Brexia cauliflora Tul.

Schatz, George E. & Lowry Ii, Porter P., 2004, A synoptic revision of Brexia (Celastraceae) in Madagascar, Adansonia (3) 26 (1), pp. 67-81 : 75-76

5. Brexia cauliflora Tul.

Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 4, 8: 161 (1857). — Type: Boivin s.n., Madagascar, Prov. Antsiranana, Nosy Be , Mar. 1851, bud (holo-, P!; iso-, P!) .

Brexia cauliflora is a small, sparsely branched treelet known only from the subhumid forest of Lokobe RNI on Nosy Be (Fig. 4). It can be recognized by its large, subentire leaves, inflorescences borne on the main stem (cauliflory), peduncles greater than 5 mm in length, and large flowers with subentire or only shallowly lobed petaloid disc segments. Brexia cauliflora can be distinguished from B. marioniae , to which it is most similar, by its narrower leaves, longer peduncles, and shorter petaloid disc segments.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — Despite an EO of far less than 100 km 2, an AO of perhaps 7.4 km 2, and only a single known locality, Brexia cauliflora is assigned a preliminary status of only Vulnerable (VU D2) because of the projected habitat stability in the effectively protected Lokobe reserve.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — MADAGASCAR: Antilahimena 116, Lokobe RNI; Birkinshaw 32, 162, 238, Lokobe RNI; Boivin s.n., Lokobe RNI; Rabenantoandro 10, Lokobe RNI; Réserves Naturelles 4331, Lokobe RNI; Service Forestier (Capuron) 11400, 23457, Lokobe RNI.

FIG. 4. — Distributions of Brexia , mapped on the bioclimatic zones of Madagascar (after CORNET 1974; see SCHATZ 2000).