Weinmannia rutenbergii Engl.

Bradford, Jason C. & Miller, James S., 2001, New taxa and nomenclatural notes on the flora of the Marojejy massif, Madagascar. V. Cunoniaceae: Weinmannia, Adansonia (3) 23 (2), pp. 219-236 : 232

Weinmannia rutenbergii Engl. (species-group C)

Abh. Bremen 7: 16 (1880).

COLLECTIONS EXAMINED FROM MAROJEJY. — M ADAGASCAR, Prov. Antsiranana: Bradford & Rafamantanantsoa 683, above second camp at edge of escarpment and through forest above (not along trail to third camp), 930 m, 14°26’ S, 49°45’ 42” E ( MO, TAN) ; Bradford & Rafamantanantsoa 696, f o r e s t b e t w e e n c a m p s 2 a n d 3, 1 2 0 0 m, 14°26’S, 49°44’30”E ( MO, TAN) ; Bradford & Rafamantanantsoa 698, 699, forest between camps 2 and 3, 1200 m, 14°26’S, 49°44’30”E ( MO, P, TAN) ; Bradford & Rafamantanantsoa 701, forest and shrubby thickets above “ Camp 3”, trail leading to summit, 1520 m, 14°26’12”S, 49°44’30”E ( MO, P, TAN) ; Bradford & Rafamantanantsoa 710, North of and below summit of Marojejy , 2000 m, 14°27’S, 49°44’E ( MO, P, TAN) ; Humbert 23663, pentes orientales du massif de Marojejy (nord-est), 1750 m ( MO, P) ; Miller & Lowry 4083, along the trail to the summit of Marojejy Est , NW of Mandena; wind swept ridges below the third camp, 1200-1300 m, 14°26’S, 49°15’E ( MO, P, TAN) ; Miller & Lowry 4131, along the trail to the summit of Marojejy Est , 1300-1600 m, 14°26’S, 4 9° 1 4’E ( M O, P, TAN) ; Rasoavimbahoaka et al. 129, environs d’Andohan’Antsahaberôkakely et Marojejybe , 1672 m, 14°25’45”S, 49°39’30”- 49°42’15”E ( MO) ; Rasoavimbahoaka 530, sommet de Marojejy, 2312 m, 14°26’50”S, 49°43’57”E ( MO) .

Weinmannia rutenbergii is a very common species or species complex that is widespread in Madagascar, occurring from sea level to near the summit of Marojejy. Most montane forms are shrubby with small leaves, whereas lowland forms can be large, canopy trees with much larger leaves. High within and between population morphological variation makes this a difficult species or species complex to understand. Ecologically, W. rutenbergii populations do well in open, disturbed areas, including roadsides and repeatedly burned sites. The ability of the species to colonize areas exhibiting a tremendous range of edaphic and climatic conditions may partially account for the observed morphological plasticity.

Weinmannia sanguisugarum Bernardi (speciesgroup G)

Candollea 24: 85 (1969).— Type: Bernardi 11999,

Montagne d’Ambre, 1100-1200 m (holo-, G; iso-, P!).

COLLECTION EXAMINED FROM MAROJEJY. — MADAGASCAR, Prov. Antsiranana: Bradford & Rafamantanantsoa 715, 11 km NW of Manantenina , forest above “Camp 3”, along trail to summit, 1340 m, 14°26’12”S, 49°44’30”E (MO, TAN).

The only record of this species at Marojejy is a sterile collection, but the foliage, with several pairs of small leaflets per blade, is distinctive ( BERNARDI 1969). It was found in a single population with many nearby conspecifics. Other collections of W. sanguisugarum are from high elevations on the massif Montagne d’Ambre in far northern Madagascar (S. Malcomber et al. 2363 and Bernardi 11999), and in the south on the massif de l’Andringitra (Humbert 3823).