliato. Fructus drupaceus, late ovoideus vel globosus, 2.5-3 mm longus; pyrenis 4, reticulatis.

TYPUS. — Service Forestier: SF 22192 (Capuron), Madagascar, Prov. Toliara, bassin de la Mananadabo dans le massif de l’Analavelona, au nord du Fiherenana, 1000-1300 m, 22 o 38’S, 44 o 12’E, fr., 13- 15 Dec. 1962 (holo-, P!; iso-, G!, K!, MO!, P!, TEF!) .

Shrub or small tree to 8 m tall, the twigs glabrous to sparsely puberulent, often prominently lenticillate; leaves alternate or clustered on short lateral branches, deciduous; blades elliptic, the widest point at or near the middle, 1.6-4.5(-7) cm long, 0.8-2(-4) cm wide, the apex acuminate to acute, the base cuneate, the margin entire, the adaxial surface puberulent, sometimes minutely so, to glabrous or with trichomes only along the midrib, the abaxial surface puberulent or less commonly nearly glabrous, the venation brochidodromous, the midrib raised on both surfaces, the secondary veins 4-5, the tertiary venation reticulate; petioles 2-5 (-15) mm long, puberulent to glabrous, canaliculate on the adaxial surface. Inflorescences terminal, mostly on short lateral branches, cymose to 3 cm broad, the branches puberulent, the hairs all simple; flowers bisexual; calyx campanulate, 2 mm long, the 5 lobes narrowly triangular, acute to obtuse at the apex, 1.5 mm long, unevenly puberulent and ciliate on the margin; corolla white, sometimes tinged purple, tubular with reflexed to spreading lobes, 2.5-3.5 mm long, the tube 2-3 mm long, the 5 lobes lance-oblong to oblong, 2.5-3 mm long; stamens 5, prominently exserted, the filaments 4.5- 6.5 mm long, the upper 2.5-4 mm free, glabrous, the anthers obloid, 1-1.3 mm long; ovary ovoid, c. 1

Revision of Ehretia (Boraginaceae)

3 mm

mm long, the style 2.5-4 mm long, bifid shortly or to half its length, glabrous, the 2 stigmas capitate. Fruits drupaceous, borne in the persistent calyx, yel- low to orange at maturity, broadly ovoid to globose, 2.5-3 mm long, 3-4.5 mm wide, the endocarp bony, separating into 4 pyrenes at maturity, these

2.5-3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, reticulate on the outer surface. — Fig. 8 .

Ehretia seyrigii can be recognized from the other species of Ehretia in Madagascar by its elliptic leaves, widest near the middle, and simple, non-glandular pubescence of the inflorescence branches. This species is named in honor of Andre SEYRIG, who made many valuable plant collections, particularly in the region of Ampandrandava, including this species.

DISTRIBUTION. — This species is known from upland regions in southern and western Madagascar (Fig. 3).

VERNACULAR NAMES. — Betroko, Hazontaha, Manindra.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — Provisional IUCN Red List Category: Vunerable (VU B2abi-iv). Ehretia seyrigii has an Extent of Occurrence of 128,000 sq. km., but this obviously overestimates its occurrence as it is known from only eight subpopulations and has an Area of Occupancy of only 1,000 sq. km. While this species has a large Extent of Occurrence, it is an upland plant and only a small percentage of that area is suitable habitat. It is recorded from two protected areas (Réserves Naturelles Namoroka and Bemaraha), but many of the southern populations are from areas that are highly deforested, and it is highly possible that these populations no longer exist.

PARATYPES. — MADAGASCAR: Bosser 10236, Prov. Toliara, 50 km avant Beraketa , central Sud , 24 o 11’S, 45 o 42’E, fr., Oct. 1956 ( P!) ; Decary 15794, Prov. Mahajanga, dist. de Soalala , Namoroka , 16 o 26’S, 45 o 22’E, fr., 17 Sep. 1940 ( MO!, P!) ; Herbier du Jardin Botanique de Tananarive 5416, Prov. Toliara, Ampotamainty-Befandriana-Baibo, 24 o 36’S, 46 o 42’E, fr., 29 Oct. 1942 ( P!) ; Herbier du Jardin Botanique de Tananarivo 6109 (= Seyrig 146?), Prov. Toliara, Ampandrandava , 24 o 05’S, 45 o 42’E, fl., Oct. 1943 ( P!) ; Humbert 11270, Prov. Toliara, forêt de Besomaty entre le Fiherenana et l’Isahaina ( Mangoky ), sol sablonneux (grès), 750-800 m, 22 o 28’S, 44 o 31’E, fl., Oct. 1933 ( P!) ; Jongkind 3308, Prov. Mahajanga, Bemaraha , RNI, Tsingy de Bemaraha, N of the Manambolo river , 50 m, 19 o 09’S, 44 o 49’E, fr., 1 Dec. 1996 ( MO!) ; Jongkind 3350, Prov. Mahajanga, agricultural area on sandy soil near Bekopaka , 50 m, 19 o 09’S, 44 o 48’E, fl., 2 Dec. 1996 ( MO!) ; Réserves Naturelles: RN 10429, Prov. Toliara, Tranomaro , 24 o 36’S, 46 o 28’E, fl., 21 Nov. 1959 ( MO!, P!) ; Service Forestier: SF 12085 (Rasolofoson), Prov. Toliara, Analavelona-Tuléar , forêt Analavelona , Mikoboka , 22 o 40’S, 44 o 10’E, fl., 25 Nov. 1954 ( MO1 , P!) ; Service Forestier: SF 15588 (Bototsalaoendry), Prov. Toliara, Analavelona-Tuléar , 22 o 40’S, 44 o 10’E, fr., 10 Dec. 1955 ( P!) ; Seyrig 146, Prov. Toliara, Ampandrandava (entre Bekily et Tsivory), 1000 m, 24 o 05’S, 45 o 42’E, fl., Oct. 1942 ( P!) ; Seyrig 146 B, Prov. Toliara, Ampandrandava (entre Bekily et Tsivory), 24 o 05’S, 45 o 42’E, fl., Nov. 1942 ( P!) ; Seyrig 146 C, Prov. Toliara, Ampandrandava (entre Bekily et Tsivory), 24 o 05’S, 45 o 42’E, fl., Dec. 1943 ( P!) ; Seyrig 796, Prov. Toliara, Ampandrandava (entre Bekily et Tsivory), 1000 m, 24 o 05’S, 45 o 42’E, fl., Dec. 1943 ( MO!, P!) .

Figures

Fig 8. — Ehretia seyrigii J.S. Mill.: A, fruiting branch; B, mature fruit; C, fruit with exocarp removed to show outer surface of pyrenes. A-C, from Service Forestier: SF (Capuron) 22192 (P).