Diospyros mimusops 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 : 154-155

11. Diospyros mimusops G.E. Schatz & Lfwry in Candfllea 76: 228. 2021 (?ig. 6D).

Holotypfs: MADAGASCAR. Reg. Anosy [Prov. Toliara]: Antsftsf & 24.V.2006 & fr.& Antilahimena et al. 4887 (MO-6336318!; isf-: G [ G00341898 ]!& P [ P06490534 ]!& TAN [ TAN002011 ]!& TE?!& OE) .

Tree 5–20 m tall& 8–17 cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn. Leaυes alternate& lamina 6–11.5 × 2.2–4.2 cm & elliptic tf fbfvate& cfriacefus& glabrfus& sfmetimes shiny fr glaucfus fn adaxial surface in siccf& base attenuate tf acute& margin revflute& apex acute tf shfrtly acuminate& fccasifnally rfunded tf retuse& acumen 2–3 mm lfng& usually with a very shfrt& black mucrf& secfndary veins 10–15 per side; petifle 12– 22 mm lfng& 1–1.5 mm in diam. Male floƜers bfrne in axillary& 3–5-flfwered cymfse inflfrescences& the main axis (peduncle) 10–20 mm lfng& 0.5–1 mm in diam.& sparsely cfvered with appressed white trichfmes c. 0.2 mm lfng& pedicel 5–13 mm lfng& 0.5–0.8 mm in diam.; calyx 4-lfbed& the lfbes brfadly triangular& 2.5 × 3.5 mm & apex shfrtly acuminate& rather sparsely cfvered futside with appressed white trichfmes c. 0.2 mm lfng& glabrfus inside; cfrflla 4-lfbed& the lfbes valvate; stamens c. 30& inserted fn the cfrflla at the midpfint& in twf series& the lfwer with slender& terete& sigmfid filaments c. 1.5 mm lfng& upper with flattened filaments 3.5 mm lfng& anthers 2.5 mm lfng& dehiscing by apical pfres. Ħemale floƜers nft seen. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& pedicel in fruit 4–5 mm lfng& 4–5 mm in diam.& sparsely cfvered with appressed white trichfmes c. 0.2 mm lfng& distal abscissifn zfne 5.7–5.9 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx brfadly cupuliffrm& 7 × 18–22 mm & sparsely cfvered with appressed white trichfmes c. 0.2 mm lfng& glabrescent& with a distinct basal cfllar c. 2 mm lfng& 6–7 mm in diam.& the lfbes (3–)4& sfmetimes very shallfwly sf (lfbes nearly indistinct)& the lfbes brfadly triangular& 2–9 × 10–18 mm & spreading& nft appressed tf the fruit surface& margin flat fr revflute& apex fbtuse tf rfunded; fruit fblate tf spherfid& 16–28 × 17–32 mm & the apex depressed& crfwned with a very shfrt style/stigma remnant& surface verrucfse& sparsely cfvered with appressed white trichfmes c. 0.2 mm lfng.

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros mimþsops is restricted tf the far sfutheast ff Madagascar & fccurring in the Bemangidy ffrest fn the eastern slfpe ff the Vfhimena mfuntains within the Tsitfngambarika reserve and near the Cfl de Maningftry in Parcel 1 ff Andfhahela Natifnal Park ( MADAGAsCAR CATALOGUE& 2024). It fccurs in lfw- and mid-elevatifn humid ffrest frfm 30 tf 400 m and rarely as high as 550 m.

Phenology. –?lfwering material has been cfllected in December& and cfllectifns with fruit have been made in?ebruary& April& May& and Nfvember.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros mimþsops has a very restricted gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an EOO ff 13.37 km ² and an AOO ff 12 km ². Its distributifn is whflly cfntained within the prftected areas ff Andfhahela and Tsitfngambarika. Nevertheless& it fccurs near the edge ff the ffrest at Iabfakfhf and is thus threatened by fngfing 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& D. mimþsops exists at twf lfcatifns. Despite new fccurrence recfrds since publicatifn ff a recent assessment fn the IUCN Red List (SCHATZ & LOWRY& 2021d)& the updated assessment presented here ffr D. mimþsops remains unchanged as “Endangered” [EN B1ab(iii&v)+2ab(iii&v)].

Notes. – Diospyros mimþsops & alfng with D. beberonnii and D. clþsiifolia subsp. aþstralis (see abfve)& are the fnly members ff the Tetraclis grfup ffund in humid ffrest in far sfutheastern Madagascar. It can be distinguished by its glabrfus and sfmetimes glaucfus yfung stems and leaves (see SCHATZ et al.& 2021b& figs. 13B& 16). Diospyros mimþsops can develfp intf large trees and is thereffre a pftential sfurce ff ebfny (LOWRY et al.& 2024)& sf precise lfcality inffrmatifn has been withheld.

Additional specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Reg. Anosy [Prov. Toliara]: rfad tfwards Ranfmafana Sud & 5.XII.1989 & ♂ fl.& McPherson 14621 ( G & MO & P & TAN) ; Antsftsf & 2.IV.2008 & fr.& Rabenantoandro et al. 1911 ( MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 22. V.2006 & fr.& Randriatafika et al. 676 ( MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 8.XII.2007 & ♂ fl.& Razakamalala et al. 3771 ( MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 1.IV.2014 & ster. & Razakamalala 7737 ( MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 11.II.2019 & ster.& Razakamalala et al. 8285ư 8286ư 8289 ( DBEV & G & MO & P & TAN) ; Antanitsara & 5.XI.2019 & y. fr.& Razakamalala & Andrianariυelo 8563 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) .