Acalypha menavody (Leandri) I.Montero & Cardiel, 1016

Muñoz, Iris Montero, Levin, Geoffrey A. & Cardiel, José María, 2023, Monograph of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae) of the Western Indian Ocean Region, with the description of a new species from Mayotte, Adansonia (3) 45 (26), pp. 395-496 : 464-465

36. Acalypha menavody (Leandri) I.Montero & Cardiel

PhytoKeys 108: 105 ( Montero Muñoz et al. 2018a). — Acalypha spiciflora var. menavody Leandri, Notulae Systematicae. Herbier du Muséum de Paris. Phanérogramie. Paris 10: 270 ( Leandri 1942). — Type: Madagascar. Prov. Antsiranana, collines et plateaux calcaires de l’Analamera, I.1938, H. Humbert 19149 (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. [2018a: 105]: P[P00536737]; isolecto-, P[P00536736, P00536738]).

ICONOGRAPHY. — Leandri (1942: 269); Fig. 57G.

ETYMOLOGY. — The epithet refers to the vernacular name of this plant, known as Menavody [cul rouge] ( Leandri 1942).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Endemic to Madagascar (Diana and Sava). Dry deciduous forest. On Mesozoic limestone. Altitudinal range 40-315 m ( Fig. 56 ).

PRELIMINARY CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT. — The EOO of Acalypha menavody is estimated to be 2 994 km 2 and its AOO 28 km 2. This species has been collected from several protected areas: Montagne des Français, which has been a protected area since 2006 (Category V; Dudley 2008), but most parts of the forest have been degraded by agriculture, grazing, and charcoal extraction ( Sabel et al. 2009; De Block 2018); Ankarana Special Reserve (see assessment of A. ankaranensis ); and Loky-Manambato, which has been a protected area since 2005 (Category V; Dudley, 2008), but the forest of which has been extensively degraded and continues to be threatened by subsistence farming, fires to clear land for grazing, logging, and gold extraction. The most serious threat in this last site is the illegal cutting of precious woods ( Rambeloson 1999; Vargas et al. 2002; Rakotondravony 2009; Goodman et al. 2018). This species has also been collected in unprotected areas. Habitat loss and continued degradation of forests in these areas lead us to assess A. menavody as Endangered: EN B1ab(i,iii,iv) + B2ab(ii,iii,iv).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 8 collections. Madagascar: Bardot-Vaucoulon, M. 1016 (K, MO, P[P00309589, P00309590], TAN); Be, J. 325 (K, MO); d’Alleizette, Ch. s.n. (L[L0241933]); De Block, P. 1123 ( BR [BR0000009728301, BR0000009728400], G, K, MO, P[P04779776],TAN); Humbert ,H.19149 (P[P00324461, P00536736, P00536737, P00536738]); Nusbaumer, L. LN 2178 (G[G00074391]); Ranaivojaona, R. 1659 ( CNARP, MO[MO-2965747], P, TAN); Razafimandimbison, S. 1771 (S[S17-48170]).

REFERENCES. — Leandri (1942: 270); Montero Muñoz et al. (2018a: 105).

DESCRIPTION

Shrubs, probably deciduous, to 3 m tall, monoecious. Branches glabrous (youngest with some hyaline trichomes at base). Axillary buds ovoid, to 3 × 2 mm, perulate, perules 2, imbricate, chartaceous, blackish, glabrous; Stipules to 8 mm long, linear-lanceolate, ciliate with simple, arachnoid trichomes. Petioles slender, canaliculate, 1-2.5(-3) cm long, subglabrous, with some simple, arachnoid trichomes. Leaf blades 6-8(-9.5) × 4-6(-7.5) cm, broadly ovate-lanceolate, thin-membranous; base usually cordate, sometimes rounded to acute; apex acuminate, acumen to 10 mm long, rounded, mucronate; margin denticulate, teeth rounded to obtuse, slightly callose-edged; upper and lower surfaces subglabrous, with some simple, appressed trichomes on veins; venation actinodromous, basal veins 5, secondary veins 5-6 per side. Stipels glandular, to 0.2 mm long, sparsely hairy with some arachnoid trichomes. Inflorescences spiciform, androgynous, axillary, filiform, laxly flowered, to 10 cm long, mostly male with short female segment; peduncle to 45 mm long, glabrous. Female segment to 3.8 cm long; bracts (1-)2-3, sessile, enlarging in fruit to 13 mm diameter, suborbicular, glabrous; margin entire; bracteoles absent. Male segment persistent, to 5 cm long; flowers glomerate; bracts to 0.3 mm diameter, orbicular, sparsely hairy with some simple, arachnoid trichomes. Male flowers: pedicel to 0.5 mm long, glabrous; buds not seen. Female flowers 1 per bract, sessile; sepals 3, to 0.5 mm long, triangular, sparsely hairy with simple, arachnoid trichomes; ovary c. 1 mm diameter, 3-lobed, papillose, papillae acute, to 1 mm long, ending in gland, surface glabrous; styles 3, to 4 mm long, connate at base, rachis thick, glabrous, each divided into c. 12 segments. Allomorphic flowers not seen. Capsules to 4 mm diameter, papillose, papillae to 2 mm long, surface subglabrous, with some, sparse, simple trichomes. Seeds c. 3 × 2 mm, pyriform, minutely foveolate.

Figures

FIG. 57. — Mature female bracts: A, Acalypha leptomyura Baill. (J.-N. Labat & T. Deroin 2320); B, A. levinii I.Montero & Cardiel (L. Gillespie 10809); C, A. linearifolia Leandri (G. Cours 4638); D, A. magistri I.Montero & Cardiel (D. Ravelonarivo 273); E, A. mayottensis I.Montero & Cardiel (J.-N. Labat, F. Barthelat, C.M. Hladik & A.B. Sifary 3272); F, A. medibracteata Radcl.-Sm. & Govaerts (R. Decary 16103); G, A. menavody (Leandri) I.Montero & Cardiel (M. Bardot-Vaucoulon 1016); H, A. nusbaumeri I.Montero & Cardiel (L. Nusbaumer LN1169). Illustration by Iris Montero Muñoz. Scale bars: A, C, D, F, H, 1 mm; B, E, G, 2 mm.

FIG. 56. — Distribution map of Acalypha menavody (Leandri) I.Montero & Cardiel in Madagascar.