A revision of the Malagasy endemic Talinella (Portulacaceae) Applequist, Wendy L. Adansonia 2005 3 27 1 47 80 54LJC Eggli [156,448,665,690] Magnoliopsida Talinaceae Talinella Plantae Caryophyllales 27 74 Tracheophyta species pachypoda    Adansonia, sér. 3, 19: 57 (1997). — Type:  Röösli& Rechbergers.n., Madagascar, Diégo Suarez, Montagne des Français, SE flank, 7-8 kmfrom Diégo Suarez ( c. 12°19.5’S, 049°20’E), 1989 (holo-, ZSS). Shrub to 3 m, usually with arching branches, sometimes with short thick trunk or basal caudex; rarely described as a small tree. Twigs straight to contorted, brown to reddish brown; lenticels on large twigs pale, elliptical to round, occasionally absent; smallest twigs frequently papillose with brown and white papillae. Leaves elliptical, 2.5- 7.0 cm long, 1.00- 2.75 cmbroad; apex apiculate, occasionally acute or emarginate, usually symmetrical; base tapering; margins entire, slightly wavy, minutely papillose; blade membraneous or papery when dried, sometimes possibly paler around midrib and secondary veins above; under surface sometimes reddish tinged; midrib conspicuous at least on lower surface, higher-order venation observable. Often leafless at time of flowering. Inflorescences unisexual, plants probably dioecious. Inflorescences lateral or terminal, with up to a dozen fertile flowers; peduncle and rachis white-papillate; bracts c.(0.3-) 0.5-1.6 mmlong, narrowly to broadly triangular, reddish to brown, often with a pale apex. Pedicel 1.5-5 mmlong. Sepals (1.7-)2.0-3.0 mm long, orbicular, sometimes unequal. Petals (3-)5, (2.0-) 2.5- 3.5 mmlong, pink-tinged white to rose, sometimes irregularly shaped or orbicular due to fusion of 2 petals, otherwise oblong to elliptical. Filaments connate at base and attached to ring- shaped nectary disk, 1.5-2.5 mmlong, white or pinkish, the bases barely ciliate; anthers yellow, 0.40-0.60(-0.85) mm long. Stigma branches 2-3, white, 1.0- 1.5 mmlong, flattened, with papillose or ciliate edges, sessile in developing fruit, sometimes on very short broad style; ovary green, ovoid. Fruit ovoid to pyriform or oblong, with a pronounced apical beak, sometimes a capsule apically dehiscing by 2-3 shallow valves, to 8 mmlong, up to 6-seeded; sepals and frequently petals persistent; pedicel sometimes thickening slightly in fruit; immature seeds elliptical to orbicular, possibly with a shallow ridge around edge. Few fruiting specimens of  Talinella pachypodaexist. The fruits, which are ovoid with a prominent apical nipple for most of their development, have been described as berries ( EGGLI 1997). However, one specimen( Jongkind & Rapanarivo 969, MO) has mature fruits that are clearly capsular, apically dehiscent with thin dry walls. An error could easily have been made if only unripe fruits were available; for example, CAVACO (1952) described the globose circumscissile capsules of three Malagasy species of  Deeringiaas berries (APPLEQUIST & PRATT in press). If mature fleshy berries have indeed been observed, then “  T. pachypoda” as presently defined must include a second unrecognized species. This observation suggests that  T. pachypodamay occupy a basally branching position within  Talinella, retaining both the usual petal number (five) and the dry fruit typeof the genus’ nearest relatives in  Talinum.  DISTRIBUTION. —  Talinella pachypodaoccurs in northern Madagascar, from Ankarana to the vicinity of Antsiranana( Fig. 4), on calcareous substrates including tsingy. CONSERVATION STATUS. — Provisional IUCN Red List Category: Vulnerable (VU D2). No more than five clearly separate locations are known and the area of occupancy is estimated at 20 km 2. Moreover, the number of mature individuals of  Talinella pachypodain the wild may be <1000, as the plant seems to be scarce in at least some of the known localities.  MATERIAL EXAMINED. — MADAGASCAR: Prov.  Antsiranana: Bardot Vaucoulon 481, calcaires lapiazés,  massif de l’Ankarana, fl., fr., leaf,  15 Jan. 1991( P); Decary 14555, massif de l’Ankara, roches calcaires,  fl.,  25 Jul. 1939( P); Gentry 11943, road along coast from Diégo-Suarez to Ramenz [= Ramena], rocky hills overlooking sea, near sea level,  23 May 1974( P);  Jongkind& Rapanarivo969, Ankarana Reservenear Campement des Anglais, open forest on calcareous plateau with many small succulent Euphorbias, c. 4 km Sof Campement des Anglais, 12°54’42”S, 049°06’43”E,  240-260 m, fl., fr., leaf,  22 May 1993( P, MO); Phillipson 1993, Ankarana, along RN6 30 km Nof Ambilobe, 12°57’S, 049°08’E,  120 m,  fl.,  30 Jun. 1987( P, MO, TAN);   Razafimandimbison& Andrianantoanina97a, District d’Ambilobe, Canton de Mahamasina, Nde Mahamasina, Réserve Spéciale d’Ankarana, route de la Grottedes chauvessouris, 12°58’S, 049°08’E,  50 m, fl., leaf,  15 Jun. 1995( MO);   Service Forestier22678, Plateaucalcaire de l’Ankarana, à l’W de Mahamasina(Antanatsimanja), 12°57’S, 049°08’ E, fl.,  23 Apr. 1963( TEF). ZSS Roosli & Rechberger & Francais, SE Madagascar -12.325 Montagne des Francais 909 49.333332 27 74 1 1991-01-15 P de l'Ankarana & de l'Ankara 28 75 1 1939-07-25 1974-05-23 1939-07-25 P, S Jongkind & Rapanarivo Campement des Anglais 250 -12.911666 Ankarana Reserve 21 49.111942 Campement des Anglais 28 75 1 1993-05-22 P, MO, N 120 -12.95 Ambilobe 1291 49.133335 28 75 1 [141,481,509,532] 1987-06-30 P, MO, TAN 28 75 1 1995-06-15 N, MO Razafimandimbison & Andrianantoanina & District d'Ambilobe & de Mahamasina & de la Grotte Reserve Speciale d'Ankarana 50 -12.966666 Canton de Mahamasina 1291 49.133335 Mahamasina 28 75 1 1963-04-23 TEF Service Forestier & Plateau & de l'Ankarana & de Mahamasina -12.95 1291 49.133335 28 75 1