Uapaca littoralis Denis

Mcpherson, Gordon, 2011, A review of Madagascan Uapaca (Euphorbiaceae s. l.), Adansonia (3) 33 (2), pp. 221-231 : 228-229

6. Uapaca littoralis Denis

Archives de Botanique, Bulletin mensuel, Caen 1: 228

(1927).

Uapaca betamponensis Leandri, Mémoires de l’Institut scientifique de Madagascar, Série B, Biologie végétale 8: 256 (1957). — Type: Madagascar, Prov. Toamasina, Betampona , Vohimarangitra , 1200 m. alt., 22.I.1945, fr., Cours 2541 (lecto-, P [sheet P00132892 ], here designated).

Uapaca mangorensis Leandri , loc. cit.: 258 (1957). — Type: Madagascar, Prov.Toamasino, Mangorokely, vers Anosibe, district de Moramanga, 19.V .1954 , fr., Service forestier 10340 (holo-, P [sheet P00132903 ]).

Uapaca silvestris Leandri , loc. cit.: 259 (1957). — Type: Madagascar, Prov. Toamasina, massif forestier de Farankaraina, près de Maroantsetra , 20-25 m alt., 24.IX.1954, fr., Service forestier 10838 (not “10858”, as mistakenly published) (lecto-, P [sheet P00539625 ], here designated).

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Domaine de l’Est , Bas Matitana ,

sur la dune littorale, VII.1911, fr., Perrier de la Bâthie

2379 (holo-, P [sheet P00132883]).

REPRESENTATIVE MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagascar. Prov. Toamasina, 5-12 km SW of Maroantsetra, 15°30’S, 049°39’E, 10 m, 28.XI.1987, Schatz 1805 ( MO, P) . — Andrangazaha , 16°52’02”S, 049°40’52”E, 29. I.2004, Rabevohitra 4870 ( MO, P, TEF) . — Île Sainte Marie, Ampanihy , 16°53’S, 049°55’E, 17. V.1969, Service forestier 28852 ( K, MO, P) . — Soanierana Ivongo-Ampasimbola , 16°57’23”S, 049°34’04”E, 60 m, 4.VII.1996, Birkinshaw 340 ( MO, P) . — Tampolo , 17°16’52”S, 049°24’44”E, 10 m, 25.XI.1994, Schatz 3607 ( MO, P) . — Eod. loc., 17°17’05”S, 049°24’34”E, 0 m, 4.VII.2001, Rabenantoandro 561 ( MO, P, TEF) . — Zahamena , 17°44’S, 049°00’E, 500-750 m, 15-20.IX.1993, Malcomber 2525 ( MO, P) . — Prov. Fianarantsoa, Ambahy , 20°47’53”S, 048°28’57”E, 22 m, 16.II.2004, Ludovic 609 ( MO, P) . — Mahabo , 23°11’13”S, 047°42’27”E, 22 m, 26.VIII.2003, Razakamalala 726 ( MO, P, TEF) .

DESCRIPTION

Trees 5-20 m tall, stilt roots present; leaf-bearing twigs 2-6 mm in diameter, solid, matte to somewhat glossy. Leaf blades elliptical, obovate or oblong, (4-) 8-16 cm long, (1.4-) 3-6.5 cm wide, base cuneate, often attenuate into the extended pulvinus, apex obtuse, secondary veins (8-)9-12(-18) on each side of the midrib, evident or obscure, tertiary venation non-scalariform, obscure, intersecondaries often visible, margin flat or recurved; petiole 1-5 cm long. Staminate peduncles 5-15(-40) mm long; the flower head 4-6 mm in di- ameter excluding the exserted stamens; stamens 5-6; staminodes present; pistillode sparsely pubescent on distal surface. Pistillate peduncles (0.6-)1.0- 4.8 cm long; calyx 1.5-3 mm high, in fruit 4-8(-11) mm in diameter, pubescent (often glabrescent) or glabrous, usually undulate; fruit 23-27(-30) mm long and red at maturity, rounded apically or pointed, smooth or roughened by lenticel-like eruptions, pubescent at least distally or glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION

Eastern forests from near sea level up to 1200 m.

REMARKS

Distinguished by its relatively narrow leaf blades, numerous secondary veins, non-scalariform tertiary venation, often glabrescent pistillate calyx, and large fruit. Most readily mistakable for U. thouarsii , which, however, has leaf blades clearly less than three times as long as wide.