Vitex betsiliensis Humbert in Notul. Syst. (Paris) 8: 22. 1939

Callmander, Martin W. & Phillipson, Peter B., 2018, New combinations and typifications in Vitex (Lamiaceae) from Madagascar, Candollea 73 (1), pp. 131-136 : 133

Vitex betsiliensis Humbert in Notul. Syst. (Paris) 8: 22. 1939 .

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antananarivo: Centre: S du Mt. Ibity , [20°07’S 47°01’E], 1200 m, III.1928, Perrier de la Bâthie 18480 ( P [ P00573442 ]! ; isolectotype: G [ G00096013 ]!, K, MO, P [ P00573441 ]!, TEF) . Syntypi: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Fianarantsoa: env. d’Ambatofinandrahana , [20°33’S 46°48’E], 1600-1800 m, 18.II.1938, Decary 13057 ( P [ P04398732 ]!) ; env. d’Antsirabe, col des Tapia (Haute Sahatsio) , [20°15’S 47°09’E], c. 1600 m, 24.XII.1928, Humbert 7116 ( P [ P00573438 , P00573439 ]!) ; env. d’Ambositra à Faliarivo , [20°39’S 47°07’E], c. 1600 m, III.1934, Humbert 14519 ( G [ G00341333 ]!, K [ K000192810 ] image seen, P [ P00730633 ]!) ; env. d’Ambatofinandrano , [20°33’S 46°48’E], 1400 m, VI.1913, Perrier de la Bâthie 10185 ( NY [ NY00138421 ] image seen, P [ P00084312 , P00100751 ]!) ; bois des pentes occidentales (Tapia) , au S d’Ambatofinandrano , [20°33’S 46°48’E], c. 1400 m, V.1920, Perrier de la Bâthie 13126 ( G [ G00096017 ]!, P [ P00730635 , P00730637 ]!) .

Notes. – All three syntypes are well representative of the species, but Perrier de la Bâthie 18480 is selected as the lectotype simply because it has more duplicate specimens distributed in different herbaria.

This species seems to have been cultivated at Analamazaotra on the eastern escarpment of Madagascar by the staff of the Antananarivo botanical Garden (now Jardin Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza) in the 50’s (Herb. Jard. Bot. Tananarive 27-2 (145), P [P04398722]). A second collection mentioned on the label that it was brought into cultivation, presumably in Antananarivo, and originally brought back from “Col des Tapias” (Herb. Jard. Bot. Tananarive 4845, P [P04398739]). It is not known if these introductions persist in cultivation.

Conservation status. – Vitex betsiliensis is known from 22 locations where two are encompassed in the protected area network in the Ibity and Itremo massif. All the collections are from the threatened and fragmented central highlands mid-elevation forests. With an EOO of c. 9,165 km 2 and an AOO of 96 km 2, V. betsiliensis is assigned a preliminary IUCN conservation status of “Vulnerable” [VU B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2a b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)].

Specimens examined. – Prov. Antananarivo: Antsirabe, Ibity, Beapombo , sur la crête du Mt Kiboy , 20°05’40’’S 46°59’01’’E, 7.II.2003, Andriamihajarivo et al. 115 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Arivonimamo, PK 40 , [19°01’S 47°11’E], IV.1962, Bosser 15481 ( MO, TAN) ; Andranovelona, Lohavohitra, Ankazobe, Fihaonana, Andranovelona , 18°38’13’’S 47°17’05’’E, 1462 m, 16.III.2012, Rabarijaona 128 ( MO, P, TAN) ; ibid. loco, 18°38’11’’S 47°17’13’’E, 1593 m, 6.VI.2012, Rabarijaona 175 ( MO, TAN) ; ibid. loco, 18°38’11’’S 47°17’08’’E, 1527 m, 10, VI.2012, Rabarijaona 222 ( MO, TAN) ; massif Ambohitrambo , Arivonimamo, [18°55’30’’S 47°10’30’’E], 1500 m, V.1957, Service Forestier 11987 ( K, P [2 sheets], TEF) . Prov. Fianarantsoa: Marovoalavo, Fiv. Ambatofinandrahana, Fir. Itremo , 100 m à l’E du Mt Ambatoandrano, 20°33’36’’S 46°41’42’’E, 1110-1125 m, 2.II.2001, Andriamihajarivo 15 ( MO, TAN, TEF) ; Itremo, Ambatofinandrahana , à l’W d’Ambatoandrano , 20°39’32”S 47°06’39”E, 1445 m, 9.XI.2001, Andriamihajarivo 57 ( TAN, TEF) ; Ivato, PK 10 , rte Ivato-Ambatofinandrahana , [20°37’S 46°12’E], IX.1956, Bosser 9798 ( TAN) ; PK 12, entre Ivato et Ambatofinandrahana , [20°37’S 46°12’E], IX.1956, Bosser 9827 ( P [2 sheets], TAN) ; Faliarivo (Ambositra) , [20°39’S 47°07’E], 27.V.1939, Decary 14020 ( P) ; env. d’Ambatofinandrahana , 10 km rte de Fenoarivo, [20°52’S 46°52’E], IV.1958, Descoings 3245 ( MO, TAN) ; Itremo, Ambatofinandrahana, Ianasana , 20°34’40”S 46°35’11”E, 1558 m, 25.VI. 2005, Hong-Wa 364 ( MO, P, TAN) ; env. d’Ambatofinandrahaha (Betsileo) , [20°37’S 47°12’E], 1400-1500 m, 16.I.1955, Humbert & Capuron 28107 ( P) ; montagnes à l’W d’Itremo , 1500-1700 m, 17-22.I.1955 & 18-22. IV.1955, Humbert 29953 ( MO, P [3 sheets]) ; Ambohimanjaka , c. 205 km along the road from Antananarivo to Ambositra, 20°11’06”S 47°05’24”E, 1380 m, 16.V.1993, Jongkind & Rapanarivo 931 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Ambatofitorahana, Ambatofitoharana , [20°49’S 47°11’E], 1500 m, III.1960, Keraudren 220 ( MO, P) ; entre Ivato et Ambatofinandrahana , [20°37’S 47°12’E], 1.XII.1970, Keraudren-Aymonin & Aymonin 25728 ( G, P, TAN, TEF) ; Anavozo , Soanatao à 2 km S du village d’Ambatofinandrahana, sur la route vers Fenoarivo, 20°35’4”S 46°48’35”E, 1378 m, 18.III.2004, Lehavana et al. 23 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Itremo massif , W of Ambatofinandrahana , along road to Col d’ltremo , just below bridge over Ambalarangolana riv. , 20°34’40”S 46°35’11”E, 1540 m, 9.XI.2002, Lowry et al. 5837 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Col des Tapias , c. 15 km NNW of crest of pass, 20°13’57”S 47°05’45”E, 1425 m, 25.XI.2009, Lowry et al. 7070 ( MO) ; Ivato, 12 km à l’W d’Ivato, piste d’Ambatofinandrahana , [20°37’S 47°12’E], 25.VI.1969, Morat 3317 ( P, TAN) ; Fkt. Ranomafana , à 4 km au NW d’Ambatofinandrahana, 20°30’58”S 46°46’02”E, 1475 m, 19.VIII.1999, E.S. Rakotoarisoa 21 ( TAN) ; Ambatofinandrahana, Ianasana , 20°34’40”S 46°35’05”E, 28.IX.2012, Rakotonasolo 2016 ( K, TAN) ; Ambohimanjaka. Ankeniheny, Ambohimanjaka , 20°14’02”S 47°05’35”E, 5.VI.2015, Rakotonirina et al. 1157 ( MO, P, TAN) ; route vers Itremo à 19 km d’Ambatofinandrahana, 20°33’S 46°48’E, 12.VI.1994, Ranaivojaona 6 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Itremo, Fiv. Ambatofinandrahana , Itremo , 40 km à l’W d’Ambatofinandrahana, le long d’une vallée dirigée vers l’W du pont à Ianasana , 20°34’S 46°34’E, 1630-1770 m, 6.IV.1998, Randrianaivo et al. 161 ( MO, P, TAN) ; massif d’Itremo , E margin , c. 19 km W of Ambatofinandrahana, 20°34’30”S 46°37’30”E, 1580- 1700 m, 10.III.2000, Schatz et al. 3970 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Distr. Ambatofinandrahana, forêt d’Antanimena , [20°49’S 47°11’E], 5.IX.1951, Service Forestier 4723 ( P) ; Faliarivo, Faliarivo , SW d’Ambositra , [20°38’S 47°07’E], I.1955, Service Forestier 11541 ( TEF) ; Distr. d’Ambositra. Ankijana, Ambohimahazo , [20°40’S 47°06’E], 5.II.1955, Service Forestier 13468 ( P) ; ibid loco, 15. IX.1954, Service Forestier 14756 ( P, TEF) ; Anasana, massif de l’Itremo , [20°32’S 46°33’E], 3.VIII.1959, Service Forestier 19504 ( P, TEF) ; ibid. loco, 20°37’S 46°35’E, 1500 m, 27.X.1994, van der Werff & McPherson 13590 ( MO, P, TAN) . Sine loco: s.d., Anon. s.n. ( P) ; 1400 m, 9.VII.1940, Cours 1519 ( P) ; Riv. Menaloha [?], 2.XII.1928, Homolle 1825 ( P) .