Cleistanthus occidentalis (Leandri) Leandri

McPherson, Gordon, 2015, Observations on Madagascan Amyrea Leandri and Tannodia Baill. (Euphorbiaceae), Candollea 70 (1), pp. 141-144 : 142

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.15553/c2015v701a11
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5767745
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4B3487CC-5A37-FFC7-FC88-061CFD8FFDCD
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Cleistanthus occidentalis (Leandri) Leandri
status

Treatment

Cleistanthus occidentalis (Leandri) Leandri View in CoL in Nat. Malgache 9: 45. 1957.

≡ Cleistanthus stenonia var. occidentalis Leandri View in CoL in Notul. Syst. (Paris) 11: 153. 1944.

Typus: M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Plateau d’Antanimena (Boina), I.1924, Perrier de la Bâthie 15928 (holo-: P [ P00539586 ] image seen; iso-: P [ P00252774 ]!) .

= Amyrea eucleoides Radcl. View in CoL - Sm. in Kew Bull. 53: 440. 1998. Typus:M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Forêt à feuilles caduques sur calcaires de l’Antsingy, vers Ambodiriana (E. d’Antsalova), 21-27.I.1960, Leandri & Saboureau 2765 (holo-: P [ P00098111 ] image seen; iso-: G [ G00018199 ] image seen, K [ K000425608 ] image seen, MO-04954355!, P [ P00098112 ] image seen, WAG [ WAG0004318 About WAG ] image seen), syn. nov.

Distribution and habitat. – Cleistanthus occidentalis is distributed in the western dry forests from Bemaraha to Boina.

Observations. – The type specimen of the new synonym is in fruit and bears infructescences from which the capsules have fallen, leaving remnants of the calyx and disk as well as the columns of the fallen fruit. On the MO isotype, several of these columns clearly display pairs of scars where two ovules were originally attached within each locule; the specimen thus represents a species belonging to either the Phyllanthaceae or the Picrodendraceae sensu APGIII (2009) , rather than the Euphorbiaceae (where Amyrea is placed). The apparently fasciculate inflorescence type, the pubescent disk, and the stout column suggest Cleistanthus , and in fact this type specimen matches the rarely-collected C. occidentalis , known only from the region in which the specimen was found. It appears to be the first fruiting collection of that species.