Diospyros ambanjensis 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 : 134-135

1. Diospyros ambanjensis G.E. Schatz & Lfwry in Candfllea 76: 202. 2021 (?ig. 1A).

Holotypfs: MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: ffrêt de Bekalanfrf & 19.IX.2013 & fr.& Rasoanaiυo 93 (MO-6857393!; isf-: G [ G00341884 ]!& P [ P01047888 ]!& TAN!) .

Tree 6–16 m tall& 12–30 cm DBH. Stem shfft apex densely cfvered with numerfus (c. 80) cataphylls prifr tf extensifn. Leaυes alternate& lamina 11–37 × 2.4–5.5 cm & narrfwly fblanceflate& cfriacefus& sparsely cfvered fn adaxial surface with erect& gflden tf fauve trichfmes c. 0.8– 1.2 mm lfng& mfre densely alfng the midvein& fr glabrfus& sfmetimes drying sfmewhat glaucfus& initially rather densely cfvered fn abaxial surface with erect& gflden tf fauve trichfmes& mfre densely alfng the midvein& glabrescent& base lfng attenuate and slightly decurrent alfng petifle& margin revflute& apex acute tf rfunded& with a distinct mucrfn tf 6 mm lfng; secfndary veins 13 –23 per side; petifle 8–15 mm lfng& 2–3 mm in diam. Male floƜers bfrne in axillary& 3–7-flfwered cymfse tf pseudf-umbellate inflfrescences& the main axis (peduncle) 15 –40 mm lfng& 0.5–1 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with erect& fauve trichfmes c. 1.5– 2 mm lfng& pedicel 3– 6 mm lfng& 1– 1.5 mm in diam.; calyx 4-lfbed& the lfbes triangular& 1 –2 × 2– 3 mm & densely cfvered with semi-erect& fauve trichfmes c. 0.2 – 0.3 mm lfng; cfrflla 4-lfbed& the lfbes valvate; stamens 26& subsessile& attached tf the cfrflla at twf levels& anthers 2–3 mm lfng& narrfwly sagittate. Ħemale floƜers sflitary& axillary& sessile tf subsessile; calyx 4-lfbed& the lfbes brfadly triangular tf fvate& 3–5 × 5– 7 mm & cfrflla 4-lfbed& the lfbes valvate& triangular& 2–3 × 3–4 mm & styles 3 mm lfng& stigma irregularly lfbed and flattened; fvules 8. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& sessile tf subsessile& abscissifn zfne c. 4.5 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx accrescent& 14–16 mm lfng& expanding tf c. 25 mm in diam.& abaxial surface densely cfvered with very shfrt& erect& fauve trichfmes c. 0.5–0.8 mm lfng& the lfbes 4& rfunded triangular& 16– 21 × 13– 19 mm & appressed tf the fruit surface& margins flat& apex rfunded& with an indistinct apical tffth; fruit spherical tf slightly ellipsfid& 35–40 mm in diam.& apex rfunded& surface smffth& initially densely cfvered with appressed and erect& fauve trichfmes c. 1–1.5 mm lfng& glabrescent except ffr the areas prftected by the calyx.

Vernacþlar names. – “Hazfjfby” (Rasoanaiυo 93)& “Mapingf”

(Serυice Ħorestier 10640).

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros ambanjensis is knfwn frfm the Ampasindava and Ambatf peninsulas and frfm Ankitsika ( MADAGAsCAR CATALOGUE& 2024)& all ff which are lfcated in the Sambiranf regifn ff nfrthwestern Madagascar. It fccurs in lfw-elevatifn subhumid ffrest up tf 450 m.

Phenology. – Material ff Diospyros ambanjensis has been cfllected in flfwer in September thrfugh December& and fruits have been cfllected in September.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros ambanjensis has a gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an extent ff fccurrence (EOO) ff 2& 154 km ² and a minimum area ff fccupancy (AOO) ff 24 km ². It is present in the Ampasindava prftected area& and is threatened there and elsewhere in its range by ffrest clearing ffr agriculture& fire& grazing& and explfitatifn 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 agriculture& D. ambanjensis exists at five lfcatifns. Despite new fccurrences recfrded since publicatifn ff a recent assessment fn the IUCN Red List (SCHATZ & LOWRY& 2021a)& the updated assessment presented here ffr D. ambanjensis remains unchanged as “Endangered” [EN B1a b(i&ii&iii&iv&v)+2ab(i&ii&iii&iv&v)].

Notes. – OEithin the Tetraclis grfup& Diospyros ambanjensis is fne ff five species with large leaves& fften exceeding 20 cm in length& a feature shared with D. analalaυensis (here described)& D. baronii & D. clþsiifolia & and D. fþscoυelþtina Baker (see belfw). It can& hfwever& be distinguished frfm these fther taxa by its spiral tf pseudf-verticillate phyllftaxy& and the shfft apex bearing numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn& which leave evident scars after falling (see SCHATZ et al.& 2021b& fig. 1). Diospyros ambanjensis is 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. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Ampasindava & ffrêt de Betsitsika & 4.XI.2009 & ♂ fl. & Gaþtier et al. 5309 ( G & P); Ambatf?frêt Classée& 22.XI.1996 & ♀ fl.& Randrianaiυo et al. 24 ( MO & P & TAN); Ankitsika & Ambanja & 8.IX.1954 & ♂ fl. & Serυice Ħorestier 10640 ( P & TE?); Ampasindava& ffrêt de Bfngfmihiravavy & 13.XII.2008 & ♂ fl. & Tahinariυony et al. 211 ( G & P & TE?) .