Turraea flagellata J.-F. Leroy & Lescot ex Callm. & Nusb ., sp. nov.

(Figs 2; 3A)

DIAGNOSIS. — Turraea flagellata sp. nov. is distinguished by its small white flowers (2-3 cm long), its staminal tube with rudimentary appendices, and its anthers bearing a long filiform (to 15 mm), tapering and twisted distal apicle.

TYPUS. — Madagascar • Melaky Region [Prov. Mahajanga], Tsiampihy, près Soahany, Distr. Antsalova; [18°35’S, 44°14’E]; 25- 50 m; 15.X.1932; fl.; Leandri 291 (holo-, P [P00263853]!; iso-, G [G00415946]!, K!, MO [MO-2195464] image!, NY, P [P00263852, P00263854]!, TAN, TEF, WAG [WAG.0249063] image!) .

PHENOLOGY. — Flowers from October to March.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Turraea flagellata sp. nov. appears to be endemic to the western dry deciduous forests of Madagascar at an elevation between c. 0 to 400 m.

C A D B E

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet refers to the anthers bearing a long filiform apicle characterizing this species.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — The new species is known from nine localities, six of which are situated within the protected area network (Andranomena, Bemaraha, Complexe Tsimembo Manambolomaty, and Menabe Antimena). Based on its large EOO of 36 333 km ² and an AOO of 36 km ², Turraea flagellata sp. nov. is therefore preliminary assessed as “Least Concern” [LC] in accordance with IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Madagascar • Melaky Region [Prov. Mahajanga], forêt de Tsiampihy et forêts côtières près de Besaraha, de Bemiha et de Soahanina, Nord de Bemika; [18°44’S, 44°20’E]; 0-20 m; 30.XII.1952; fl.; Leandri et al. 2277 (G [G00642050], K, MO, P [P06709116, P06709127, P06709128], TAN) • env. de Mahajanga; [15°43’S, 46°19’E]; XII.1903; fl.; Perrier de la Bâthie 1663 (P [P06709126, P06709130]) • Bemaraha, Antsalova; [18°41’S, 44°46’E]; 11.I.1959; fl.; Réserves Naturelles 10206 (P [P06709121, P06709132]) • ibid. loco; 13.I.1959; fl.; Réserves Naturelles 10209 (P [P06709120, P06709133]) • Tsimembo,

Antsalova; [18°56’S, 44°27’E]; 20-130 m; fl.; Service Forestier 8255 (P [P06709124, P06709131]) • Forêt d’Amboloando, Amboloando, Distr. Maintirano; [18°01’S, 44°06’E]; 23.II.1956; 70 m; fl.; Service Forestier 16362 (P [P06709122, P06709123]) • Menabe Region [Prov. Toliara], Morondava, forêt de Marosalaza, 50 km au Nord de Morondava; [20°03’S, 44°38’E]; 0 m; fl.; 28.XII.1973; Hladik 42 (P [P06709129]) • 45 km N of Morondava on Belo Tsiribihina road, Kirindy; 20°03’S, 44°38’E; 30 m; 17.XI.1986; fl.; Nicoll 167 (MO [MO-3188500], P [P06709125]) • Beloa sur Tsiribihina, 5 km E of Lambokely; 19°50’26”S, 44°35’51”E; 50 m; 9.III.2016; fl.; Onjalalaina et al. 1063 (K, MO [MO-3189262], P [P00970733], TAN) • Forêt de Kirindy, N of Marofandilia; 20°01’S, 44°39’E; 50 m; 26.XI.1989; fl.; Pettersson & Nilsson 463 (K, UPS) • Morondava District, Andranomena Special Reserve; 20°10’12”S, 44°28’12”E; 14 m; 22.II.2018; fl.; Razafimandimbison et al. 2282 (G [G00642051], MEL, MO [MO-3188728], P [P00948682], S, TAN) .

DESCRIPTION

Small tree to 6 m tall; young twigs brownish, puberulent. Leaves unifoliolate; leaf blades chartaceous to subcoriaceous, elliptic, glabrous, (2-)2.5-3(-6) × (1-)1.5-2(-2.5) cm, base acute, margin entire, sometimes undulate, apex acuminate, adaxial surface shiny dark green, abaxial surface light green, dull, domatia absent; primary vein slightly prominent, secondary veins finely prominent on both surfaces; reticulum distinct; petiole 2-3 mm, long, puberulent. Inflorescence pauciflorous, 1-5 flowers. Flower buds yellowish, enlarged and acute-obtuse at the apex. Flowers 2-3 cm long; pedicel 10-12 mm long, puberulent. Calyx grey-green, cupuliform, 3 × 2 mm, 5-lobed, each lobe with a linear tooth 1 × 0.2 mm, finely pubescent on the outside, glabrous on the inside. Corolla white of 5 linear-spatulate petals, longer than the staminal tube, 20-25 mm long, 1 mm wide at base, 1.5 mm wide in the proximal part. Staminal tube cylindrical, 3.5 mm long, 0.8 mm in diam., glabrous outside, densely tomentose inside; rudimentary appendages at the base of each anther, glabrous. Anthers 10, subsessile, oblong, 1.8 × 0.2 mm, with a filiform apicle, tapering and twisted distally, up to 15 mm long, glabrous. Ovary subglobose, 0.8 mm in diam, glabrous, locules 5, each with 2 collateral ovules; style exserted 3-4 mm beyond the staminal tube, 0.2 mm in diam. Receptaculum pollinis oblong, 3 × 1.5 mm; stigma capitate, 0.8 × 0.3 mm. Fruits unknown.

NOTES

This new species is very distinctive among the Malagasy Turraea species by its anthers bearing a long and filiform apicle

(Figs 2; 3A).

We attribute this name to Leroy & Lescot. Only two collections have been gathered since their unpublished description. Furthermore, the type collection, Leandri 291, and several others have been already distributed under that name by Sabine Comtet-Andriamanjatoarivo (1961-2013), back then technician of the P herbarium, when she was curating the Malagasy Meliaceae left by Michèle Lescot after her retirement.