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 : 110

3. Rhodocodon campanulatus Knirsch, Mart. -Azorín & Wetschnig sp. nov.

≡ Rhodocodon rotundus var. campanulatus Perrier de la Bâthie (1938: 122) , nom. inval.

Type:— MADAGASCAR. Province Majahanga, rochers basaltiques, découverts et humides pendant les pluies. Plateau d’Antanimena entre la Betsiboka et la Mahavavy, May 1905, Perrier 10947 (holotype P 01848487!, Fig. 6 ).

Description:—Deciduous bulbous plant, 50 ‒ 120 cm high. Bulb subglobose, proliferous, 4 ‒ 6 × 6 ‒ 10 cm; roots white, branched. Leaves 2 ‒ 4 per bulb, absent at flowering time, oblanceolate, slightly curved, 20 ‒ 30 × 3.5 ‒ 4 cm, green, glabrous, smooth, with an inconspicuous red margin and a distinct keel on the abaxial side. Inflorescence a flexuous raceme; peduncle 24–38 cm long, glabrous, smooth; raceme 23–70 cm long with 50–120 flowers; pedicels patent, 35–40 mm long; lowermost bracts acute triangular, almost needle-like, ca. 1 mm long, shortly petiolate, with a spur 0.1–0.2 mm long; bracteoles absent; flowers reddish-brown, pendulous. Perigone urceolate, 5–7 × 4–6 mm, tepals connate for most of their length, with very short erect to patent lobes, ca. 1× 2 mm. Stamens 6, filaments shortly adnate to the perigone tube and arising from its basal portion; free portion of filaments converging over the ovary, linear, slightly thickened, ca. 2 × 0.3 mm; anthers ca. 1 mm long, green to yellow, sagittate, acute at the top, dehiscing for their whole length. Ovary conical, ca. 1.8 × 2 mm, with 7–9 ovules per locule; style 4–5 mm long, gradually tapering to the top; stigma punctiform. Capsule conical, 8–11 × 7–10 mm, with 2–3 seeds per locule. Seeds hemiellipsoidal, L-H-W: 3.8 ‒ 3.3 ‒ 2.5 mm, black, glossy, with a light brown distinct raphe. Fig. 7 .

Diagnosis:— Rhodocodon campanulatus resembles R. rotundus in general habit, but the former differs by the longer (up to 120 cm) and curved inflorescence, and the more numerous flowers (50–120) that are smaller, have a more tender texture and are more campanulate-urceolate, and by the lack of bracteoles.

Habitat:— Rhodocodon campanulatus grows in rocky soil, in open deciduous, relict forest. The area in the south western part of Madagascar ranges between 300–350 m of elevation and is characterized by a distinct dry savanna climate from April to October, the driest months being June and July. The tropical wet season begins at the end of October; the peak of precipitation occurs in January and February, with an annual average precipitation of 1486 mm and an annual average temperature of 26.3°C. The Plateau of Antanimena in the north is located at about 150 m elevation and shows a relatively constant temperature along the year, with daily temperatures reaching 33°C and 17°C at night.

Biology:—Flowering and fruiting: May and June.

Distribution:— Madagascar. Province Toliara: District Atsimo-Andrefana. Province Mahajanga: District Betsiboka, plateau of Antanimena.

Selected material studied:— MADAGASCAR. Province Mahajanga: District Betsiboka, plateau of Antanimena , 530 m, May 1905, Perrier 10947 (P 01848487!) ; Province Mahajanga: District Betsiboka, Plateau of Antanimena , left riverside of the Betsiboka , June 1911, Perrier 10973 (P 01848486!) ; Province Toliara: region Atsimo-Andrefana , 7.5 km S of Mahaboboka, 300 m, November 2006, W. Knirsch, A. Sieder & J. Andriantiana 3078 ( GZU!) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Holotype of Rhodocodon campanulatus Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig: Perrier 10947 (P 01848487!).

FIGURE 7. Flower morphology of Rhodocodon campanulatus Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig (corresponding to WW 2446!). Lateral view (left), dissection in lateral view (center) and apical view (right). Scale bar 1 mm.