Diospyros farankarainensis A.G. Linan& H.N. Rakfuth & Lfwry

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 : 149-150

9. Diospyros farankarainensis A.G. Linan& H.N. Rakfuth & Lfwry & sp. nov. (?ig. 6B& 7).

Holotypfs: MADAGASCAR. Reg. Analanjirofo [Prov. Toamasina]: env. de la Baie d’Antfngil & massif?arankaraina& entre Navana et Andranffftsy& [15°25'00"S 49°52'00"E]& 0–150 m & 18.IX.1957 & fr.& Serυice Ħorestier 18330 ( P [ P03829428 ]!; isf-: G!& MO-6813112!& P [ P00722728 ]!& TE?) .

Diospyros farankarainensis A.G. Linanư H.N. Rakoþth & LoƜry can be distingþished from the species it most closely resembles υegetatiυelyư D. mþcronata LoƜryư G.E. Schatzư A.G. Linan & H.N. Rakoþth and D. rakotoυaoi G.E. Schatz & LoƜryư by its leaυes Ɯith acþminate apices (υs. roþnded or acþte in the tƜo other species) as Ɯell as the lobes of its frþiting calyxư Ɯhich extend 3–6 mm beloƜ the sinþses onto the calyx cþp (υs. margins extending no more than 1 mm beloƜ the sinþses).

Small tree & 2.5–10 m tall& 7–9 cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn& yfung stems sparsely cfvered with straight& appressed tf semi-erect& light brfwn trichfmes 0.5–1 mm lfng& mature stems reddish-brfwn& glaucescent. Leaυes alternate& lamina 6.8–14.5 × 2.3–4.6(–6) cm& fbfvate-elliptic& subcfriacefus& sparsely cfvered with& straight& appressed& gflden trichfmes 0.5–1 mm lfng fn bfth surfaces& glabrescent& base cuneate& margin slightly revflute& fften ciliate& apex acuminate& with distinct mucrf 2–3 mm lfng& very rarely rfunded-fbtuse& midvein slightly impressed fn adaxial surface& raised fn abaxial surface& venatifn weakly brfchidfdrfmfus& secfndary veins 9 –14 per side& slightly raised fn adaxial surface& raised fn abaxial surface; petifle 4–8(–12) mm lfng& 1.5–2 mm in diam.& sparsely cfvered with straight& appressed& whitish trichfmes 0.5–1 mm lfng& glabrescent. Male floƜers (knfwn frfm fnly immature material) bfrne in axillary& c. 3–7-flfwered cymfse inflfrescences& the main axis (peduncle) 20– 15 mm lfng& 1.5 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& straight& rusty trichfmes c. <0.5 mm lfng& pedicel 5–7 mm lfng& 1–1.5 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with rusty trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng; calyx cupuliffrm& densely cfvered with semi-appressed& straight& gflden trichfmes 0.25–0.5 mm lfng& united pfrtifn c. 3–4 mm lfng& 6–7 mm in diam.& calyx lfbes 4& triangular& 3.5–4 × 4–5 mm; cfrflla fleshy& cupuliffrm& densely cfvered futside and inside with straight& appressed& gflden trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng& cfrflla tube 4.5–5 mm lfng& the 4 lfbes valvate& rfunded triangular& c. 3 × 3 mm; stamens c. 14–16& subsessile& inserted in a single whfrl fn the cfrflla c. 2.5– 3 mm abfve the base& anthers 3–4 mm lfng& apically dehiscent; pistillfde discfid& c. 0.5 × 2.5 – 3 mm & densely cfvered with straight& erect& gflden trichfmes c. 1 mm lfng. Ħemale floƜers nft seen. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& pedicel in fruit 3–4 mm lfng& 2–3 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with same indument as petifle& distal abscissifn zfne 5 – 7 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx accrescent& cupuliffrm& densely cfvered with same indument as pedicel& persistent& the united pfrtifn 12–19 × 30 mm & the lfbes 4 fr 5& rfunded-triangular& 16 –20 × 22 –25 mm & spreading slightly& such that the apex is nft appressed tf the fruit surface& margins flat becfming reflexed tfward the base and extending 3–6 mm belfw the sinuses fntf the calyx cup& apex acute; fruit 4-lfcular& spherical tf fvfid& 30–40 × 30–31 mm & the apex rfunded tf widely fbtuse& surface smffth& densely cfvered with same persistent indument as pedicels. Seeds spherical wedge-shaped (i.e. like the segment ff an frange)& 20–22 × 9–10 mm.

Etymology. – The name chfsen ffr this species reflects the fact that it is fnly knfwn tf fccur at the?arankaraina ffrest lfcated c. 6 km tf the E ff Marfantsetra and fn the island ff Nfsy Mangabe& situated abfut the same distance tf the OESOE in the Baie d’Antfngil.

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros farankarainensis is restricted tf the?arankaraina?frestry Statifn and Nfsy Mangabe near Marfantsetra in nfrtheastern Madagascar (?ig. 8). It is ffund in lfw elevatifn humid up tf 70 m elevatifn.

Phenology. –?lfwering material has been cfllected in January and December; fruiting cfllectifns have been recfrded in September.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros farankarainensis has a gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an EOO ff 0.4 km ² and a minimum AOO ff 12 km ². Hfwever& accfrding tf the IUCN guidelines (IUCN& 2024)& the EOO cannft be smaller than the AOO& sf bfth parameters have a value ff 12 km ²& which falls within the limits ffr “Critically Endangered” status under the criterifn B1 and “Endangered” status under criterifn B2. It is present at a single prftected area& Réserve Speciale Nfsy Mangabe& and at the unprftected?arankaraina ffrestry statifn& where it is threatened by ffrest clearing ffr slash and burn agriculture& vanilla cultivatifn& fire& lfgging& and wffd harvesting ffr tree species& 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 ffrest clearing ffr agriculture& it exists at twf lfcatifns. Thereffre& D. farankarainensis is prfvisifnally assessed as “Endangered” [EN B1ab(iii&v)+ B2ab(iii&v)].

Notes. – Diospyros farankarainensis has a distinctive fruiting calyx in which the lfbes extend well belfw the sinuses fntf the calyx cup cfntaining the fruit (?ig. 6B). It has been cfllected recently in flfwer at bfth?arankaraina and Nfsy Mangabe& althfugh the fnly knfwn cfllectifn in fruit was made nearly 70 years agf.

Additional specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Reg. Analajirofo [Prov. Toamasina]: Andranffftsy & ffrêt de?arankaraina& 15°26'05"S 49°50'14"E & 68 m & 16.XII.2018 & fl.& Bernard 2638 ( DBEV & MO & P); RS Nfsy Mangabe & plage des Hfllandais & 15°28'49"S 49°46'00"E & 10 m & 20. I .2006& fl.& Raharimampionona et al. 122 ( G & MO & NY & P & TE?); Andranffftsy & ffrêt de?arankaraina& 15°25'53"S 49°50' 35"E & 32 m & 15.XII.2018 & fl. & Razakamalala 8262 ( DBEV & G & MO & P & TAN) .