11. Scolopia septentrionalis Capuron & Sleumer

Blumea 20: 47 (1972).

— Type: Madagascar. Prov. Antsiranana, forêt de Sahafary (bassin de la Saharenana, Diégo-Suarez), sur sables, 27.XII.1963, fr., Service Forestier 23053 (holo-, P [P00077433]! ; iso-, P ×2[P00077434, P00077435]!; L [L0011256], TEF [TEF000251], photos seen).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagascar. Prov.Antsiranana, bassin de la Saharenena, forêt de Sahafary, sur sables, 26.II.1964, fr., Service Forestier 23312 (P×2).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Scolopia septentrionalis is known only from two collections from a single locality, the Sahafary forest, in the extreme north (Fig. 5).

REMARKS

Scolopia septentrionalis is a large shrub or small tree (“arbuste”); the fruit may be reddish. It may be distinguished from other species of the single-flowered xerophytic group by its small and narrow leaves; it also has far fewer stamens than S. calcicola, which occurs nearby.

CONSERVATION STATUS

The preliminary assessment of the conservation status of Scolopia septentrionalis is Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii)). With an Extent of Occurrence of 16 km 2 and an Area of Occupancy of less than 10 km 2, S. septentrionalis is known from only a single location, the Sahafary forest, which is unprotected and subject to continuing degradation. It has not been recollected for almost fifty years.