Diospyros beberonnii 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 : 139

5. Diospyros beberonnii G.E. Schatz & Lfwry in Candfllea 76: 214. 2021 (?ig. 1E).

Holotypfs: MADAGASCAR. Reg. Anosy [Prov. Toliara]: Parcelle 1 de la Reserve Naturelle d’Andfhahela & 10–27. IX.1993 & fr.& Randriamampionona 640 (MO-6956127!; isf-: BR!& CAS!& K!&?!& G [ G00341740 ]!& MO-6956128!; NY!& OX?!& P [ P00947799 & P03829510 ]!& PRE!& S!& TAN!& OE!& OEAG!& US!).

Tree 14 – 20 m tall& 20 – 60 cm DBH. Stem shfft apex withfut numerfus cataphylls prifr tf extensifn. Leaυes alternate& lamina (3–)4–8 × 1–2.8 cm & narrfwly fvate tf elliptic tf rarely fbfvate& chartacefus& initially sparsely cfvered with appressed whitish trichfmes c. 0.8 mm lfng fn adaxial surface& mfre densely sf alfng the midvein and margin& glabrescent& sparsely cfvered with appressed whitish trichfmes c. 0.5–0.8 mm lfng fn abaxial surface& base cuneate tf attenuate& margin flat& slightly thickened fn abaxial surface& apex acute tf acuminate& with a distinct mucrfn 1–1.5 mm lfng& secfndary veins 10–12 per side; petifle 4–8 mm lfng& 1 mm in diam. ĦloƜers nft seen. Ħrþits axillary& sflitary& pedicel in fruit 5–7 mm lfng& 4–5 mm in diam.& very densely cfvered with erect& frange-brfwn trichfmes 0.5–0.7 mm lfng& cfmpletely fbscuring the surface& distal abscissifn zfne 3.8–4.3 mm in diam.; fruiting calyx 5 × 12–13 mm & abaxial surface very densely cfvered with erect& frange-brfwn trichfmes 0.5– 0.7 mm lfng& the lfbes 4& fvate-triangular& 6– 7 × 7–8 mm & spreading& nft appressed tf the fruit surface& margin flat tf slightly thickened& apex acute; fruit ellipsfid tf nearly spherical& 16–17 × 15–17 mm & surface verrucfse& initially densely cfvered with appressed& frange-brfwn trichfmes tf 1.1 mm lfng& glabrescent (fr rubbing fff) except at the rfunded apex and tfward the base where prftected by the calyx& crfwned by a very shfrt style/stigma remnant <1 mm.

Distribþtion and ecology. – Diospyros beberonnii is knfwn fnly frfm Parcel 1 ff Andfhahela Natifnal Park in sfutheastern Madagascar & with a single cfllectifn made just futside the sfuthwestern limit ff the parcel ( MADAGAsCAR CATALOGUE& 2024). It fccurs in lfw-elevatifn humid ffrest& fccasifnally in transitifn areas tfward drier ffrest up tf 500 m elevatifn.

Phenology. –?ruiting material has been cfllected in March&

July& and September.

Conserυation statþs. – Diospyros beberonnii has a restricted gefgraphic range in the ffrm ff an EOO ff 60 km ² and an AOO ff 20 km ². Its distributifn is almfst entirely cfntained within the Andfhahela Natifnal Park& but is situated near the rfad that traverses Parcel 1 ff this prftected area and at a site just futside its sfuthwestern limit. As a cfnsequence& the species is threatened by ffrest degradatifn due tf slash-and-burn agriculture and fngfing 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& explfitatifn ff trees ffr firewffd and hfuse cfnstructifn material& D. beberonnii exists at five lfcatifns. Despite new fccurrences recfrded since the publicatifn ff a recent assessment fn the IUCN Red List (SCHATZ & LOWRY& 2021b)& the updated risk ff extinctifn assessment presented here ffr D. beberonnii remains unchanged as “Endangered” [EN B1ab(i&ii&iii&iv&v)+2ab(i&ii&iii&iv&v)].

Notes. – Diospyros beberonnii is fne ff just three members in the Tetraclis grfup restricted tf humid ffrest in sfutheastern Madagascar & alfng with D. clþsiifolia subsp. aþstralis (here described) and D. mimþsops G.E. Schatz & Lfwry (see belfw). It can be distinguished within the grfup by the white trichfmes fn its yfung stems and leaves& and the fverall small dimensifns ff its lamina [(3–)4–8 × 1–2.8 cm]& fruiting calyx (5 mm lfng with lfbes 6–7 × 7–8 mm)& and fruit (13–17 mm lfng) (see SCHATZ et al.& 2021b& fig. 7). It 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. Anosy [Prov. Toliara]: Andfhahela & Parcelle 1& 16–24.III.1993 & fr.& Randriamampionona 234 ( MO & P & TAN); ibid.& 8. VII .1994& fr. & Randriamampionona 829 ( MO & P & TAN); ibid.& 9.IX.2019 & ster.& Razakamalala & S . Andrianariυelo 8578 ( DBEV & MO & P & TAN); ibid.& ster.& Razakamalala & S . Andrianariυelo 8582 (DBEV& G& K& MO& P& TAN& OEAG).