Uapaca densifolia Baker

Mcpherson, Gordon, 2011, A review of Madagascan Uapaca (Euphorbiaceae s. l.), Adansonia (3) 33 (2), pp. 221-231 : 225-226

4. Uapaca densifolia Baker

Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 20: 252 (1883).

Uapaca myricaefolia Baker , Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 21: 440 (1884). — Type: Madagascar. Central Madagascar, s.d., fr., Baron 2209 (lecto-, K [sheet K000406450 ], here designated)

Uapaca perrieri Denis, Archives de Botanique , Bulletin mensuel, Caen 1: 228 (1927). — Type: Madagascar, Domaine du Centre , Anosimbohampy au nord d’Andilamena, bois à 900 m alt., XI.1922, fr., Perrier de la Bâthie s.n. (holo-, P [sheet P00298678 ]).

Uapaca angustifolia Denis, Archives de Botanique , Bulletin mensuel, Caen 1: 227 (1927). — Type: Madagascar, Domaine de l’Est, Forêt d’Analamazoatra, 800 m alt., s.d., fl. ♂, Perrier de la Bâthie 9618 (lecto-, P [sheet P00298668 ], here designated).

Uapaca densifolia var. humbertii Leandri, Mémoires de l’Institut scientifique de Madagascar, Série B, Biologie végétale 8: 257 (1957). — Type: Madagascar, Prov. Antsirana, Vallée de la Lokoho (Nord-Est), Mont Beondroka au nord de Maroambihy, sylve à lichens sur gneiss et quartzite, 1000-1450 m alt., 17-22.III.1949, fl. ♂, Humbert 23499 (lecto-, P [sheet P00539632 ], here designated).

Uapaca sambiranensis Denis, Archives de Botanique , Bulletin mensuel, Caen 1: 226 (1927). — Type: Madagascar, Basses montagnes du Haut Sambirano, 500 m alt, XII.1922, fr., Perrier de la Bâthie 15207 (holo-, P [sheet P00132880 ]; iso-, MO [sheet 04954787]).

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Central Madagascar , s.d., fl. ♂ ,

Baron 1917 (holo-, K [sheet K000406451]).

REPRESENTATIVE MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagas-

car. Prov. Antsiranana, Daraina, forêt d’Antsahabe,

13°13’S, 049°33’E, 1005 m, 19.I.2004, Nusbaumer

1045 (G, MO, P). — Eod. loc., 910 m, 23.XI.2004,

Gautier 4737 (G, MO, P). — Marojejy RN, Mt. An-

jenabe, 14°17’S, 049°46’E, 1100 m, 3-7.XI.1950, Hum-

bert 24126 (MO, P). — Eod. loc., Andranomilolo,

14°19’02”S, 049°19’04”E, 1222 m, 19.XI.2006, Ra-

zakamalala 2988 (MO, P, TAN). — Eod. loc., Mt.

Beondroka, 14°27’S, 049°47’E, 830-1210 m, 26.X.1989,

Miller 4440 (MO, P). — Prov. Toamasina, Ankirin-

dro, 15°17’18”S, 049°32’49”E, 671 m, 22.XI.2002,

Antilahimena 1452 (MO, P). — Zahamena, 17°41’S,

048°49’E, 800-900 m, 24.VII.2003, Rakotonandrasana

710, 711 (MO, P). — Mantadia PN, 18°55’S, 048°25’E,

950-1150 m, 7.XI.1994, McPherson 16528 ( MO, P,

TAN). — Eod. loc., 900 m, 10.XI.1994, McPherson

16577 (MO, P, TAN). — Route de Lakato , 19°11’00”S ,

048°26’00”E, XII.1972, Morat 3974 ( MO, P). — Prov. Antananarivo, 7 km E of Anjozorobe , 18°22’S, 048°00’E, 1300 m, 11.V.1987, Schatz 1385 ( MO, P) .

DESCRIPTION

Tree (2-) 5-15 m tall; stilt roots often reported as present; leaf-bearing twigs 3-5 mm in diameter, solid. Leaf blades obovate, (1.6-)3.7-11(-16) cm long, (0.7-)1.2-5(-8.7) cm wide, base cuneate, apex obtuse, secondary veins 6-9 on each side of the midrib, usually not impressed adaxially, higher venation usually not visible, not scalariform when visible;surfaces typically not glossy, drying somewhat reddish brown typically; margin often recurved; petiole (0.1-)0.8-2.0 cm long.

Staminate peduncle 8-15 mm long; flowering heads 3-4(-5) mm in diameter excluding the exserted stamens; staminodes present; pistillode somewhat pubescent on distal surface. Pistillate peduncle 0.8-2.0(-3.8) cm long; calyx 3 mm in diameter in flower, often conspicuously lobed, ciliate or sparsely pubescent on and near distal margin, often glabrate; ovary glabrous; calyx in fruit 1 mm high, 4-4.5(-5.5) mm in diameter, sparsely ciliate or glabrescent; fruit red at maturity, 12-15(-18) mm long, 12-14(-16) mm in diameter, usually pointed, glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in the forests of the east and north as well as those of the central plateau, at elevations up to 1675 m but rarely below 500 m.

REMARKS

This much-collected species can often be recognized by its small leaves and small fruits. Larger-leaved specimens can be identified by their non-scalariform venation, small, glabrous to sparsely pubescent pistillate calyx, and small fruit. Leaf variation is dismayingly strong in this species. Leaves from midelevation trees growing in humid forest are typically 6-11 × 3-5 cm, but leaves from plants apparently growing under similar conditions can be markedly smaller. Intermediates unfortunately connect the various extremes, and I have been unable to split the many specimens into coherent groups based on more than one character. I therefore am forced to recognize a widely delimited U. densifolia , much as did Leandri in 1958. The species most easily confused with U. densifolia is probably U. louvelii ; specimens of the latter that lack mature fruits can be separated by their scalariform venation and the fact that all parts tend to be covered in a glossy exudate. Uapaca bojeri , also mistakable for U. densifolia , can be separated by its more uniformly pubescent pistillate calyx and its glabrous pistillode, as well as by its ecology.