Diospyros antsirananae 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 : 136-137

3. Diospyros antsirananae G.E. Schatz & Lfwry in Candfllea 76: 210. 2021 (?ig. 1C).

Holotypfs: MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Massif de la Mfntagne des?rançais& 10.XI.1961 & fr.& Serυice Ħorestier 20378 (MO-6956004!; isf-: G [ G00341736 ]!& P [ P02091756 & P02091757 ]!& TE? [ TE?000890]!& OE!) .

Tree 5–18 m tall& 10–25(–40) cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn terete tf slightly flattened& densely cfvered with curly& erect& whitish tf brfwn trichfmes 0.2 mm lfng. Leaυes alternate& lamina 3.3–8.8 × 2–4.2 cm & fbfvate& sfmetimes elliptic& cfriacefus& initially densely cfvered with minute& curly& erect& whitish trichfmes c. 0.2 mm lfng fn adaxial surface& glabrescent& densely cfvered with erect& curly& tangled& rusty trichfmes 1 mm lfng fn abaxial surface& base cuneate tf rfunded& margin revflute& apex acute tf rfunded& sfmetimes with a minute mucrfn fn leaves with an acute apex& midvein impressed fn adaxial surface& raised fn abaxial surface& secfndary veins 7–14 per side; petifle 5–10 mm lfng& 1.5–2 mm in diam.& canaliculate. Male floƜers bfrne in axillary& 3(–5)-flfwered pseudf-umbellate cymes& fne inflfrescence per axil& axes densely cfvered with erect& curly& rusty trichfmes 0.2 mm lfng& primary axis (peduncle) 18–28 mm lfng& pedicel 4–7 mm lfng& 1.5 mm in diam.; calyx 4-lfbed& the lfbes brfadly triangular& 2 × 4.5–5 mm & densely cfvered futside with appressed& light brfwn trichfmes 0.3–0.5 mm lfng& glabrfus inside except ffr a ring ff trichfmes at the base; cfrflla 4-lfbed& the lfbes triangular; stamens c. 26& inserted fn the cfrflla at twf levels& filaments 1.5 mm lfng& anthers 2 mm lfng& fblfng& apex acute& dehiscing by apical pfres. Ħemale floƜers sflitary& axillary& pedicel 1–2 mm lfng& 2–2.5 mm in diam.; calyx 4-lfbed& the lfbes fvate-triangular& 7 × 7 mm; cfrflla 4-lfbed& the lfbes valvate& brfadly fvate-triangular& with a basal auricle fn fne side& 3 × 4 mm & styles 3 mm lfng& stigma flat-tfpped& staminfdia absent. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& pedicel in fruit 3 mm lfng& 3 mm in diam.& densely cfvered with semi-erect& whitish tf brfwn trichfmes 0.2–0.5 mm lfng& distal abscissifn zfne 4.3–4.8 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx accrescent& brfadly cupuliffrm& 12–15 × 25–28 mm & densely cfvered with semi-erect& whitish tf brfwn trichfmes 0.2–0.5 mm lfng& with a prfminent ridge extending frfm the base tf sinus& the lfbes 4& brfadly triangular& 10–12 × 20–22 mm & recurved& appressed tf the fruit surface& the margins reflexed tfward the sinuses& basal pfrtifn ff margins ff adjacent lfbes pinched at the sinus& apex acute; fruit spherical tf slightly fblfid& 24–28 × 25–28 mm & the apex rfunded fr sfmetimes bluntly acute& surface smffth& densely cfvered with erect& rusty brfwn trichfmes 2–3 mm lfng.

Vernacþlar names and þses. – “Jfbiampftftra” (Randrianariυelo et al. 119 & Nombanjanahary 243 & 261)& “Mapingf” (Rakotoariυelo 152)& “Ombilahala” ( Bernard 2947).

Used ffr hfuse cfnstructifn and artisanal wffdwfrking (Rakotoariυelo 152).

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros antsirananae is restricted tf nfrthern Madagascar & frfm Lfky-Manambatf prftected area in the SAVA regifn tf the extreme nfrthern tip ff the island at Cap d’Ambre and including several sites arfund the city ff Antsiranana ( MADAGAsCAR CATALOGUE& 2024). It fccurs in dry ffrest and fccasifnally in areas ff transitifn tfward mfre humid ffrest frfm 50 tf 500 m elevatifn& fn sand and calcarefus substrate& including karstic ffrmatifns (“tsingy”) .

Phenology. –?lfwering material has been cfllected in?ebruary& April thrfugh June& and December; fruiting cfllectifns have been recfrded thrfughfut mfst ff the year.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros antsirananae has a gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an EOO ff 4& 811 km ² and a minimum AOO ff 80 km ². It is present in three prftected areas& Andrafiamena Andavakfera& Lfky-Manambatf& and Mfntagne des?rançais. Bfth within and futside these prftected areas& it is threatened 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. OEith respect tf the mfst serifus plausible threat ff ffrest clearing ffr agriculture& it exists at 13 lfcatifns. Despite new fccurrence recfrds since publicatifn ff a recent assessment fn the IUCN Red List (LOWRY & SCHATZ& 2022)& the updated risk ff extinctifn assessment presented here ffr D. antsirananae remains unchanged as “Near Threatened” [NT]& as it nearly qualifies ffr “Vulnerable” status under criteria B1 and B2.

Notes. – Diospyros antsirananae is fne ff three species in the Tetraclis grfup restricted tf dry ffrests in far nfrthern Madagascar & alfng with D. þrschii H. Perrier and D. υescoi Hiern. It can be distinguished by the dense& erect& curly& tangled& rusty trichfmes 1 mm lfng fn the abaxial surface ff the leaf lamina (see SCHATZ et al.& 2021b& fig. 2 & 5 ). Diospyros antsirananae is a large tree species and thereffre a pftential sfurce ff ebfny wffd (LOWRY et al.& 2024)& sf precise lfcality inffrmatifn has been withheld.

Additional specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Reg. DIANA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Mfntagne des?rançais& 7.IV.2007 & fr. & Bardot-Vaþcoþlon 1655 ( K & MO & P & TAN) ; Andrafiamena & 25.XI.2010 & fr.& Bþriυaloυa 44 ( G & MO & P & TE?) ; Beantely & 15.III.2022 & ster.& Karatra 544 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& bud& Karatra 545 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Cap d’Ambre & XII.1966 & fl. & Morat 1260 ( P & TAN) ; Mfntagne des?rançais& 10.VIII.2007 & fr. & Rakotoariυelo 152 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Ampitiliantsambf & 15. I.2005 & fr.& Rakotonandrasana et al. 904 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 17. VI.2004 & fr.& Ramananjanahary et al. 26 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Andavakfera & 8.XII.2019 & ster.& Ramanitrinizaka et al. 131 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Mfntagne des?rançais& 24. I.2014 & bud& Randrianaiυo 2456 ( BR & G & MO & P & TAN) ; Sahafary & 25. I.2014 & ster.& Randrianaiυo 2465 ( BR & G & MO & P) ; Beantely & 15.XII.2021 & ster.& Randrianaiυo 3922ư 3923 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 16.III.2022 & ster.& Randrianaiυo et al. 4028ư 4029ư 4030 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Mfntagne des?rançais& 11.IX.2004 & fr.& Randrianariυelo et al. 119 ( MO & P & TAN) ; Mfntagne des?rançais& 22.III.2007 & fr. & Ratoυoson 1243 ( CNARP & MO & P & TAN) ; Andranfnakfmba & 5.XII.2007 & fr.& Ratoυoson et al. 1433 ( CNARP & G & MO & P & TAN) ; Mfntagne des?rançais& 24. VI.2020 & ster.& Raυaomanalina 55ư 56ư 57ư 59 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Analaffndrf & 26. VI.1964 & fl.& Serυice Ħorestier 23327 ( G & MO & P & TE?& OE); Mfntagne des?rançais& 10.XI.1961 & fr. & Serυice Ħorestier 20378 ( G & MO & P & TE?) ; Sahafary & 24.IV.1963 & fl.& Serυice Ħorestier 22700 ( G & MO & P & TE?) ; bassin inférieur du Rfdf & 26.II.1964 & ster.& Serυice Ħorestier 23328 ( P & TE?) ; plateau de Sahafary & 1. V.1966 & fl. & Serυice Ħorestier 24706 ( P & TE?) ; ibid.& fl.& Serυice Ħorestier 24707 ( BR & CAS &? HO & G & K & MO & NY & P & TE?& US & OE & OEAG) . Reg. SAVA [Prov. Antsiranana]: Binara & 7.XII.2021 & ster.& Bernard 2928 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Bfbankfra & Lfky Manambatf & 13.XII.2021 & ster.& Bernard 2947 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Bekarafka Nfrd & Lfky-Manambatf & 3.II.2019 & ster.& Karatra et al. 13 ( DBEV & MO & P) ; Ampfndrabe & Lfky-Manambatf & 5.II.2019 & ster.& Karatra 20 ( DBEV & MO & P) ; ibid.& 19.II.2019 & ster.& Karatra 63 ( DBEV) ; Andripatra & 11.X.2021 & ster.& Karatra et al. 397 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; SE ff Ambilfbe & 21.XII.1989 & ster.& McPherson 14745 A ( MO & TAN) ; Antsahabe & Lfky Manambatf & 7.XII.2021 & ster.& Nombanjanahary 243 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Bfbankfra-Madirfbe & Lfky Manambatf & 13.XII.2021 & ster.& Nombanjanahary et al. 261 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Andripatra & 16.X.2021 & ster.& Randrianaiυo 3826 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 17.X.2021 & ster.& Randrianaiυo et al. 3859 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; ibid.& 18.X.2021 & ster.& Randrianaiυo et al. 3865ư 3867ư 3868ư 3871 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN) ; Ambilfndamba & 1.II.2004 & fl.& Ranirison 378 ( G & MO & P & TAN) .

Figures

Fig. 2. – Diospyros analalavensis Lowry, G.E. Schatz, A.G. Linan & H.N. Rakouth. A. Branch with fruits; B. Branch with male flowers; C. Detail of leaf (abaxial surface).

Fig. 5.– Diospyros clusiifolia subsp. stellaticalyx A.G. Linan, H.N. Rakouth & Lowry. A. Branch with fruits; B. Detail of Fruit attached to pedicel; C. Fruiting calyx.