Perrierodendron quartzitorum J.-F. Leroy, Lowry, Haevermans, Labat & G.E. Schatz, 2000

Lowry Ii, Porter P., Haevermans, Thomas, Labat, Jean-Noël, Schatz, George E., Leroy, Jean-François & Wolf, Anne-Elizabeth, 2000, Endemic families of Madagascar. V. A synoptic revision of Eremolaena, Pentachlaena and Perrierodendron (Sarcolaenaceae), Adansonia (3) 22 (1), pp. 11-31 : 25-28

4. Perrierodendron quartzitorum J.-F. Leroy, Lowry, Haevermans, Labat & G.E. Schatz , sp. nov.

Frutex arbusculave 3-6 m alta. Folia petiolo 0.2-0.5 cm longo, indumento fusco stellato-strigoso dense obtecto; lamina obovata usque elliptica, chartacea subcoriaceave, 2.5-4(-5) × 2-3.5(-4) cm, utrinque indumento fusco stellato dense induta, apice rotundata vel leviter emarginata, mucronata, margine integra, basi truncata usque obtusa, nervis secundariis 7- ad 10- (ad 13-) jugatis. Inflorescentia axillaris, contracta, plerumque ex floribus 1 ad 3 constans; axe primario 3-6 cm longo, dense stellatostrigoso; pedunculis longitudine 1 mm non attingentibus, dense papilloso-strigosis; involucro sub anthesi perparvo vel absente, si adest flores sessiles quemque ca. 3.5 cm in diam. includente. Flos sepalis 5, imbricatis, coriaceis, integris, asymmetricis, duobus externis 2-3 × ca. 1 mm, tribus internis 10-11 × 5-6 mm, unoquoque in partibus sepalo vicino tectis glabro papyraceoque, in partibus expositis dense stellato-strigoso; petalis 5, obovatis, 15-17 × ca. 14 mm, glabris, apice rotundatis emarginatis, mucronatis; staminibus ca. 20, caducis; ovario imperfecte biloculari in quoque loculo ovula duo gerente, conico, a basi usque ad styli basin dense piloso, ca. 3 × 3 mm; stylo glabro, ca. 2 mm longo, ca. 1 mm in diam. Fructus conicus, apice acutus, 1.9-2.5 × 0.9-1.1 cm, indumento papilloso stellato dense obtecto; endocarpio crustaceo; involucro in fructu parvo vel absente; semine in quoque fructu uno (vel rare seminibus duobus).

TYPUS. — Labat, Haevermans, Rabenantoandro & Cook 3035, Madagascar, Prov. Fianarantsoa, Ambatofinandrahana, Itremo , forêt claire sclerophylle à Perrierodendron et Leptolaena sur sol sableux sur schiste, 20°35’31”S, 46°35’43”E, 1560 m, 26 Mar. 1999, fl., fr. (holo-, P!; iso-, G!, K!, MO!, P [2 sheets]!, TAN!).

Shrubs to small trees 3- 6 m. Twigs with stellate indumentum, internodes 1.5-3(-4) mm long, giving the stems an evident “zigzag” appearance. Leaves elliptical to obovate, dark green above, pale green below (in dry material), chartaceous to subcoriaceous, 2.5-4(-5) × 2-3.5(-4) cm, with dense stellate brown indumentum on both surfaces, apex rounded to slightly emarginate, mucronate, margin entire, base truncate to obtuse, venation eucamptodromous, with 7-10 (-13) pairs of alternate to subopposite secondary veins, midrib and secondary veins weakly channeled above, raised below; petiole 0.2-0.5 cm long, densely brown stellate-strigose, adaxially canaliculate; stipules not seen. Inflorescences axillary, contracted, generally with 1-3 flowers, primary axis 3-6 cm long, densely stellate-strigose; peduncles very short, less than 1 mm long, densely papillate strigose; involucre in flower very small to absent, containing 2 sessile flowers each ca. 3.5 cm in diam.; sepals 5, imbricate, coriaceous, entire, asymmetrical, the 2 small external ones, 2-3 × 1 mm, narrowly triangular, the 3 internal ones 10-11 × 5-6 mm, glabrous and papyraceous where covered by the adjacent sepal, densely stellate strigose where exposed; petals 5, contorted in opposite direction from sepals, obovate, 15-17 × 14 mm, glabrous, apex rounded, notched, mucronate, claw short; extrastaminal disc cupuliform, 1 mm high; stamens ca. 20, not persistent in fruit, filaments 4-5 mm long, anthers 1 × 1 mm, basifixed; ovary conical, densely pilose (glabrous from the base of the style), 3 × 3 mm, with two incomplete locules each containing 2 ovules; style ca. 2 mm long, 1 mm in diam., forming an extension of the conical ovary, stigma 1 mm long, crateriform, margin distinctly undulate. Fruits conical, apex acute, 1.9-2.5 × 0.9-1.1 cm, with dense papillate stellate indumentum; endocarp crustaceous, involucre small to absent; seeds 1(-2), spherical to hemispherical, ca. 0.8 cm in diam., light brown (in spirit material), aborted ovules 3, persistent, embryos 1-2 per seed, cotyledons very contorted, radicle included, 1 mm long. — Figs. 7 , 8 .

Perrierodendron quartzitorum is restricted to the Itremo massif ( Fig. 4 ), where it has been collected several times recently. This species is easily recognized by the dense, stellate indumentum that covers the abaxial surface of its leaves, its short internodes that give an evident “zig-zag” appearance to the stems, and its fruit whose apex tapers into a prominent rostrum about half the length of the fruit body.

VERNACULAR NAMES. — Kitoto, Kitotovavy.

PARATYPES. — MADAGASCAR, Prov. Fianarantsoa: Du Puy, Labat & Andriantiana M636, W of Ambositra, Itremo , 20°35’28”S, 46°35’40”E, 1500 m, 21 Nov. 1993, fl. ( K, MO, P, TAN, TEF); Humbert 30023, montagnes à l’Ouest d’Itremo , [20°28’- 20°49’S, 46°26’- 46°41’E], 1500-1700 m, 17-22 Jan. & 18-22 Apr. 1955, fl. ( P) ; Service Forestier (Capuron) 11567, Monts Ambatomenaloha, ouest d’Itremo , audessus d’Antanimena , [20°32’S, 46°33’E], 20 Jan. 1955, y. fr. ( K, MO, P [2 sheets], TEF), SF (Capuron) 28902, environs du col de l’Itremo , ouest d’Ambatofinandrahana , [20°35’S, 46°35’E], 1600- 1700 m, 27 Nov. 1969, fl. ( P, TEF) , SF (Capuron) 29045, montée du col de l’Itremo , Ambatofinandrahana, rive droite de l’Ambatorangotana , [20°35’S, 46°35’E], 1650-1700 m, 21 Feb. 1970, fr. ( B, BR, G, K, MO, P [2 sheets], WAG) .

Figures

Fig. 7. — Perrierodendron quartzitorum: A, flowering branch; B, young leaf and buds; C, flower at anthesis; D, petal; E, androecium and gynoecium; F, gynoecium (portion of wall removed to show ovules); G, fruiting branch. (A-G, Labat et al. 3035).

Fig. 8. — Photographs of Perrierodendron quartzitorum: A, habit; B, mature fruit; C, flowering branch; D, flower. (A, B, D, Labat et al. 3035; C, Du Puy et al. M636). — Photos J.-N. LABAT.

Fig. 4. — Distributions of Perrierodendron, mapped on the simplified bioclimatic zones of Madagascar (SCHATZ in press, after CORNET 1974). P. boinense (*), P. capuronii (+), P. occidentalis (•), P. quartzitorum (Δ), P. rodoense (-).