Neocussonia litoralis (Bernardi) Lowry, G.M. Plunkett, Gostel & Frodin, 2017

Lowry Ii, Porter P., Plunkett, Gregory M., Gostel, Morgan R. & Frodin, David G., 2017, A synopsis of the Afro-Malagasy species previously included in Schefflera (Araliaceae): resurrection of the genera Astropanax and Neocussonia, Candollea 72 (2), pp. 265-282 : 278

B8. Neocussonia litoralis (Bernardi) Lowry, G.M. Plunkett, Gostel & Frodin , comb. et stat. nov.

÷ Schefflera vantsilana var. litoralis Bernardi in Candollea 24: 119. 1969.

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov . Toamasina: Tampolo , Ampasina , Fénérive, 2.VII.1957, fl., Service Forestier 17701 (holo-: P [ P00442793 ]!; iso-: P [ P00442792 ]!, TEF [ TEF000006 , TEF000007 ]!) .

Habitat and distribution. – Neocussonia litoralis is restricted to fewer than ten isolated areas of low elevation littoral forest along the east coast of Madagascar, a fragmented and highly threatened ecosystem ( CONSIGLIO et al., 2006). It ranges from Ambatobiriry near Sambava in the north (where all remaining forest was removed during the last few years) to Ste. Luce in the south ( MADAGASCAR CATALOGUE, 2017).

Notes. – BERNARDI (1969) described this taxon as a variety of Schefflera vantsilana (÷ Neocussonia vantsilana ), which occurs in humid forest at mid- to high elevations, but it is more than sufficiently distinct morphologically to warrant recognition at the species level.

From among the two sheets of Service Forestier 17701 deposited in the Paris herbarium, we have selected the one comprising the most complete material and bearing an original label as the lectotype. This specimen also has an annotation by Frodin indicating that he intended to designate it as the lectotype, although his choice was never published.