Micronychia kotozafii Randrian. & Lowry, 2009

Randrianasolo, Armand & Lowry Ii, Porter P., 2009, Four new species and one new combination in the Malagasy endemic genus Micronychia Oliv. (Anacardiaceae), Adansonia (3) 31 (1), pp. 157-168 : 162-165

3. Micronychia kotozafii Randrian. & Lowry , sp. nov.

( Fig. 4 )

Haec species quoad petiolum 15-35 mm longum etiam laminam foliarem oblanceolatam basi non decurrentem subtus secus costam tomentosam ad Micronychiam bemangidiensem maxime accedit, sed ab ea lamina foliari 4.7-9.3 cm lata basi cuneata nerviorum secundariorum in paribus 20 ad 24 distinguitur.

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Prov. Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana National Park, ridgetop above the river valley, 21°16’19”S, 47°26’43”E, 885 m, 30.V.2004, fl., Rogers et al. 717 (holo-, MO!; iso-, G!, K!, NY!, P!, TAN!).

PARATYPES. — Madagascar. Prov.Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana NationalPark ,parcelle #3, Talatakely , 21°15’S, 47°27’E, 800- 1000 m, 15-30.VI.1993, fl., Kotozafy 51 ( MO, TAN).

DESCRIPTION

Small tree 4-8 m tall, dioecious; twigs brown tomentose and lenticellate toward tips. Leaves alternate, subcoriaceous, adaxially glabrous, abaxially sparsely sericeous-tomentose along the midvein, secondary veins and proximal portion of margin, 14.9-31 × 4.7- 9.3 cm, oblanceolate, base cuneate, apex acuminate, shortly acuminate or rounded,midvein abaxially very prominent, secondary venation cladodromous, 20 to 24 pairs,abaxially prominent, 1-2 cm from each other in median portion of blade, tertiary veins abaxially very prominent. Petiole 15-25 mm long, sericeoustomentose. Inflorescence a terminal, pendant panicle, 19-28.5 cm long, axes and young stems densely rusty-brown velutinous, the trichomes mostly erect. Staminate flowers not seen. Pistillate flowers red, large, 6-8 mm long; pedicel short, c. 0.2-0.3 mm long; sepals 2 × 1.5-2 mm, widely ovate, imbricate, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous; petals 8 × 2-4 mm, ovate, imbricate, abaxially sericeous-pubescent, adaxially glabrous; staminodes 5, 1.5-1.7 mm long, filaments c. 1-1.2 mm long, straight, glabrous, anthers glabrous, c. 0.5 mm long, ovate; disk cupshaped, c. 2 mm in diam., glabrous; ovary glabrous, 1 × 1 mm, very widely ovate, style 6-8 mm long, more or less flattened,gynobasic, divided apically into three branches, stigma capitate. Fruit not seen.

REMARKS

Micronychia kotozafii is known only from two collections with pistillate flowers gathered at Ranomafana National Park, where it co-occurs with two other members of the genus, M. macrophylla H.Perrier and M. minutiflora (H.Perrier) Randrian. & Lowry ( Fig. 2 ). Morphologically, this new species closely resembles M. macrophylla , but can be readily distinguished by its longer petioles (15-25 vs. 7-15 mm) and its cuneate (vs. decurrent) leaf base.

ETYMOLOGY

The species epithet honours Alphonse Kotozafy, who made more than 1000 collections at Ranomafana between 1993 and 1996, and worked at the park as an employee of the Association nationale pour la Gestion des Aires protégées (ANGAP) until his recent untimely death. We dedicate this species to his memory.

VERNACULAR NAME

Sehana.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Because Micronychia kotozafii occurs exclusively within a protected area (Ranomafana National Park) and no future decline is therefore expected with regard to AOO, EOO or suitable habitat, this species is assigned a preliminary status of Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List threat criteria ( IUCN 2001).

Figures

FIG. 4. — Micronychia kotozafii Randrian. & Lowry: A, flowering branch; B, C, details of female flower; D, petal and bract lobe. Rogers 717. Scale bars: A, 2 cm; B, 5 mm; C, D, 4 mm.

FIG. 2. — Distribution of Micronychia Oliv.species,mapped on the bioclimatic zones of Madagascar (after Cornet 1974; see Schatz 2000): M. bemangidiensis Randrian.& Lowry (●), M.benono Randrian. & Lowry (), M. kotozafii Randrian. & Lowry (○), M. striata Randrian. & Lowry (◆).