Aspidostemon perrieri (Danguy) Rohwer

Werff, Henk Van Der, 2006, A revision of the Malagasy endemic genus Aspidostemon Rohwer & Richter (Lauraceae), Adansonia (3) 28 (1), pp. 7-44 : 38-40

24. Aspidostemon perrieri (Danguy) Rohwer ( Fig. 14D )

Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 109: 74 (1987) . — Cryptocarya perrieri Danguy , Bulletin du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris) 33: 523 (1927). — Type: Madagascar, without date, fl., Thouvenot 115 (lecto-, designated here, P; isolecto-, MO, P).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagascar. Forêt d’Anamalazaotra , [18°56’S, 48°26’E], fr., Perrier de la Bathie 5269 (syntypes MO, P) . — Antaniditra , Perinet, [18°52’50’’S, 48°22’38’’E], ster., Ratovoarison R. 172 ( P) . — Perinet , y.fr., [18°52’S, 48°23’E], Service Forestier 2627 ( P, TEF) . — Menalamba , Perinet, y.fr., Service Forestier 14168 ( P, TEF) . — Without data, ster., Service Forestier 26689 ( P, TEF) . — Km 45 Route Anosibe-Moramanga, ster., Service Forestier 26850 ( P, TEF) . — Anamalazaotra , fl., [18°56’S, 48°26’E], Thouvenot 115 ( MO, P) .

DESCRIPTION

Trees, to 25 m. Twigs terete, glabrous; terminal buds glabrous. Leaves opposite, 4-10 × 1.8-4.5 cm, glabrous, elliptic, coriaceous, often conduplicate after drying, the base acute, apex acuminate, acumen 5 mm long, often not fully unfolded, margin flat, cartilaginous; reticulation immersed on the upper surface, raised on the lower surface; lateral veins c. 8 pairs; petioles 5-7 mm long, shallowly canaliculate. Inflorescences 1.5-5 cm, glabrous, paniculate, pedicels gradually widened in to the flower. Flowers glabrous, 2.5-3 mm in diam., tepals erect, about as wide as long; stamens 6, tepaloid, locelli introrse, staminodia III with peltate, flattened tip, arching outward, glabrous, free; glands, if present at the base of the staminodia III, fused with the staminodia; staminodia IV not seen; base of stamens and staminodia as well as the upper rim of the hypanthium pubescent; pistil glabrous. Fruits broadly ellipsoid, 2.3 × 1.6 cm, crowned with the floral remnants.

REMARKS

Aspidostemon perrieri belongs to a small group of species with 6 tepaloid stamens, free staminodia III, gradually widened pedicels and hairs at the base of the stamens, staminodia and on the upper part of the hypanthium. Among those species it stands out by its coriaceous,conduplicate leaves with raised reticulation on the lower leaf surface. Although it occurs in one of the best collected areas in Madagascar ( Fig. 15 ), it has been collected only once with flowers (the lectotype) and once with fruits (the other syntype); all other collections are sterile or with immature fruits only .

ALTITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION

800-1000 m.

PHENOLOGY

Flowers: February; fruits: no data available.

VERNACULAR NAMES

Longotromena, Longotra mavokely.

Figures

FIG. 14. — Species of Aspidostemon Rohwer & Richter: A, A. occultum Van der Werff; B, A. parvifolium (Scott-Elliott) Van der Werff; C, A. percoriaceum (Kosterm.) Rohwer; D, A. perrieri (Danguy) Rohwer. A, Service Forestier 28709, MO; B, McPherson 14362, MO; C, Service Forestier 1983, MO; D, Thouvenot 115, MO.

FIG. 15. — Distribution of Aspidostemon Rohwer & Richter in Madagascar: Ϙ, A. microphyllum Van der Werff; Ϙ, A. parvifolium (Scott-Elliott) Van der Werff; ■, A. percoriaceum (Kosterm.) Rohwer; ▲, A. perrieri (Danguy) Rohwer.