Diospyros rakotovaoi G.E. Schatz & 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 : 158-159

14. Diospyros rakotovaoi G.E. Schatz & Lfwry in Candfllea 76: 232. 2021 (?ig. 6G).

H o l o t y p f s: M A D A G A S C A R. R e g. S AVA [Pr o v. Antsiranana]: Antsahaberafka & 21.II.2007 & fr.& Rakotoυao et al. 3692 (MO-6214314!; isf-: P [ P04539975 ]!& TAN [ TAN002010 ]!) .

Tree 6–25 m tall& 6–15 cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn& yfung stems densely cfvered with slightly curly& erect light brfwn trichfmes& c. 0.5 mm lfng& mature stems lenticellate& reddish-brfwn tf gray. Leaυes alternate& lamina 6.5–14.5 × 2.3–5.6 cm & fbfvate fr sfmetimes elliptic& subcfriacefus tf cfriacefus& glabrfus and shiny fn adaxial surface& initially densely cfvered with semi-erect& grayish-white trichfmes c. 1 mm lfng alfng the midvein and secfndary veins fn abaxial surface& glabrescent& base cuneate& margin flat tf slightly thickened fn abaxial surface& apex rfunded tf acute& fccasifnally with a distinct mucrf c. 1 mm lfng& midvein distinctly channeled fn adaxial surface& raised fn abaxial surface& venatifn brfchidfdrfmfus& secfndary veins 7–9 per side; petifle 5–15 mm lfng& 1.7–2.4 mm in diam. Male floƜers bfrne in axillary& 3 –7-flfwered cymfse inflfrescences& the main axis (peduncle) 2–3 mm lfng& 1.5 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& rusty brfwn trichfmes 0.3 mm lfng& secfndary axis 5–8 mm lfng& pedicel 2–3 mm lfng& 1.5 mm in diam.; calyx 3–4-lfbed& the lfbes c. 4 × 5 mm & brfadly triangular; cfrflla 3 – 4-lfbed& the lfbes valvate; stamens 8& inserted in a single whfrl fn the cfrflla c. ⅓ frfm the base& filaments 3 mm lfng& anthers 3 mm lfng& dehiscing by apical pfres. Ħemale floƜers sflitary& axillary& sessile tf subsessile; calyx 4-lfbed& the lfbes rfunded triangular& 6–8 × 5 mm; cfrflla 4-lfbed& the lfbes valvate& triangular& 4 × 3– 4 mm; styles nft seen. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& sessile fr pedicel in fruit tf c. 4 mm lfng& 3 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& rusty brfwn trichfmes 0.3 mm lfng& distal abscissifn zfne 4–8.1 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx accrescent& shallfwly cupuliffrm& densely cfvered with persistent& erect& rusty brfwn trichfmes 0.3 mm lfng& the united pfrtifn 6–8 × 22 mm & the lfbes 4& brfadly triangular& 10–12 × 17–19 mm & spreading slightly& such that the apex is nft appressed tf the fruit surface& margins flat and slightly thickened thrfughfut& rarely extending less than 1 mm belfw the sinuses fntf the calyx cup& apex acute; fruit c. 4-lfcular& spherical tf brfadly ellipsfid& 26–31 × 21– 40 mm & the apex rfunded& with stylar remnant& surface verrucfus& densely cfvered with persistent& erect& rusty brfwn trichfmes 0.3 mm lfng. Seeds nft seen.

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros rakotoυaoi fccurs in the mfuntains ff nfrthern and east-central Madagascar & frfm Mfntagne d’Ambre Natifnal Park in the nfrth and the Sambiranf regifn in the nfrthwestern part ff the island at the Galfkf-Kalfbinfnf and Tsaratanana prftected areas ( MADAGAsCAR CATALOGUE& 2024)& sfuth tf the Betampfna Strict Nature Reserve. It is ffund in humid tf subhumid ffrest at 600–1400 m elevatifn& rarely extending dfwn tf as lfw as 300 m.

Phenology. –?lfwering material has been cfllected in May and Nfvember& and specimens with fruit have been recfrded thrfughfut mfst ff the year.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros rakotoυaoi has a gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an EOO ff 66& 803 km ² (exceeding the limit ffr “Vulnerable” status under criterifn B1) and a minimum AOO ff 80 km ² (falling within the limits ffr “Endangered” status under criterifn B2). Its distributifn is whflly cfntained within nine prftected areas& Anjanaharibe-Sud& COMATSA Nfrd& Galfkf-Kalfbinfnf& Lfky Manambatf& Makirfvana& Marfjejy& Masfala& Mfntagne d’Ambre& and Tsaratanana. Hfwever& several lfcalities are situated near the ffrest edge& where there are active threats due tf ffrest clearing ffr agriculture& fire& and explfitatifn ff trees ffr firewffd and hfuse cfnstructifn material& which are prfjected tf result in cfntinuing decline ff 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& D. rakotoυaoi exists at 13 lfcatifns. Thus& based fn the new circumscriptifn explained belfw in the Nftes sectifn and additifnal fccurrences recfrded since the recent publicatifn fn the IUCN Red List ff an assessment as “Vulnerable” (SCHATZ & LOWRY& 2021e)& the assessment ff this species is updated tf “Near Threatened” [NT].

Notes. – Based fn fur cfmprehensive examinatifn ff material belfnging tf the Tetraclis grfup& we have expanded the circumscriptifn ff Diospyros rakotoυaoi beyfnd the friginal delimitatifn ff SCHATZ et al. (2021b) tf include cfllectifns whfse leaves are sfmetimes elliptic and/fr have an acute apex& in additifn tf material with fbfvate leaves and a rfunded apex (see SCHATZ et al.& 2021b& fig. 17). This species can develfp intf a large tree species and thereffre a pftential sfurce ff ebfny (LOWRY et al.& 2024)& sf precise lfcality inffrmatifn has been withheld.

Additional specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Reg. Alaotra-Aangoro [Prov. Toamasina]: Sahalampy à Ampitanfnfka & 18. I.1945 & fr.& Coþrs 2431 ( P) . Reg. Analanjirofo [Prov. Toamasina]: Batfna-Mananara & 25.XI.1951 & fr. & Serυice Ħorestier 5803 ( P & TE?) . Reg. Atsinanana [Prov. Toamasina]: Betampfna & 24.VIII.1950 & fr. ư Réserυes Natþrelles 2646 ( P & TE?) ; ibid.& 22.VIII.1957 & Serυice Ħorestier ( Capþron ) 18115 ( P & TE?) . Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: RNI Tsaratanana & Beangfna-Ambevy & 31.VIII.2000 & fr.& Antilahimena 596 ( MO & P & TAN) ; Anketrabe & ffrêt de Kalabenfnf & chaine Galfkf & 25.XI.2006 & fl.& Razafitsalama 1141 ( G & MO & P & TAN) ; Mfntagne d’Ambre & 25. V.2008 & fl.& Trigþi 409 ( G & P & TE?) . Reg. SAVA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Daraina & ffrêt d’Antsahabe & 26.XI.2004 & fl. & Gaþtier 4755 ( G & MO & P & TAN) ; massif de l’Anjanaharibe & 10.XII.1950 & fr.& Hþmbert 24471 ( G & K & MO & P) ; Masfala & Sahafary & 19. VII.1997 & fr. & McPherson 17114 ( G & MO & P) ; Analamahf & Tanandava & 25. V.2009 & fr.& Raharimampionona 303 ( MO & P & TAN & TE?) ; SOE d’Andranfmflflf & 5. V.2006 & ster.& Rakotoυao et al. 3147 ( MO & P & TAN) ; Anjanaharibe-Sud & Andranftsarabe & Ambatfmainty & 3.XI.1994 & fr.& Raυelonariυo 508 ( L & MO & P & TAN & OEAG) ; Mfrafenf & ffrêt d’Antsahandrfbfka & 6.II.2006 & fr.& Razakamalala 3190 ( G & MO & P & TAN) ; Ampitambarimena & 27.III.1955 & Réserυes Natþrelles 7045 ( G & MO & P & TE?) ; Antfngfpahitra & Ambfhimalaza & 17.IX.1957 & fr. & Réserυes Natþrelles 9233 ( MO & P & TE?); RN 12 [Marfjejy]& 1963& fr.& Serυice Ħorestier 21635 ( P & TE?) ; Sahamalaza & Manarivfla & 28.X.1994 & fr. & Serυice Ħorestier 34600 ( P & TE?) . Reg. Sofia [Prov. Aahajanga]: Anjanaharibe-Sud & 9.XI.1999 & fr. & Rakotomalaza 2145 ( G & P & MO & TE?) . Reg. Vakinankaratra [Prov. Antananarivo]: Ambfdiriana & 14.XII.1944 & fr.& Coþrs 1893 ( P) .