Clerodendrum aucubifolium Baker

Phillipson, Peter B. & Callmander, Martin W., 2016, Two varieties of Clerodendrum L. (Lamiaceae) from Madagascar raised to specific rank, Candollea 71 (2), pp. 373-377 : 375

Clerodendrum aucubifolium Baker

in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 87: 102. 1894.

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: “North Madagascar”, 1891, Baron 6408 ( K [ K000192962 ]!; isolecto-: NY [ NY00137322 ] image seen, P [ P00440395 ]!). Syntypus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: “North Madagascar”, 1891, Baron 6151 ( K [ K000192961 ]!).

Distribution, ecology and conservation status. – Clerodendrum aucubifolium appears to be relatively rare, having been collected only infrequently, even in areas where inventory work has been conducted. It is known with certainty from three localities within the subhumid bioclimatic zone in the northern part of Madagascar, notably in the protected areas of Ampasindava- Galoka-Kalobinono and Manongarivo. Precise localities for four older collections cannot be determined. Available information indicates that the species occurs in dense humid forest including degraded clearings, and on rocky outcrops, at elevations between 150 and 800 m, and flowering has been documented between the months of May and October. The three known precise locations represent three separate subpopulations, each of which falls within a protected area, none of which are known to be threatened, and no decline in the extent of occurrence or area of occupancy of the species can be projected. Clerodendrum aucubifolium is therefore assessed as “Least Concern” [LC] following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012).

Observations. – Clerodendrum aucubifolium was based on two syntypes, both collected in “North Madagascar ” (with no other locality information) by Richard Baron (1847-1907), who collected extensively in Madagascar between 1972 and 1907 while based in Antananarivo for the London Missionary Society. Apparently he made a 5-month tour of the north of the country in 1891 ( Dorr, 1997), and it is presumably at this time that the two collections were made. The two syntypes are very similar, both comprise flowering and vegetative material and the Kew sheets were both annotated “Type” by Baker. They clearly represent the same species, but we select Baron 6408 as the lectotype of C. aucubifolium , since it is known to be represented in at least three herbaria, while the other syntype, Baron 6151, is only known to be present at Kew. The differences between typical C. aucubifolium and the two varieties that we raise to species level in this article are discussed above and are summarised in Table 1 . The species can be generally distinguished from other species of the group by the combination of membranous, elliptic leaves up to c. 150 mm long; calyx c. 22 X 7 mm; corolla tube c. 45 mm long.

Other specimens examined.– MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Ambanja, Ambobaka Fkt. , forêt de Tsiandianatalata , 13°44’11”S 48°30’05”E, 345 m, 25.VIII.2002, Hong-Wa et al. 63 ( MO, P, TAN, TEF); sur grès liasiques des env. du Sambirano , V.1909, Perrier de la Bâthie 10225 ( P [2 sheets]); Ambilobe, Beramanja , Anketrabe Bilinta , village Ambahatra , forêt de Galoko , 13°35’33”S 48°42’34”E, 149 m, 7.X.2013, Randriatsivery et al. 461 ( MO, P, TAN); Manongarivo, vallée de l’Ambahatra , cours moyen , Bemamboly (rive droite) , 13°14’30”S 49°11’13”S, 415 m, 26.V.2001, Wohlhauser et al. 441 ( G, P, TAN, TEF). Prov. Mahajanga: Befandriana Nord, 800 m, 30.X.1942, Herb. Jard. Bot.Tana. 5302 ( P, TAN).