Eugenia hazonjia N. Snow, 2015

Snow, Neil, Callmander, Martin & Phillipson, Peter B., 2015, Studies of Malagasy Eugenia - IV: Seventeen new endemic species, a new combination, and three lectotypifications; with comments on distribution, ecological and evolutionary patterns, PhytoKeys 49, pp. 59-121 : 68-70

Eugenia hazonjia N. Snow sp. nov. holotype (Figure 12): http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100314908

Haec species a congeneris madagascariensibus ramificationis ordinatione V-formi, lamina foliari elliptica vel late elliptica basi cuneata apice rotundata usque late acuta, costa adaxialiter plana atque bracteolis cupulatis base latis distinguitur.

Type.

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Fiv. Vohemar. Fir: Nosibe. Fkt: Anjiabe, 13°04'42"S, 49°54'13"E, 25 m, 2 Nov. 2002, J. Rabenantoandro 1089 + R. Rabevohitra, G. McPherson, H. Ranarivelo, C. Claude & M. Sola (holotype: MO-6038336!, isotype: P [P05208261]!).

Description.

Shrubs or small trees 2-5 m; dbh 5 cm; bark of main bole unknown. Herbage glabrous except as noted. Branchlets strongly laterally compressed on emergence but becoming terete, drying light brown to light gray, sometimes slightly striate, oil glands sparse. Leaves mostly evenly distributed, coriaceous, venation brochidodromous, discolorous, surfaces matte and sometimes slightly undulate. Axillary colleters absent. Petioles 1-3 mm, flattened adaxially, sometimes slightly sulcate basally. Leaf blades (2.0-)2.5-4.0 × (1.0-)1.5-3.3 cm, elliptic to broadly elliptic, base cuneate, apex rounded or obtuse to (occasionally) broadly acute, margins usually slightly rev olute; adaxial surface oil glands common to dense but faint, midvein flush; abaxial surface midvein flush except proximally, oil glands common to dense (sometimes faint), secondary veins indistinct, intramarginal vein 1-2 mm from edge at midpoint of blade. Inflorescence of terminal or axillary monads, these solitary, paired, or (especially at apex) fasciculate. Pedicels 8-18 mm, ascending, stiff. Bracteoles 2, 1.0-1.5 mm, broadly ovate and cuplike (sometimes keeled), rigid, minutely and sparsely ciliate proximally (use magnification). Hypanthium 2.5-3.0 mm, cupuliform, oil glands dense. Calyx lobes 4, 3-5 mm, broadly rounded, apex obtuse, sparsely short ciliate, prominently glandular, greenish. Petals 4, 8-11 × 6-7 mm, obovate to broadly obovate, glabrous, pink. Stamens>150, multiseriate, staminal disk densely short-hairy; filaments 5-9 mm; anthers 0.6-0.9 mm, ellipsoid, basifixed, connectives with a single (but faint) apical gland. Styles up to 8 mm; stigma narrow and scarcely if at all capitate. Fruits unknown.

Etymology.

Named after the local vernacular name hazonjia, which is recorded on two specimen labels.

Phenology.

Flowering September through December; fruiting unknown.

Distribution.

Known from Antsiranana Province in north-eastern Madagascar approximately 30 km northwest of Vohemar and in the Daraina region (Fig. 11).

Habitat and ecology.

From littoral forest on sand and dry deciduous forest; 15-1015 m.

Conservation status.

With an EOO of 39 km2, an AOO of 27 km2 and two subpopulations, one of which is located within in the temporarily protected Loky-Manambato area, Eugenia hazonjia is assigned a preliminary risk of extinction of “Endangered” [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)] following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2012). The new species appears to be hightly restricted in its distribution, and the lowland evergreen tropical and littoral forests where it grows is under threat. Its definitive protection likely would allow downlisting to “Vulnerable”.

Comments.

Eugenia hazonjia somewhat resembles Eugenia urschiana H. Perrier, but the latter has longer petioles and shorter pedicels. It resembles even more closely a specimen (Rabevohitra 5044 et al.) form the eastern side of Ile Sainte Marie approximately 420 km south, but which has a moderately dense indumentum on the hypanthium and pedicels of dibrachiate, ferrugineous trichomes, and a staminal disk with significantly longer and more erect trichomes.

Specimens examined.

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Vohemar, Nosibe, Fkt: Anjiabe, Anaborano, Fôret littorale d’Analabe, Mosorolava, 13°05'41"S, 49°54'21"E, 24 Sept. 2004, H. Manjakahery 17 (MO-6308382); Vohemar, Nosy-Be, Anjiabe, forêt de Lac Sahaka, Anaborano, 13°04'49"S, 49°54'14"E, 9 Dec. 2007, R. Randrianaivo 1505 + S. Randrianasolo, R. Rakotondrajaona, V. Beninjara, C. Claude, Cyprien & M. Sola (G, MO-6250496); Loky Manambato, Daraina, forêt d’Antsahabe, 13°12'59"S, 49°32'47"E, 1015 m, 1 Dec. 2004, Gautier 4799 (G, P [P05094974]); ibid. loc., 900 m, 6. Dec. 2004, L. Gautier 4842 + L. Nusbaumer (G [G00019226], P [P04827946], TEF n.v.).