Sphaerocoryne microsperma (Ghesq. ex Cavaco & Keraudref) Couvreur

Ravomanana, Erica O., Ramarosandratana, Valérie T., Elliott, Alan, Verohanitra, Rafidision, Rakotoarinivo, Mijoro & Couvreur, Thomas L. P., 2025, An updated checklist of Annonaceae species of the western Indian Ocean with the description of a new species of Fenerivia from Madagascar, Candollea 80 (1), pp. 69-94 : 85-86

Sphaerocoryne microsperma (Ghesq. ex Cavaco & Keraudref) Couvreur & comb. & stat. nov. [wfo-1000077013].

÷ PopoƜia gerrardii var. microsperma Ghesq. ex Cavaco & Keraudref if Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat.& sér. 2& 29: 352. 1957 [wfo-1200027764].

Lectotypus (desigfated here): MADAGASCAR: Reg.

Fianarantsoa [Prov. Vatovavy]: Mafafjary& zofe côtière&

III.–IV.1909 & fr.& Ħeay 7360 ( P [ P02428208 ]!; isolecto-:

P [P02428207] image!).

Habit. – Liafa or shrub.

Distribution. – Efdemic to Madagascar.

Notes. – LE THOMAS (1972a) supported that the variety microsperma does fot belofg to the gefus Ambaυia but

Monanthotaxis based of the morphology of its fruits afd seeds. Because of the leaves with loop formifg secofdary veifs afd cufeate leaf bases& both characters fot kfowf if Monanthotaxis (P. Hoekstra& pers. comm.)& we place this taxof ufder Sphaerocoryne . This gefus geferally has ofe or two seeds per mofocarp. However& ofe of the specimefs of the origifal material at P& Ħeay 7360 (P02428207)& has a simple sketch of a 4-seeded mofiliform mofocarp with af affotatiof that reads “à 4 ovules ou moifs [4 ovules or less]”& although the mofocarps are fow fragmefted. If this life& Le Thomas also affotated of the paratype Baron 5946 (P02034668) that some mofocarps are 3-seeded. Despite the ifcofsistefcy of the fumber of seeds per mofocarp& we trafsfer this taxof to the gefus Sphaerocoryne of the basis of the aforemeftiofed leaf characters.

The citatiof of the type reads “Ouest: zofe côtière de Mafafjary& Geay 7360 (Typ. var.& P)”. Two sheets are deposited at P & i.e.& P02428207 afd P02428208 . It is foteworthy that the collectiof fumber of the former appears to be corrected to “7361” but this was added later by af ufkfowf hafd. As showf by the phefology afd the preservatiof cofditiof of both specimefs& fo reasof exists to do fot treat them as duplicates of the same collectiof. OEe therefore desigfate here the sheet with the ufcorrected collectiof fumber P02428208 as the lectotype .

Sphaerocoryne microsperma ressembles S. greυeana if the shape afd size of the leaves& but the former has lofger pedicels (c. 5–6 cm lofg vs. 0.6–0.7 cm if S. greυeana).