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 : 114

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

≡ Rhodocodon cyathiformis Perrier de la Bâthie (1938: 118) , nom. inval.

Illustrations:—fig. XVI (5–6) in Perrier de la Bâthie (1938:121).

Type:— MADAGASCAR: rochers ombragés, Firingalava (Boina), March 1898, Perrier 516 (holotype P 00573463!, Fig. 10 ; isotypes P 00573464! P 00573465!) .

Description:—Deciduous bulbous plant, 35 ‒ 50 cm high. Bulb spherical, 4 ‒ 5 × 4 ‒ 5 cm; roots white, branched. Leaves 5 ‒ 6 per bulb, synanthous, forming a false stem when young, oblanceolate, acute, 20 ‒ 40 × 2.5 ‒ 3.5 cm, green, glabrous, smooth, with a distinct keel on the abaxial side, somewhat curved longitudinally, and usually with undulate margins on the shorter side of the leaves. Inflorescence an erect raceme with loosely arranged flowers; peduncle 15–20 cm long, glabrous, smooth; raceme 15 ‒ 25 cm long with 10 ‒ 18 flowers, about as long as the peduncle; pedicels 10–17 mm long, nearly patent; lowermost bracts with slender triangular-acute blade, 6–8 mm long, with an obtuse, long spur, ca. 3 ‒ 4 mm long; bracteoles present; flowers greenish, with purple mouth of the tube and suture lines of tepals, nodding. Perigone cup-shaped to slightly urceolate, broader than high, ca. 4 ‒ 6 × 6 ‒ 8 mm, tepals connate for most of their length, the tube slightly contracted at the apex, with spreading to patent, triangular lobes ca. 2 mm long. Stamens 6, filaments shortly adnate to the perigone tube and arising from its basal portion; free portion of filaments converging over the ovary, slightly flattened, 2 ‒ 3 mm long, attenuated from the base to the apex; anthers sagittate, ca. 1 mm long, attached in the inferior third to the filament, dehiscing for the whole length. Ovary globose to cylindrical, ca. 2.5 × 3 mm, with 4 ‒ 5 ovules per locule; style ca. 2 mm long, thickened, attenuated from the base to the apex; stigma punctiform. Capsule subglobose, 1 ‒ 1.2 × 1 ‒ 1.2 cm. Seeds ovate, L-H-W: 6.2 ‒ 4.1 ‒ 3.9 mm, black, glossy, with a medium brown distinct raphe. Fig. 11 .

Diagnosis:— Rhodocodon cyathiformis is a distinct species that can be recognized by the leaves completely developed when flowering, the greenish, wider than long, cup-shaped flowers, and the raceme with only 10–18 flowers.

Habitat:— Rhodocodon cyathiformis grows on granitic outcrops, in relict dry, deciduous forests, among granite rocks along riverbanks. It occurs between 500–600 m of elevation. Maevatanana is the hottest town in Madagascar, with highest temperatures in November (mean of 29.9°C), and lowest temperatures in July (mean of 25°C). The peak of precipitation occurs in summer (January: 443 mm), winters are very dry especially in June.

Biology:—Flowering and fruiting time: February to March.

Distribution:— Madagascar. Province Mahajanga: region Betsiboka, near Maevatanana.

Comments:—Perrier de la Bâthie described the pedicels of R. cyathiformis as very long, being 3–4 cm long. However they are usually much shorter, being only 1–1.7 cm long—in agreement with the collection Perrier 516, the holotype of the species and the only collection cited by Perrier de la Bâthie (1938).

Selected material studied:— MADAGASCAR. Province Mahajanga: District Betsiboka, near Maevatanana, 500 m, February 2011, W. Knirsch, A. Sieder & J. Andriantiana 6307 (GZU!).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Holotype of Rhodocodon cyathiformis H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig: Perrier 516 (P 00573463!).

FIGURE 11. Flower morphology of Rhodocodon cyathiformis H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig (corresponding to WW 4479!). Lateral view (left), dissection in lateral view (center) and apical view (right). Scale bar 1 mm.