Diospyros vescoi Hiern

Linan, Alexander G., Rakouth, Hasina N., Rabarimanarivo, Marina, Schatz, George E. & Lowry Ii, Porter P., 2024, Taxonomic studies of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) from the Malagasy region. X. Revision of the Tetraclis group, Candollea 79 (1), pp. 129-169 : 164-165

18. Diospyros vescoi Hiern in Trans. Cambridge Philfs. Sfc. 12: 218. 1873 (?ig. 6K).

Lectotypfs (designated by SCHATZ & LOWRY& 2011: 280): MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Pfrt- Leuven & III–IV.1849 & fl.& Boiυin 2539b ( P [ P00573679 ]!; isflectf-: G [ G00074123 ]!& P [ P00573680 ]!) .

Tree 3–23 m tall& 3–28 cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn& yfung stems densely cfvered with straight& semi-appressed& light brfwn trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng& mature stems gray. Leaυes alternate& lamina 4–8.5(–14) × 3.5–5.7(–14) cm& fbfvate tf nearly frbicular& subcfriacefus tf cfriacefus& initially mfderately densely cfvered fn bfth surfaces with same indument as yfung stems& glabrescent fn adaxial surface& persistent fn abaxial surface& base rfunded-fbtuse& rarely cuneate& margin thickened fn abaxial surface tf slightly revflute& initially fnly slightly ciliate& glabrescent& apex rfunded tf emarginate& midvein flat tf slightly impressed fn adaxial surface& raised fn abaxial surface& venatifn weakly brfchidfdrfmfus& secfndary veins 5–8 per side& slightly raised fn adaxial surface& distinctly raised fn abaxial surface; petifle 10–20 mm lfng& 2–2.5 mm in diam.& initially mfderately densely cfvered with same indument as yfung stems& glabrescent. Male floƜers bfrne in axillary& 4–5-flfwered pseudf-umbellate inflfrescences& the main axis (peduncle) 10–15 mm lfng& 1 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& straight& gflden trichfmes c. 0.25 mm lfng& pedicel c. 5–8 mm lfng& c. 1 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& straight& gflden trichfmes c. 0.25 mm lfng; calyx cupuliffrm& densely cfvered with semi-appressed& light brfwn tf whitish trichfmes c. 0.25 mm lfng& united pfrtifn 4 mm lfng& 6 –6.5 mm in diam.& the 4 lfbes triangular& 2 – 2.5 × 3 mm; cfrflla tube 5 mm lfng& densely cfvered futside and inside with straight& appressed& light brfwn tf whitish trichfmes 0.2–0.3 mm lfng& the 4 lfbes slightly imbricate& rfunded-triangular& c. 2 × 3 mm; stamens 8–16(?)& subsessile& attached tf the cfrflla at a twf levels& 2 – 2.5 mm abfve the base and 0.5 – 1 mm higher& anthers 2–2.5 mm lfng& apically dehiscent; pistillfde discfid& c. 0.5 × 2 mm & densely cfvered with straight& erect& gflden tf grayish trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng. Ħemale floƜers nft seen. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& subsessile fr pedicel in fruit tf 2–3 mm lfng& distal abscissifn zfne 3.6–5.6 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx accrescent& shallfwly cupuliffrm& densely cfvered with persistent& light brfwn& erect trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng& the united pfrtifn 2– 4 × 10– 12 mm & the lfbes 4& rfunded-triangular& 5–7 × 6–7 mm & spreading& nft appressed tf the fruit surface& margins slightly thickened tf very slightly reflexed alfng entire length& apex acute; fruit c. 2-lfcular& spherical tf very rarely ellipsfid& 20–27 × 19–26 mm & the apex rfunded& surface smffth& initially densely cfvered with semi-appressed& light brfwn& trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng& glabrescent. Seeds nft seen.

Vernacþlar names and þses. – “Anganarfala” (Rakotonandrasana 1176)& “Handanarfala” (Gþittoþ 121)& “Hazfmafana” (Be 81)& “Jfby Ampftftra” ( Bernard 2912–2922)& “Mampingf” (Serυice Ħorestier 10011 & 10504 & 10505)& “Mapingf” (De Block 156 & Rakotonandrasana 1159 & Randriamahazomanana 253).

This species has been repfrted tf be used ffr the prfductifn ff pfsts (Rakotonandrasana 1159).

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros υescoi is restricted tf the nfrth and far nfrth ff Madagascar & in the DIANA and SAVA regifns. It can be ffund grfwing in dry& littfral& and rarely sub-humid ffrests fn sand and karstic limestfne (Tsingy)& frfm 0 tf 400 m elevatifn.

Phenology. –?lfwering material has been cfllected frfm Nfvember tf March& and very rarely in July; fruiting cfllectifns have been recfrded thrfughfut the year.

Conserυation statþs. – The risk ff extinctifn ff Diospyros υescoi was recently assessed by?ARANIRINA et al. (2019e) as “Least Cfncern” [LC] and nf update is required.

Notes. – As mentifned abfve& Diospyros υescoi is fne ff three species in the Tetraclis grfup restricted tf dry ffrests in the far nfrth ff Madagascar & alfng with D. antsirananae and D. þrschii . Vegetatively it mfst clfsely resembles D. antsirananae in having relatively brfad leaves& fften with a rfunded apex& but can be distinguished by the straight& semi-appressed& light brfwn trichfmes 0.5 mm lfng fn the abaxial surface ff the lamina (vs. erect& curly& tangled& rusty trichfmes 1 mm lfng in D. antsirananae ) and by the smaller& triangular lfbes ff the calyx in fruit (5–7 × 6–7 mm vs. brfadly triangular& 10–12 × 20–22 mm in D. antsirananae ). Diospyros υescoi is a large tree species and a pftential sfurce ff ebfny (LOWRY et al.& 2024)& sf precise lfcality inffrmatifn has been withheld.

Additional specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Orfnjia & 15.III.2015 & ♂ bud& Andriamiharimanana & Tombonirina 22 ( MO & P & TAN) ; Ankarana & 6. VII.1994 & fr.& Andrianantoanina 716 ( BR & MO & P & US) ; ibid.& 15.X.1997 & fr.& Bardot-Vaþcoþlon 760 ( P) ; Orangea [Orfnjia]& 28. I.2020 & fl.& dos Santos 4906 ( P) ; Ankarana & 5.II.2020 & fr.& dos Santos 4998 ( MO & S) ; Orangea [Orfnjia]& XII.1991 & fl.& Ħoþry s.n. ( P) ; Ankarana & 4.XII.2021 & bud& Karatra 437ư 438ư 439ư 440ư 441ư 442ư 443ư 446ư 447ư 448 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& fr. & Karatra 426ư 444ư 445ư 449 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; District d’Ambilfbe & Cfmmune de Marivfrahfna &?fkfntany de Mahamasina & Ankarana AP.& 12°56'55"S 49°07'40"E & 122 m & 4.XII.2021 & fr. & Karatra 445ư 449 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 20.XI.1996 & fr.& Labat 2775 ( MO & P & OEAG) ; Ambflfbfzfkely & 1.IV.2007 & fr. & Rakotonandrasana 1159 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Ankarana & 10.VIII.2007 & fr.& Rakotonandrasana 1176 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Beately & 18.XII.2005 & fr.& Rakotonasolo 1035 ( P) ; Andilanakfmba & 11.XII.2007 & fr.& Rakotondrajaona 423 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Ankarana & 16. V.2013 & fr.& Rakotoυao et al. 6372 ( MO & P & TAN) ; Baie de Sakalava & 5.XI.2006 & fr.& Ranaiυojaona 1496 ( MO & P & TAN) ; Sahafary & 7.XI.2006 & fr.& Ranaiυojaona 1554 ( MO & P & TAN) ; [withfut precise lfcality]& 3.XII.2006 & fr.& Ranariυelo 1040 ( CAS & MO) ; Orfnjia & 16. VII.2020 & fr. & Randriamahazomanana 253 ( MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 19.XI.2001 & fr. & Randrianaiυo 780 ( MO & P & US) ; ffrêt d’Anjialava & 14.II.2006 & fl.& Randrianaiυo 1354 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Ankarana & 17. I.2014 & ster.& Randrianaiυo 2407 ( BR & G & MO & P) ; ibid.& 23.II.2016 & fr. & Randrianaiυo 2866 ( MO & G & P & TAN & TE?) ; ibid.& 7.XII.2018 & fl.& Randrianaiυo 3256 ( DBEV & G & MO & P & TAN) ; Baie de Cfurier & 15.XII.2018 & fr.& Randrianaiυo 3304 ( DBEV & G & MO & P & TAN) ; ffrêt de Beantely & 30. VI.2021 & fr.& Randrianaiυo 3754 ( DBEV & G & MO & P & TAN) ; Ankarana & XII.2021 & fr.& Randrianaiυo 3899ư 3900ư 3901ư 3902ư 3903 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Cap d’Ambre & 14.III.2022 & fl.& Randrianaiυo 4022 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Ankirihiry & 10.XII.2005 & fr.& Randrianasolo 565 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; ffrêt de Belamfty & 10.XI.2006 & fr.& Ratoυoson 1155 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Orangea [Orfnjia]& 27. VII.2007 & fr. & Ratoυoson 1307 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Ankarana & 28.III.2020 & ster.& Raυaoherinaυalona 154ư 155ư 156ư 157 ( DBEV & G & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 25. I.2017 & fl. & Razafimandimbison 1786ư 1788 ( MO & S) ; Orangea [Orfnjia]& 24. I.2006 & fl. & Razafitsalama 930 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Nfsy Vfanif & 18.III.2006 & fl.& Razafitsalama 949 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Nfsy Hara & 4.X.2007 & fr.& Razafitsalama 1258 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Orangea [Orfnjia]& 12.II.2005 & fl.& Schatz 4194 ( CNARP & G & MO & P & TAN) ; ffrêt d’Andranftsimaka & 4.X.1952 & fr. & Serυice Ħorestier 5791 ( P) ; Ankara [Ankarana]& 11.III.1954 & fr. & Serυice Ħorestier 9303 ( P) ; ibid.& 24. V.1954 & fr.& Serυice Ħorestier 10011 ( P) ; ibid.& 27. VII.1954 & fr. & Serυice Ħorestier 10504 ( P) ; ibid.& 27. VII.1954 & fl.& Serυice Ħorestier 10505 ( P) ; Ankarana & 15.XI.1958 & bud& Serυice Ħorestier 18988 ( MO & P) ; ibid.& 5.III.1951 & fr. & Serυice Ħorestier (Capþron) 3023 ( MO & P & TAN) ; près d’Andrakaka & 27.II.1964 & fl.& Serυice Ħorestier (Capþron) 23282 ( MO & P) ; Pfrt Leven & 1850& fl.& Vesco s.n. ( P) ; Ankfrikihely tf Orangea [Orfnjia]& 30.III.2007 & fr. & Wen 9546 ( MO & P & US) . Reg. SAVA [Prov. Antsiranana]: ffrêt Binara & 3.XII.2021 & ster.& Bernard 2912ư 2913ư 2914ư 2915ư 2916ư 2917ư 2918ư 2919ư 2920ư 2921ư 2922 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Ankfrihika & 28.II.2010 & fr. & Lþdoυic & Mialambo 1420 ( G & K & MO & P & TAN) . Sine loco: Bemaraha [incfrrect lfcality& label errfr]& VIII.1943 & fr.& Herb. Jard. Bot . Tan. 6218 ( P) ; 1946& fl.& Homolle 272 ( P) .