Acalypha andringitrensis Leandri

Muñoz, Iris Montero, Levin, Geoffrey A. & Cardiel, José María, 2023, Monograph of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae) of the Western Indian Ocean Region, with the description of a new species from Mayotte, Adansonia (3) 45 (26), pp. 395-496 : 418-420

3. Acalypha andringitrensis Leandri

Notulae Systematicae. Herbier du Muséum de Paris. Phanérogramie. Paris 10: 277 ( Leandri 1942). —Type: Madagascar. Prov. Fianarantsoa: Massif of Andringitra, IV.1921, H. Perrier de la Bâthie 13640 (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. [2018a: 108]: P[P00508596]; isolecto-, P[P00508594, P00508595]). — Former syntypes: Madagascar, ibid. loc., 1924, H. Humbert 3709 (P[P00224706, P00508591, P00508592, P00508593]); Madagascar, ibid. loc., IV.1921, H. Perrier de la Bâthie 9671 (P[P00508589, P00508590]).

ICONOGRAPHY. — Figs 24A ; 28B, C.

ETYMOLOGY. — The epithet refers to the type locality, the Andringitra massif ( Madagascar), to which this species seems to be endemic. DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Endemic to Madagascar (Haute Matsiatra, and Ihorombe). Riparian forest and rupicolous vegetation. On basement rocks.Altitudinal range 1400-2000 (-2500) m ( Fig. 15 ). PRELIMINARY CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT. — Acalypha andringitrensis is only known from the Andringitra massif, where this species appears to be a narrow endemic. Its EOO is estimated to be 98 km 2 and its AOO 20 km 2. Andringitra massif was declared as “Strict Nature Reserve” in 2007 and National Park in 1999 (Category II; Dudley 2008). This protected area has threats to the habitat such as intentional fires (for exploitation of honey or creation of new areas for cattle pasture), logging, and collection of firewood and non-timber products. Even so, the forest habitats remain in good condition, and the areas most affected are at the southeast and at the boundaries of the park ( Goodman et al. 2018). According to specimen labels this species is uncommon. Acalypha andringitrensis is assessed as Critically Endangered: CR B1ab(i,iii,iv).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 12 collections. Madagascar. Boiteau, P. 2079 (K, P[P00433253, P00433254]); Gillespie, L. 10838 ( MO), 10850 ( MO), 10851 ( MO), 10852 ( CAN), 10853 ( MO); Humbert , H. 3709 (G, P[P00224706, P00508591, P00508592, P00508593]); Perrier de la Bâthie, H. 9671 (P[P00508589, P00508590]), 13640 (P[P00224705, P00508594, P00508595, P00508596]); Phillipson, P.B. 5669 ( MO, P[P04779844]); Rakotovao 7501-RN (P[P05547070]); Razafindrakoto 3110 (P[P05547265]).

REFERENCES. — Goodman (1996: 61); Govaerts et al. (2000: 49); Montero Muñoz et al. (2018a: 108) as A. radula .

DESCRIPTION

Shrubs, evergreen, to 5 m tall, dioecious or sometimes monoecious. Branches densely pubescent with simple, short, more or less appressed trichomes and hyaline trichomes to 0.8 mm long, glabrescent when mature. Axillary buds ovoid, to 3 × 2 mm, perulate, perules 2, imbricate, chartaceous, blackish, pubescent with simple, short trichomes. Stipules to 13 mm long, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, midrib thick, margins hyaline, appressed-pubescent, especially on midrib. Petioles 1.5-8(- 12) cm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches and with scattered, short, glandular trichomes. Leaf blades conspicuously bullate, 6-14 × (2-) 4-8 cm, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, subchartaceous; base cordate; apex narrowly acute to gradually acuminate, acumen to 10 mm, acute; margin serrate; teeth subacute, irregular; upper surface pubescent with simple, short, erect, trichomes on top of blisters and main veins, and scattered, short, glandular trichomes, denser on veins near base; lower surface pubescent with simple, thin trichomes, denser on veins; venation actinodromous, basal veins 3 or 5, secondary veins 6-10 per side. Stipels absent. Inflorescences spiciform, unisexual, axillary. Male inflorescences densely flowered, to 10 cm long; peduncle to 8 mm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches; flowers glomerate; bracts to 1 mm long, spatulate, densely hairy and ciliate with simple trichomes, and short, glandular trichomes. Female inflorescences densely flowered, becoming more open in fruit, to 8 cm long; peduncle to 10 mm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches; bracts 6-16, sessile, enlarging in fruit to 18 × 22 mm, deltoid-reniform, pubescent with simple, thin, erect, trichomes and thick, glandular trichomes to 1 mm long, and ciliate; margin dentate, teeth 25-31, triangular,, with glandular trichomes, central tooth not prominent; bracteoles triangular, to 1.5 mm long, pubescent with simple, short trichomes, and ciliate. Male flowers: pedicel to 1 mm long, sparsely hairy; buds to 1.5 mm diameter, sparsely hairy. Female flowers 1 per bract, sessile; sepals 3, to 0.8 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, sparsely hairy and ciliate; ovary c. 1 mm diameter, 3-lobed, smooth, surface hispid with simple, short, erect trichomes and glandular trichomes; styles 3, to 5 mm long, slightly connate at base, sparsely hairy on rachis, each divided into 9-10 segments. Allomorphic flowers sometimes present at female inflorescence apex; pedicel filiform, to 20 mm long, sparsely hairy; sepals not seen; ovary not seen. Capsules to 5 mm diameter, smooth, surface sparsely hairy with simple, short, erect trichomes and glandular trichomes to 1.5 mm long. Seeds c. 3 × 2 mm, pyriform, minutely foveolate.

NOTE

In our previous work ( Montero Muñoz et al. 2018a) we included Acalypha andringitrensis as a synonym of A. radula , according to preliminary DNA results, but we have now concluded that A. andringitrensis is a different species due to its leaf blades (3-) 4-6 cm wide, ovate-lanceolate and stipules to 13 mm long, elliptic to ovate-elliptic vs leaf blades (1.5-)2-3(-3.5) cm wide, narrowly triangular-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate and stipules to 8 mm long, triangular-lanceolate in A. radula . Furthermore, additional DNA sampling shows that the two species are reciprocally monophyletic ( Levin et al. 2022).

Figures

FIG. 24. — Mature female bracts:A, Acalypha andringitrensis Leandri (H. Perrier de la Bâthie 13640); B, A. ankaranensis I.Montero & Cardiel (A. J. M. Leeuwenberg 14374); C, A. bailloniana Müll.Arg. (G. Viscardi 439); D, A. boinensis Leandri (R. Ramananjanahary 115); E, A. burmanii I.Montero & Cardiel (P. Commerson s.n.); F, A. cardielii I.Montero & G.A.Levin (J. Leandri 115); G, A. chibomboa Baill. (F. Barthelat 1436); H, A. claoxyloides Hutch. (F. Friedmann 5633). Illustration by Iris Montero Muñoz. Scale bars: A, 2 mm; B-H, 1 mm.

FIG. 28. — A, Acalypha diminuta Baill. (photo by L. Gillespie, L. Gillespie 10704); B, C, A. andringitrensis Leandri (photo by P. Phillipson, P. Phillipson 5669); D, E, A. boinensis Leandri (photo by L. Gillespie, L. Gillespie 10813); F, A. decaryana Leandri (photo by P. Lowry II, P. Lowry II 6991); G, H, A. emirnensis Baill. (photo by L. Nusbaumer, P. Ranirison PR994).

FIG. 15. — Distribution map of Acalypha andringitrensis Leandri in Madagascar.