Wetschnig, Knirsch & Martínez-Azorín & Pfosser & Wetschnig, 2015

Knirsch, Walter, Martínez-Azorín, Mario, Pfosser, Martin & Wetschnig, Wolfgang, 2015, The reinstatement and rediagnosis of the madagascan genus Rhodocodon (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), with validation and remarks on H. Perrier’s taxa, Phytotaxa 195 (2), pp. 101-134 : 106-108

1. Rhodocodon apiculatus [H.Perrier ex] Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig sp. nov.

≡ Rhodocodon apiculatus Perrier de la Bâthie (1938: 122) , nom. inval.

Type:— MADAGASCAR: rocailles calcaires, eocènes, boisées, près de Majunga [Mahajanga], December 1924, Perrier 16821 (holotype P 00573458!, Fig. 3 ).

Description:—Deciduous bulbous plant, 17 ‒ 22 cm high. Bulb subglobose, turbinate, ca. 2 × 2.5 cm, bulb scales loosely arranged; roots branched, white. Leaves 2 ‒ 5 per bulb, synanthous, oblanceolate, 5 ‒ 10 × 0.7 ‒ 1 cm, acute or subobtuse, attenuate from the superior third to the base, green, glabrous, with an inconspicuous keel on the abaxial side. Inflorescence erect, peduncle 9 ‒ 14 cm long, glabrous, smooth; raceme 5 ‒ 7 cm long with 12 ‒ 22 flowers; pedicels 8 ‒ 12 mm long; lowermost bracts oval-lanceolate, 2.5 × 1 mm, with a short and thick petiole, and a spur ca. 1 mm long; flowers greenish, nodding to subpatent. Perigone campanulate, 4 ‒ 4.2 × 4 mm, attenuate from the apex to the base, about as long as broad, with obtuse and very short, reflexed apical lobes (0.5 ‒ 0.6 mm long). Stamens 6; filaments inserted in the middle of the perigone tube; free portion of filaments very short, ca. 0.3 mm long, attenuated from base to summit; anthers yellow, oval, ca. 1.5 × 1 mm, with a distinct, conical apiculus at the apex. Ovary conical, with 8 ‒ 10 ovules per locule; style cylindrical, 2.5 ‒ 3 mm long. Capsule green, globose, ca. 5 × 5 mm. Seeds unknown.

Diagnosis:— Rhodocodon apiculatus resembles R. calcicola in the habit, but differs by having green, campanulate flowers and more than two ovules per locule and by having better developed leaves at flowering time.

Habitat:— Rhodocodon apiculatus grows on calcareous plateaus, between 50 ‒ 100 m elevation, in deforested areas with degraded vegetation. The area is characterized by a distinct seasonally dry savanna climate from April to October. The tropical wet season begins at the end of October; the annual average precipitation is 1486 mm. The annual average temperature is 26.3°C.

Biology:—Flowering and fruiting time: November to January.

Distribution:— Madagascar, Province of Mahajanga, District Boeny, near Mahajanga.

Comments:—This species is only known to us from the collection of the holotype. Despite our efforts to find the species in the wild, and after several prospections at the type locality, it has not been found again. The collection J.N. Labat 2206 (P 023809!) identified as “ Rhodocodon cf. apiculatus ” from Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park (Province Mahajanga, District Antsalova) is indeed R. monophyllus .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Holotype of Rhodocodon apiculatus H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig: Perrier 16821 (P 00573458!).