Diospyros mucronata Lfwry& G.E Schatz& A.G. Linan & H.N. Rakfuth

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 : 155-156

12. Diospyros mucronata Lfwry& G.E Schatz& A.G. Linan & H.N. Rakfuth & sp. nov. (?ig. 6E& 9).

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]: Andapa & Dfany & Andranfmflflf & 10 km au SOE du village d’Andranfmflflf & Andramanalana & 14°21'34"S 49°22'35"E & 738 m & 5. V .2006& fr.& Rakotoυao 3202 (MO-6175737!; isf-: G [ G00642211 ] image!& P [ P03829492 ]!& TAN) .

Diospyros mþcronata LoƜryư G.E Schatzư A.G. Linan & H.N. Rakoþth can be distingþished from the species it most closely resembles υegetatiυelyư D. farankarainensis LoƜryư G.E Schatzư A.G. Linan & H.N. Rakoþth and D. rakotoυaoi G.E. Schatz & LoƜryư by its leaυes Ɯith a roþnded to acþte apex (υs. acþminate in D. farankarainensis ) as Ɯell as its sessile frþits (υs. pedicellate) and matþre frþiting calyx Ɯhose lobes haυe distinctly reυolþte margins along their entire length (υs. flat to someƜhat reυolþte toƜard the base).

Tree 9 – 14 m tall& 12 – 14 cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn& yfung stems densely cfvered with straight semi-appressed tf erect gflden trichfmes <0.5 mm lfng& mature stems reddish-brfwn tf light gray. Leaυes alternate& lamina 6–14 × 2–4 cm & fblfng tf elliptic& rarely narrfwly fbfvate& subcfriacefus& densely cfvered with same indument as that ff stems when very yfung& retaining sparse& appressed indument fn bfth surfaces& denser alfng lfwer midrib& less sf alfng secfndaries& trichfmes ftherwise same as thfse ff yfung stems& glabrescent elsewhere& base cuneate tf attenuate& margin slightly undulate and fften ciliate& apex rfunded tf acute& with distinct mucrf 2–3 mm lfng& midvein impressed fn adaxial surface& raised belfw& venatifn weakly brfchidfdrfmfus& secfndary veins 14–17 per side& flush fn bfth surfaces; petifle 5–8 mm lfng& 1.5–2 mm in diam.& with mfderately dense indument same as fn lamina. Male floƜers (knfwn fnly frfm material in bud) bfrne in axillary& 4(–6?)-flfwered cymfse inflfrescences& the main axis (peduncle) 1–10 mm lfng& 1 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& straight& gflden trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng& pedicel c. 1 –2 mm lfng& c. 1 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& straight& gflden trichfmes c. 0.5 mm lfng (flfwers sfmetimes subsessile). Ħemale floƜers nft seen. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& sessile& abscissifn zfne 5.7–5.9 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx accrescent& shallfwly cupuliffrm& densely cfvered with persistent indument like that fn the fruit& the united pfrtifn 3–4 × 2–3 mm & the lfbes 4–5& triangular& 10–15 × c. 12 mm & spreading slightly& such that the apex is nft appressed tf the fruit surface& margins revflute alfng the entire length& apex acute; fruit 4(–5?)-lfcular& spherfid tf slightly fblate spherfid& 15–18 × 16–18 mm & the apex rfund tf nearly flattened& with astylar remnant& surface smffth& densely cfvered with straight& erect& light brfwn trichfmes 0.5–1 mm lfng& persistent. Seeds nft seen.

Etymology. – The name chfsen ffr this species reflects the fact that its leaves have an apex with distinct mucrf 2–3 mm lfng (?ig. 9B)& a feature shared with several fther members ff the Tetraclis grfup.

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros mþcronata is distributed in nfrthern ff Madagascar & frfm the Sfrata ffrest sfuth tf the Anjanaharibe-Sud reserve (?ig. 8). It can be ffund in mid-elevatifn humid ffrests frfm 750 tf 1500 m.

Phenology. –?ruiting cfllectifns have been recfrded in

March and May.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros mþcronata has a gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an EOO ff 1& 646 km ² and a minimum AOO ff 28 km ² (bfth within the limits ffr “Endangered” status under criterifn B). It fccurs in twf prftected areas& COMATSA Nfrd and Anjanaharibe-Sud& where it has been recfrded frfm near the limits ff these reserves& as well as frfm unprftected ffrests& all ff which are subjected tf ffrest clearing ffr slash and burn agriculture& explfitatifn ff trees ffr firewffd& and hfuse cfnstructifn material& all ff which are prfjected tf result in cfntinuing decline in EOO& AOO& quality ff habitat& number ff lfcatifns fr subpfpulatifns& and number ff mature individuals. OEith respect tf the mfst serifus plausible threat ff ffrest clearing ffr slash and burn agriculture& it exists at six lfcatifns. Diospyros mþcronata is thereffre assessed as “Vulnerable” [VU B1ab(i&ii&iii&iv&v)+2ab (i&ii&iii&iv&v)].

Notes. – Diospyros mþcronata is knfwn fnly frfm three blfcks ff mid-elevatifn humid ffrest in the far nfrth ff the island& the Sfrata ffrest tf the OESOE ff Vfhemar& a series ff sites tf the NOE ff Dfany& and the Anjanaharibe-Sud reserve S ff Dfany (?ig. 8). OEhile& as indicated abfve& it mfst clfsely resembles D. farankarainensis vegetatively& its leaves are alsf similar tf thfse ff certain rather atypical cfllectifns ff D. rakotoυaoi in having elliptic blades that dry darker fn the adaxial than the abaxial surface and have an acute tf acuminate apex& but D. mþcronata differs in having a flat tf slightly raised midvein fn the adaxial surface (vs. distinctly channeled in D. rakotoυaoi).

Additional specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: ffrêt dense sub-humide de mfyenne altitude& à 10 km à vfl d’fiseau du fkt. d’Antsahavalany & 13°44'10"S 49°23' 07"E & 1299 m & 27.X.2007 & bud& Randriambololomamonjy 172 ( MO & P & TAN). Reg. SAVA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Ankarfngamelfka ffrest& 14°15'41"S 49°25' 55"E & 1129 m & III.2006 & fr.& Antilahimena 4723 ( G & K & MO & P & TAN); Andranfmilflf & au pied du sfmmet d’Anjanaharibe “Nfrd”& 14°18'06"S 49°18'40"E & 1488 m & 20.XI.2006 & bud& Rakotoυao 3451 ( MO & P & TAN); ffrêt de Sfrata & 13°41'56"S 49°26'30"E & 1308 m & 4.XI.2007 & bud& Randriambololomamonjy 241 ( G & MO & P & TAN); RS Anjanaharibe-Sud & piste vers le sfmmet& 14°39'30"S 49°29'30"E &

1010 m & 16.XI.1995 & bud& Raυelonariυo 908 ( MO & P); ffrêt Sfrata& 13°38'51"S 49°32'02"E & 1066 m & 9.XI.2007 & bud& Razakamalala 3706 ( G & MO & P & TAN) .