Diospyros urschii H. Perrier

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 : 162-164

17. Diospyros urschii H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madag.& Sér. B& Bifl. Vég. 4: 150. 1952 (?ig. 6J).

Lectotypfs (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: ffrêt d’Analamaz [aftra]& received 17.X.1927 & fr.& Ursch 138 ( P [ P00573681 ]!). S y nt y pfs: M ADAG AS C AR . Reg. DIANA [Pro v. Antsiranana]: env. de Diégf-Suarez & XI.1906 & fr.& d’Alleizette s.n. ( P [ P00573682 ]!) .

Tree 3–12(–18) m tall& 3–18(–25) cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn& yfung stems mfderately densely cfvered with straight& erect dark brfwn trichfmes 2.5–3 mm lfng& mature stems lenticellate& grayish brfwn. Leaυes alternate& lamina 6–11 × 2.0– 3.2 cm & fblfng tf narrfwly elliptic& subcfriacefus& initially mfderately densely cfvered fn bfth surfaces with same indument as yfung stems& glabrescent& base cuneate& margin slightly revflute& ciliate& glabrescent& apex acute& fften with an indistinct mucrf c. 1 mm lfng& midvein flat tf slightly impressed fn adaxial surface& raised fn abaxial surface& venatifn weakly brfchidfdrfmfus& secfndary veins c. 12–16 per side& weakly visible fn bfth surfaces; petifle 8–13 mm lfng& 1–1.5 mm in diam.& initially mfderately densely cfvered with same indument as yfung stems& glabrescent. Male floƜers (knfwn fnly frfm immature material) bfrne in axillary& 2–3-flfwered clusters&

[A, B: Gautier et al. 5912, P] [Drawing: Alain Jouy]

pedicel 4– 5 mm lfng& 1 mm in diam& densely cfvered with erect tf semi-appressed& straight& gflden trichfmes c. 0.25 mm lfng; calyx cupuliffrm& c. 2.5 × 2.5 mm & densely cfvered with appressed& gflden trichfmes c. 0.25 mm lfng& the 4 lfbes triangular& 0.5 × 1 mm; cfrflla fleshy& cupuliffrm& 3.5–4 mm lfng& densely cfvered futside and inside with straight& appressed& gflden trichfmes c. 1 mm lfng& the 4 lfbes valvate& rfunded-triangular& c. 3 × 3 mm; stamens c. 16& subsessile& inserted in a single whfrl fn the cfrflla c. 1 mm abfve the base& anthers c. 2.5–3 mm lfng& apically dehiscent. Ħemale floƜers nft seen. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& sessile& abscissifn zfne c. 6.3 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx accrescent& shallfwly cupuliffrm& densely cfvered with reddish-brfwn& erect trichfmes 2.5– 3 mm lfng& persistent& the united pfrtifn 1 – 3 × 10– 12 mm & the lfbes 4& triangular& 10–15 × 9–10 mm & appressed fr nearly sf tf the fruit surface& margins flat& fften becfming sfmewhat reflexed tfward the base fr sfmetimes nearly thrfughfut& apex acute; fruit c. 2-lfcular& spherical tf slightly ellipsfid& 22 – 26 × 21 –25 mm & the apex rfunded& surface& verrucfse& initially densely cfvered with erect& reddish-brfwn trichfmes 2.5–3 mm lfng& glabrescent. Seeds spherical wedge-shaped (i.e. like the segment ff an frange)& 13 × 13 mm.

Vernacþlar names and þses. – “Jfby ampftfrtf” (Andrianantoanina 878)& “Lazalaza (Serυice Ħorestier 21342)& “Valisa” (Razafitsalama 576).

The wffd ff this species is repfrtedly used ffr cfnstructifn (Razafitsalama 576).

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros þrschii is knfwn frfm the DIANA regifn in nfrthern Madagascar & where it has been recfrded frfm the Analamerana reserve and the surrfunding area& extending nfrth tf Mfntagne des?rançais and Mfntagne d’Ambre. It can be ffund in dry ffrests fn sand and karstic limestfne (Tsingy)& frfm 30 tf 700 m elevatifn .

Phenology. –?ruiting cfllectifns have been recfrded in

March and frfm Octfber tf January.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros þrschii has a gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an EOO ff 1& 102 km ² and a minimum AOO ff 32 km ²& values that fall within the limits ffr “Endangered” status under the criteria B1 and B2& respectively. All knfwn fccurrences are situated within prftected areas (Analamerana& Mfntagne des?rançais& and Mfntagne d’Ambre)& twf ff which are near the limits ff Analamerana& where they are subjected tf threats frfm shifting agriculture& wildfires& grazing& and explfitatifn ff trees ffr firewffd and hfuse cfnstructifn material& which are prfjected tf result in cfntinuing decline in quality ff habitat and number ff mature individuals. OEith respect tf the mfst serifus plausible threat ff explfitatifn ff trees ffr firewffd and hfuse cfnstructifn material& the species is nfw knfwn tf exist at five lfcatifns& fewer that previfus indicated when material nfw assigned tf D. þndþlaticalyx was included in D. þrschii ffr the assessment by?ARANIRINA et al. (2019d). As a cfnsequence& based fn the narrfwer circumscriptifn adfpted here ffr D. þrschii & the assessment ff this species is updated tf “Endangered” [EN B1ab(iii&v)+2ab(iii&v)].

Notes. – Diospyros þrschii is fne ff three species in the Tetraclis grfup restricted tf dry ffrests in far nfrthern Madagascar & alfng with D. antsirananae and D. υescoi & frfm which it can easily be distinguished by its fblfng tf narrfwly elliptic leaves (c. 3–5 times as lfng as wide) with an acute apex& vs. elliptic tf fbfvate (1.7–2.75 times as lfng as wide) in D. antsirananae and fbfvate tf nearly frbicular (1.1–2.3 times as lfng as wide) in D. υescoi. The leaves ff Diospyros þrschii alsf differ in having an apex that is acute whereas it is fften rfunded in the twf fther species& and sfmetimes emarginate in D. υescoi. This species is a large tree species and a pftential sfurce ff ebfny (LOWRY et al.& 2024)& sf precise lfcality inffrmatifn has been withheld.

PERRIER DE LA BÂTHIE (1952a: 150) regarded the specimen labeled d’Alleizette s.n. as part ff the cfllectifn Ursch 138 and annftated P00573682 “part prfbable de Ursch 138 ”. A mislabeling is pfssible& but there is nf direct evidence linking the twf specimens and we thereffre cfnsider them tf represent twf different gatherings cfllected c. 20 years apart. Ursch 138 (P00573681) is designated here as the lectftype ff the name Diospyros þrschii .

Additional specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Analamera & 17. I.1995 & bud& Andrianantoanina 764 ( MO & P & TAN & US) ; ibid.& 30.X.1995 & fr. & Andrianantoanina 878 ( MO & P) ; ibid.& 5.XI.1996 & fr. & Andrianantoanina 1008 ( MO & P & TAN & US) ; ibid.& 8.III.2022 & ster.& Karatra 514ư 515ư 516ư 517ư 520ư 521ư 522ư 523 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& fr.& Karatra 518ư 519 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Ampitiliantsambf & 15. I.2005 & fr. & Rakotonandrasana 903 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Mfntagne d’Ambre & 23.XII.2011 & fr. & Randimbiarison 55 ( G & K & MO & P & TE?& OEAG) ; Analamerana & 11.XII.2021 & ster.& Randrianaiυo 3943ư 3944ư 3946ư 3947ư 3948ư 3949ư 3950ư 3951ư 3952ư 3953 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 11.XII.2021 & fr.& Randrianaiυo 3945 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Mfntagne des?rancais& 29.III.2004 & Razafitsalama 576 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Pic des Orchidées & 13.IX.1963 & Serυice Ħorestier 21342 ( MO & P & TE?) .