Micronychia minutiflora (H.Perrier) Randrian. & Lowry, 2009

Randrianasolo, Armand & Lowry Ii, Porter P., 2009, Four new species and one new combination in the Malagasy endemic genus Micronychia Oliv. (Anacardiaceae), Adansonia (3) 31 (1), pp. 157-168 : 165-166

4. Micronychia minutiflora (H.Perrier) Randrian. & Lowry , comb. et stat. nov.

Micronychia tsiramiramy H.Perrier var. minutiflora H.Perrier, Mémoires du Muséum d’Histoire naturelle, Paris 18: 268 (1944). — Type: Madagascar, Mahajanga Prov., bassin supérieur de la Bemarivo, affluent de la Sofia, forêt d’Analamaitso, bois des pentes occidentales, vers 1000 m, sur gneiss, IX.1907, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 4540 (holo-, P!).

REMARKS

In Randrianasolo’s recent revision of Micronychia (2000) , this taxon was recognized as a variety within M. tsiramiramy . However, careful re-examination of the material now available, which includes many collections made in recent years, reveals that M. minutiflora is better treated as a distinct species. It can easily be distinguished from M. tsiramiramy by its smaller leaf blades (2-6.2 vs. 3-11.5 cm long) with a shortly acuminate to rounded, or very rarely emarginate apex (vs. predominantly emarginate and rarely rounded in M. tsiramiramy ), much shorter petioles (3-6 vs. 3-15 mm), and smaller fruits (0.8- 1.2 × 0.6-1.1 vs. 1.2-1.4 × 1.5 cm).

Micronychia minutiflora occurs in a wide variety of habitats throughout much of eastern Madagascar and the Sambirano region in the northwestern part of the island, ranging from humid forest at low altitude (c. 100 m) to montane forest up to 1500 m ( Fig. 5 ).

CONSERVATION STATUS

Micronychia minutiflora has a large Extent of Occurrence (EOO = c. 138 000 km²) and Area of Occupancy (AOO = 306 km ²), and 32 subpopulations, of which 20 (60%) occur within six protected areas (Ambohitantely, Analamazaotra, Andohahela, Anjanaharibe-Sud, Ranomafana and Zahamena). Following the IUCN Red List threat criteria ( IUCN 2001), this species is assigned a preliminary status of Least Concern (LC).

Figures

FIG. 5. — Distribution of Micronychia minutiflora (H.Perrier) Randrian. & Lowry, mapped on the bioclimatic zones of Madagascar (after Cornet 1974; see Schatz 2000).