Callmander, M. W., P. B. Phillipson, M. Razanajavoto & L. Nusbaumer (2011). The genus Ophiocolea H. Perrier in northern Madagascar with description of four new species and two new lectotypifications. Candollea 66: 133–145. In English, English and French abstracts.
A recent review of Bignoniaceae for the “Catalogue of the vascular plants of Madagascar” has revealed new species in most of the genera present on the island. We provide descriptions of four new species in the genus Ophiocolea H. Perrier, a genus that is endemic to the Malagasy region: Ophiocolea ambrensis Callm. & Phillipson, Ophiocolea darainensis Callm., Phillipson & Nusb., Ophiocolea pauciflora Callm., Phillipson & Razan. and Ophiocolea ratovosonii Callm. & Phillipson. Field photographs and line drawings are provided for each of these four new species. Two species described previously, Ophiocolea decaryi H. Perrier and Ophiocolea velutina H. Perrier, are lectotypified. For all six treated species, we provide a short discussion on morphological affinities and eco-geography, and perform a conservation threat analysis based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Introduction
The Malagasy members of the Bignoniaceae family are segregated into two tribes based primarily on the dehiscence of the fruit: tribe Tecomeae Endl. (dehiscent) and tribe Coleeae Bojer (indehiscent). The latter includes five genera in Madagascar: Colea Meisn., Ophiocolea H. Perrier, Phyllar — thron DC., Phylloctenium Baill. and Rhodocolea Baill. Ophiocolea was described by Perrier de la Bâthie (1938a) for the five species then known with 2-locular ovaries and long cylindrical fruits. The genus currently includes six species, five endemic to Madagascar and a single species, O. comorensis H. Perrier, endemic to the Comoro Islands.
Ophiocolea in Madagascar has been regarded as taxonomically difficult due in part to the rather broad species concept adopted by Perrier de la Bâthie (1938a, b) for O. floribunda (Lindl.) H. Perrier. The morphological variation in this complex which has elements occurring throughout the humid and sub-humid regions of the island, certainly represents more than one species and will be treated in a separate article. The other described species have more restricted distribution ranges and generally distinctive morphological features. In the north of Madagascar, O. decaryi H. Perrier can be easily recognized by its very hairy, coriaceous leaves and fruits, and white flowers with the corolla tubes yellow inside, whereas O. velutina H. Perrier has sparsely hairy sub-coriaceous leaves with condensed cauliflorous inflorescences with flowers characterized by reddish corollas tinted with yellow in the mouth. Ophiocolea delphinensis H. Perrier, from the south-east, has distinctive ribbed fruits and flowers with corollas with pink lobes. The yellow-flowered O. vokoanensis Zjhra from the Masoala peninsula is however part of the O. floribunda complex, and difficult to distinguish from other elements of this group.
Description of four new species of Ophiocolea from Northern Madagascar
A recent review of Malagasy Bignoniaceae (Madagascar Catalogue , 2011) has enabled us to refine species delimitations and has lead us to recognize new taxa in most of the genera present. In Ophiocolea we are able to recognize four distinctive new species from Northern Madagascar which we describe below, namely: O. ambrensis Callm. & Phillipson, O. darainensis Callm., Phillipson & Nusb., O. pauciflora Callm., Phillipson & Razan. and O. ratovosonii Callm. & Phillipson (Fig. 1). Each species is provided with line drawings and photographs, as well as a conservation threat assessment following Iucn (2001 ). For the latter, calculations of area of occupancy (AOO), extent of occurrence (EOO) and number of subpopulations are based on methods presented in Callmander & al. (2007). Historical collections lacking geographic coordinates were post facto georeferenced where possible using Schatz & Lescot (2011). These data are placed in square brackets in the citation of collections.
Fig. 1.
Distributions of Ophiocolea H. Perrier in Northern Madagascar mapped on the bioclimatic zones of Madagascar (after Cornet, 1974; see Schatz, 2000) and protected area network (Ank : Ankarana ; Ana : Analamera ; Man: Manongarivo ; Mda: Montagne d'Ambre ; Tsr : Tsaratanana). A. O. decaryi H. Perrier (squares) and O. velutina H. Perrier (triangles) ; B. O. pauciflora Callm., Phillipson & Razan. (circles) and O. ratovosonii Callm. & Phillipson (crosses) ; C. O. ambrensis Callm. & Phillipson (squares) and O. darainensis Callm., Phillipson & Nusb. (triangles).
Ophiocolea ambrensis Callm. & Phillipson, spec. nova (Fig. 2, 3)
Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Montagne d'Ambre, [12°31'30″S 49°10'30”E], 14.X.1954, fl., Service Forestier 11280 (holo-: P [P00722270]!; iso-: G [G00303 496]!, K!, MO!, P [P00722268]!, TEF!, WIS!).
Haec species a congeneris foliorum petiolo rhachideque anguste alatis atque corolla valde zygomorpha indumento albo dense vestito distinguitur.
Well-branched tree to 15 m tall. Leaves imparipinnate, 17–40 × 8–14 cm (including petiole); petiole 5–7 cm long, ca. 0.2–0.3 cm diam., glabrous, thickened at the base and somewhat amplexicaule, narrowly winged, verticillate on the branches, 4–5 leaves per verticil, leaf scars conspicuous on older stems. Leaflets (7-)11–13; blade ovate-lanceolate, (3-)6–10 × (1-) 2–3 cm, somewhat coriaceous, glabrous; base attenuate; margins entire, coarsely undulate; apex slightly acuminate, the acumen 0.5 cm long; midrib and secondary veins prominent on both surfaces, red ‘in vivo'; reticulate venation visible; petiolule 0.2–0.5 cm, glabrous; rachis straight. Inflorescence born on stems and trunk (to near the base), racemose, gradually expanding during anthesis; primary axis 10–16 cm, pedicels 5–8(-15) mm; bracts ca. 2–3 mm × 1 mm, pubescent. Calyx cupuliform, magenta, irregularly divided in the distal part, (0.4-) 0.7–1 cm long. Corolla tubular, zygomorphic, the upper and lateral lobes spreading, the lower lobe reflexed, ca. 3–4.5 × 1.7 cm, dark pink with yellow blotches on interior throat (dark brown when dried), densely covered with a white indument before anthesis, puberulent after; tube slightly curved downwards, with a sparse whitish indument on the inner ridges on the palate, rather abruptly narrowed to ca. 3 mm diameter in the basal 1/4, the mouth oblique; lobes rounded to 4-angled, the 2 posterior, ca. 5 × 4 mm, the 2 lateral and the posterior slightly larger, ca. 7 × 5 mm. Stamens 4, ca. 35 mm in length, slightly longer than corolla at maturity; anthers ca. 3–4 mm long, 2 locular; stylus ca. 45 mm. Fruit unknown.
Distribution and ecology. — Ophiocolea ambrensis is only known from the montane evergreen forests of the Montagne d'Ambre (Fig. 1).
Conservation status. — With an EOO of 2 km2, an AOO of 18 km2, and 1 subpopulation in a protected area (Montagne d'Ambre), O. ambrensis is assigned a preliminary status of “Vulnerable” (VU D2).
Notes. — Ophiocolea ambrensis differs from O. velutina, which also occurs on Montagne d'Ambre, by its glabrous (vs. pubescent in O. velutina) leaves with much smaller leaflets (6–10 × 2–3 cm vs. 7–18 × 2–8 cm), and its narrowly winged petiole and rachis (vs. petiole and rachis not winged in O. velutina). The flowers of both species are distinctive in the genus in being highly zygomorphic (see Fig. 2, 3), but they differ most notably in the size and indument of the calyx and indument of the corolla and those of O. ambrensis are borne on an expanded racemose inflorescence (vs. highly condensed). Another species from Montagne d'Ambre is described below.
Sheets of two collections of O. ambrensis at MO were annotated by A. H. Gentry with the invalid unpublished names: O. schatzii (Schatz & al. 1524) and O. ornithophila (Miller & al. 3620) in 1989 and 1991 respectively. These names have been entered into databases and have since proliferated in certain electronic media. It is curious that Gentry regarded these very similar collections to represent different species.
Paratypi. — MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Montagne d'Ambre, bords du Petit Lac, [12°32′S 49°10′E], fl., X.1944, Homolle 193 (P); Montagne d'Ambre, 12°32′S 49°10′E, 65 m, 21.X.1988, fl., Miller & al. 3620 (MO [2 sheets], P, TAN); Montagne d'Ambre, 12°33′S 49°08′E, 65 m, fl., 14.IX.1987, Schatz, Rakotozafy, D'Arcy & Randrianasolo 1524 (MO [2 sheets], P, TAN).
Ophiocolea darainensis Callm., Phillipson & Nusb., spec. nova (Fig. 4, 5)
Typus:MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Daraina, massif d'Antsahabe, 13°13′S 49°34′E, 500 m, fl., 16.X.2004, Callmander & al. 244 (holo-: P [P00722269]!; iso-: G [G00019763]!, K!, MO!, TAN!).
Haec species a congeneris internodiis foliaribus proximalibus 4 vel 5 fractiflexis, calyce infundibuliformi ad orem aperto atque corolla tubulari infra pallide lutea supra rubroaurantiaca lobis pallide luteis distinguitur.
Tree to 7 m tall; dbh < 20 cm. Leaves imparipinnate, 25–30(-49) × 14–16(-18) cm (including petiole); petiole 5–7(-9) cm long, ca. 0.2–0.4 cm diam., glabrous, thickened at the base and somewhat amplexicaule, verticillate on the branches, (5-) 6(-7) leaves per verticil, leaf scars conspicuous on the older stems. Leaflets 17–21; blade ovate-lanceolate, 8–15(-19) × 2.5–5(-7) cm, sub-coriaceous, glabrous; base attenuate asymmetrically; margins entire, coarsely undulate; apex acuminate, the acumen 1–1.5(-2) cm long; midrib and secondary veins prominent on the both surfaces, reticulation visible; petiolule 0.5–1(-2) cm, glabrous. Rachis forming a zig-zag between the 4–5 pairs of leaflets in the proximal part of the leaves. Inflorescence born on stems and trunk, on woody mounds with a nodular appearance, bracts filamentous, (0.3-)0.5 × 0.1 mm, hairy. Calyx funnel-shaped open at the mouth, 4–8 mm long, white, with 5 red veins each ending in a short mucro, glandular or non-glandular puberulent. Corolla tubular, obscurely 2-lipped, with five sub-equal spreading lobes, ca. 3 × 1.2 cm, finely puberulent with a pale cream-coloured indument outside and inside on the lobes, and with a villous indument on the palatial ridges and in the throat; tube slightly curved downwards, with 2 longitudinal ridges on the palate, narrowed gradually to ca. 2 mm diameter in the basal 1/4, lower portion pale yellow, upper portion orange-red (colour somewhat masked by the puberulent indument outside); lobes rounded, ca. 5 × 7 mm, pale yellow, the upper 3 lobes suffused with the orange-red coloration extending out from the tube, the lower 2 lobes with a distinct deep orange-yellow area adjacent to the sinuses. Stamens 4, ca. 18 mm in length; anthers 2 mm, 2-locular; style 22 mm long. Fruit an indehiscent pod, reddish, pendant, ca. 16 × 1.8 cm. Seeds numerous, subspherical, ca. 0.7–0.8 mm in diam.
Distribution and ecology. — Ophiocolea darainensis is only known from the Loky-Manambato region (Daraina) at elevations between 200 and 950 m. It occurs in semi-deciduous to evergreen forests, but also in ripicolous habitats of dry deciduous forests (Fig. 1).
Conservation status. — With an EOO of 119 km2, an AOO of 45 km2, and 4 subpopulations in a protected area (Loky-Manambato), O. darainensis is assigned a preliminary status of “Vulnerable” (VU D2).
Notes. — Ophiocolea darainensis differs from all the other species of the genus by its leaves with the internodes of the rachis between the 4–5 terminal leaflets forming a zig-zag while in other species the rachis is more or less straight. Ophiocolea darainensis resembles O. ratovosonii in having inflorescences that develop in the axils of fallen leaves and gradually develop into woody mounds with a nodular appearance, formed from the remains of the inflorescences from consecutive years, giving rise each year to a flush of densely-congested bracts, and also in having individual flowers and fruits that protrude on short pedicels. However, O. darainensis differs from O. ratovosonii by its funnelshaped calyx which is open at the mouth (vs. campanulate and closed around the corolla in O. ratovosonii), and by the colour (white with yellow vs. red-brown with yellow-orange) of its tubular (vs. campanulate) corolla (Fig. 4, 5). Ophiocolea darainensis is the third species member of the genus known to occur in the Daraina region along with O. floribunda s.l. and O. decaryi, from which it differs by its flowers being borne on the stems in contracted inflorescences forming woody mounds (vs. flowers on a lax inflorescence, often paniculate, never forming woody mounds in both O. floribunda and O. decaryi).
Paratypi. — MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Daraina, forêt d'Antsahabe, 13º13'02″S 49º32'51″E, 910 m, fl., 6.XII.2004, Gautier & Nusbaumer 4840 (G, TEF, WIS); Daraina, forêt d'Ambilondomba, 13º09'40”S 49º38' 46”E, 400 m, 27.I.2004, fr., Ranirison, Wohlhauser & Nusbaumer 316 (G, TEF, WIS); Vohemar, Daraina, Ambatoharanana, Binara, Forêt de Bemôsy à 2 km au nord-ouest d'Ankijabe, 13°14'41”S 49°37'53”E, 275 m, 01.XI.2005, fl., Rakotondrajaona & al. 367 (G, MO, P, TAN); Daraina, forêt d'Ambo hitsitondroina, 13º07'55″S 49º28'31″E, 200 m, 14.I.2006, fl., Nusbaumer & Ranirison 1937 (G, TEF).
Fig. 2.
Ophiocolea ambrensis Callm. & Phillipson. A. Flower ; B. Branch and leaves ; C. Inflorescence.
[A, C: Service Forestier 11280, TAN; B: Miller & al. 3620, TAN] [Drawing: R. L. Andriamiarisoa]
Fig. 4.
Ophiocolea darainensis Callm., Phillipson & Nusb. A. Leaf ; B. Insertion of the petioles ; C. Leaflet ; D. Fruit ; E. Inflorescence.
[A–C: Rakotondrajaona & al. 367, TAN; D: Ranirison, Wohlhauser & Nusbaumer 316, TAN; E: Callmander & al. 244, P] [Drawing : R. L. Andriamiarisoa]
Fig. 5.
Inflorescence of Ophiocolea darainensis Callm., Phillipson & Nusb.
[Photo : M. W. Callmander]
Ophiocolea pauciflora Callm., Phillipson & Razan., spec. nova (Fig. 6, 7)
Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Montagne d'Ambre, bordure du cratère (Petit lac), 12°32'14″S 43° 10'42″E, 1070 m, fl. & fr., 5.XII. 2007, Razanajatovo, Ramandimbimanana & Trigui 6 (holo-: G [G00075949]!; iso-: K!, MO!, P!, TEF!, WIS!).
Haec species a congeneris inflorescentia 2-vel 3-flora, pedicellis pubescentibus atque corolla tubulari recta purpurea zonis luteis manifestis juxta sinus tubo intus albido distinguitur.
Treelet to 3 m tall. Leaves imparipinnate, 33–39(-47) × 16–20(-26) cm (including petiole); petiole 8–10 cm long, ca. 0.2–0.3 cm diam., pubescent, slightly thickened at the base and somewhat amplexicaule, verticillate on the branches, 5–6 leaves per verticil, leaf scars conspicuous on older stems. Leaflets 11–15; blade ovate-lanceolate, (3-)9–10(-13) × (1.5-) 3–4(-4.5) cm, chartaceous, puberulent; base attenuate; margins entire; apex acuminate, the acumen 0.5–1 cm long; midrib and secondary veins prominent on the both surfaces, reticulation visible; petiolules 0.5–0.8 cm (lateral leaflets) or up to 4 cm (distal leaflets), puberulent. Rachis straight. Flowers born on main stems and branches, 1–4 per inflorescence, on pubescent pedicels (up to 1 cm long). Calyx cupuliform, purple, with 5 whitish teeth, puberulent. Corolla tubular, with five sub-equal spreading lobes, ca. 2.4 × 1 cm, finely pubescent, with a whitish woolly indument in the throat ; tube straight, or rather abruptly narrowed to ca. 1.5 mm diameter in the basal 1/4, purple; lobes rounded, ca. 0.3 × 0.4 mm, with a distinct yellow area adjacent to the sinuses and interior of tube whitish. Stamens 4, ca. 9 mm in length, anthers 2 mm, 2-locular; stylus ca. 10–15 mm. Fruit an indehiscent pod, pendant, ca. 0.8–1.6 × 25 cm, apiculate, apicule 0.8 cm. Seeds ca. 16, sub-ellipsoid, ca. 4–5 × 6–10 mm.
Distribution and ecology. — Ophiocolea pauciflora is only known from the montane evergreen forests of the Montagne d'Ambre at ca. 1000 m (Fig. 1).
Conservation status. — With an EOO of > 1 km2, an AOO of 9 km2, and only 1 subpopulation in a protected area (Montagne d'Ambre), O. pauciflora is assigned a preliminary status of Vulnerable (VU D2).
Notes. — Ophiocolea pauciflora can be easily recognised by its pauciflorous inflorescence with 1–4 purple flowers on pubescent pedicels (Fig. 7). It is the third species of Ophiocolea known to occur on the Montagne d'Ambre along with O. ambrensis and O. velutina. It differs from these species by its straight tubular corolla (vs. zygomorphic corolla with a curved tube in both O. ambrensis and O. velutina).
Paratypi. — MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Montagne d'Ambre, partie nord, 12°30'59”S 49°10'24”E, 1030 m, 10.XII.2006, fl., Gautier & Chatelain 5093 (G, TEF); Parc National Montagne d'Ambre, [12°32'44”S 49°10'48”E], 1200 m, 23.V.1974, st., Gentry 11944 (MO [ MO-021878, MO-021879]); Montagne d'Ambre, 12°32′S 49°11′E, 990–1100 m, 16–20.XI.1992, Malcomber & al. 1790 (G, MO, P, TAN); Montagne d'Ambre National Park, 12°31' 26”S 49°10'25”E, 1140 m, 11.XI.2006, Ranaivojaona & al. 1593 (G, MO, P, TAN); Montagne d'Ambre, env. de la station des Roussettes et du Petit Lac, [12°31'30″S 49°10' 30″E], 1000–1100 m, 18–20.XI.1958, Service Forestier 20032 (P, TEF); Joffreville, Montagne d'Ambre, Roussettes, [12°31'30″S 49°10'20″E], 28.IX.1981, fl., Service Forestier 32001 (P, TEF).
Ophiocolea ratovosonii Callm. & Phillipson., spec. nova (Fig. 8, 9)
Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Plateau de l'Ankarana, environs Est d'Antanatsimanaja (Mahamesina), au S. d'Ambondromifehy, s.d., [12°53'00″S 49°12'30″E], fl., Service Forestier 23181 (holo-: P [P00568724]!; iso-: MO!, TEF!).
Haec species a congeneris corolla brevi lata campanulata leviter tantum zygomorpha tubo ferrugineo lobis luteoaurantiacis recurvatis distinguitur.
Treelet to 3(-5) m tall, generally unbranched. Leaves imparipinnate, 35–46(-52) _ 13–22(-28) cm (including petiole); petiole 6–9 cm long, ca. 0.3–0.4 cm diam., glabrous, somewhat thickened at the base, verticillate on the branches, 5–8 leaves per verticil, leaf scars conspicuous on the older stems. Leaflets 17–21; blades elliptic, 10–16 × 2.8–4.2 cm, sub-coriaceous, glabrous; base cuneate, sometimes slightly asymmetric; margins entire, sometimes somewhat undulate (at least when dry); apex acute; midrib and secondary veins prominent on abaxial surface, midrib impressed on adaxial surface, secondary veins visible; reticulation hardly visible; petiolule 0.4–0.7(-1) cm, glabrous; rachis straight. Inflorescence born on trunk, contracted, developing in the axils of fallen leaves and gradually developing into woody mounds with a nodular appearance that are formed from the remains of the inflorescences from consecutive years, that giving rise each year to a flush of densely-congested bracts, and individual flowers and fruits that protrude on short pedicels; bracts filamentous ca. 2 × 0.2 mm, pubescent. Calyx campanulate, 4 × 3–4 mm, sparsely puberulent, pale green, sometimes shading to red-purple in the lower half, with 5 sometimes red-purple tinged veins ending in a short mucro. Corolla campanulate, obscurely 2-lipped, with five sub-equal recurved lobes, ca. 14–18 × 6–9 mm, finely and sparsely puberulent with a pale indument outside and inside on the lobes, and with a dense white woolly indument on the palate and extending onto the lower lip; tube straight, with 2 broad longitudinal palatial ridges, abruptly narrowed to ca. 3.5 mm diameter in the basal portion within the calyx, distal portion red-brown; lobes rounded ca. 2–4 × 3–6 mm, orange-yellow with diffuse red-brown venation. Stamens 4, ca. 10 mm in length; anthers 2.5 mm, 2-locular; style 13 mm long. Fruit unknown.
Etymology. — The species is named in honour of Fidy Ratovoson, a Malagasy botanist working for the Missouri Botanical Garden in Madagascar who has collected intensively in the northern dry forests of Madagascar during a coordinated set of inventory projects conducted under the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program.
Distribution and ecology. — Ophiocolea ratovosonii is only known from Madagascar's northern dry forests (Fig. 1).
Conservation status. — With only 4 collections known, an EOO of 1,032 km2, an AOO of 36 km2 (calculation following Callmander & al., 2007) and 4 subpopulation, one of which is encompassed in the Protected Area network (Ankarana), O. ratovosonii is assigned a preliminary status of ”Endangered” (EN B1ab[i, iii], B2ab[i, iii]).
Notes. — The flowers of O. ratovosonii are unique among the Malagasy members of the genus with their short broad campanulate corolla, which is only weakly zygomorphic, and consists of a red-brown tube and reflexed yellow-orange lobes. This species somewhat resembles O. darainensis but the latter species' zig-zag leaf rachis and the shape, colour and indument of its calyx and corolla are quite different (Fig. 5, 9; see O. darainensis above). Ophiocolea ratovosonii differs from O. velutina, the only other member of the genus known to occur in the dry forests of Madagascar (O. velutina extends from Montagne d'Ambre into neighbouring northern dry forests), by its glabrous leaves (vs. pubescent in O. velutina) and campanulate (vs. strongly zygomorphic) corolla.
Paratypi. — Madagascar. Prov. Antsiranana: Masorolava, Mahagaga, partie Nord-Ouest, 12°46'38”S 49°01'28”E, 87 m, 23.IX.2007, Andria — mihajarivo, Ravoahangy, J. Bernard, Salam & Razafindrainibe 1391 (MO, P, TAN); Chaîne de montagne d'Andrafiamena, aux alentours d'Anjahankely, 12°54'58″S 49°19'59″E, 513 m, 18.XI.2010, fl., Burivalova & al. 32 (G [G00303499], MO, P, TEF); Ambilobe, Ambakirano, Behefaka, Ambina — nibekona (Anjahana), 10 km au S de Behefaka, 13°21'10”S 49°09'59”E, 65 m, 4.VI.2005, fl., Ratovoson, Hong-Wa, Leopold & Razafy 1005 (MO, TAN).
Lectotypification of two species of Ophiocolea occuring in Northern Madagascar
The two Ophiocolea species described by Perrier de la Bâthie in 1938 that occur in Northern Madagascar require lectotypification, which we effect below. We list all the available collections for these two very distinctive species, together with conservation threat analyses and some additional comments.
Ophiocolea decaryi H. Perrier in Ann. Mus. Colon. Marseille ser. 5, 6: 32, 33. 1938.
Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Maromandia, Ankaramy, [14°01′S 48°10′E], [200 m], 19.XI.1922, fl., Decary 1267 (lecto-: P [P0064 8519]!; isolecto-: P [P00648518, P00648520]!).
Other material examined. — MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Nord du village de Daraina, forêt d'Ambilondamba, 13°10′S 49°39′E, 400 m, 25.X.2004, fl. & fr., Callmander & Anselme Be 266 (G, K, MO, P, TAN); Ambilobe, Anketrabe, forêt de Kalabenono, 13°38′09″S 48°40′08″E, 316 m, 30.X.2005, fl., Callmander, Jo Vazaha & Malaza 526 (G, K, MO, P, TAN); Maromandia, Ankaramy, [14°01″S 48°10′E], [200 m], 29.XII.1922, fl & fr., Decary 1365 (P); Vohémar, Daraina, Ambatoharanana, Analamazava, à 8 km d'Ankijiabe, 13°16′12″S 49°36′40″E, 617 m, 30.X.2005, fr., S. Randrianasolo & al. 539 (G, K, MO, P, TAN); Vohémar, Daraina, Ambarilao, Tsaratanana, Ampondrabe, à l'Ouest d'Ambarilao, 12°57′48″S 49°41′57″E, 427 m, 24.IX.2007, fl., S. Randrianasolo & al. 606 (MO, P, TAN); Base du massif du Manongarivo, côté W, [14°06′30″S 48°18′00″E], XI.1908, fr., Perrier de la Bâthie 10357 (P [2 sheets]); Mont Kalabenono, [13°39′S 48°40′E], VIII.1908, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 10356 (P); Daraina, forêt d'Antsahabe, 13°12'37″S 49°33'29″E, 545 m, 30.X.2005, fr., Razafitsalama & al. 747 (G, K, MO, P, TAN); forêt de Kalabenono, chaîne de Galoko, 8 km au Sud-Est d'Anketrabe, 13°37'27”S 48°40'05”E, 340 m, 19.XI.2006, fr., Razafitsalama, Torze & Toninjama 1067 (MO, TAN).
Conservation status. — With an EOO of 6,484 km2, an AOO of 24 km2, and 7 subpopulations, 2 of which are within the protected area network (Loky-Manambato), O. decaryi is assigned a preliminary status of Vulnerable (VU B1ab[i, iii]2ab[i, iii]).
Notes. — Ophiocolea decaryi is based on four syntypes (Decary 1267, Decary 1365, Perrier de la Bâthie 10356, Perrier de la Bâthie 10357). We choose Decary 1267 as the lectotype since it holds the most complete material and was collected by Raymond Decary for whom the species was named. This species is found in the Sambirano region and in the Loky-Manambato area (Daraina complex) (Fig. 1). It can be recognized by its inflorescence borne of the stems bearing small white flowers tinted with yellow in the throat of the corolla (Fig. 10).
Fig. 8.
Ophiocolea ratovosonii Callm. & Phillipson. A. Flower ; B. Flowering branch with leaves ; C. Inflorescence.
[A: Ratovoson & al. 1005, TAN; B-C: Service Forestier 15356, TAN] [Drawing: R. L. Andriamiarisoa]
Ophiocolea velutina H. Perrier in Ann. Mus. Colon. Marseille sér. 5, 6: 32, 33. 1938.
Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Montagne d'Ambre, [12°27′S 49°12′E], ca. 900 m, X.1932, fr., Perrier de la Bâthie 18835 (lecto-: P [P00647492]!); isolecto-: P [P00647491, P00647493]!).
Other material examined. — MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Montagne d'Ambre (partie NO), [12°32′S 49°08′E], 23.XII.1967, st., Bernardi 12014 (G, P); Montagne d'Ambre NP, 12°31′S 49°08′E, 630 m., 12.II.1992, fl., Malcomber & al. 1197 (G, MO, P, TAN); Forêt d'Analamahisto au S d'Anivorano-Nord, [12°48′S 49°15′E], 300 m, XII.1937-I.1938, fl., Humbert 19071 (TAN, P); Montagne d'Ambre, [12°27'36″S 49°12'00″E], ca. 1000 m, I.1926, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 17554 (P [3 sheets]); Forêt d'Analamahitsy, PK 84 de la route Diégo-Ambilobe entre Anivorano Nord et Ambondromifehy, [12°47′S 49°15′E], 16.II.1962, fl., Service Forestier 22013 (P [2 sheets], TEF); Massif de la Montagne d'Ambre, rivière des Makis, en aval de la Grande Cascade, [12°30′18″S 49°10′24″E], 18–20.XI.1958, fl., Service Forestier 22050 (P, TEF).
Conservation status. — With an EOO of 101 km2, an AOO of 45 km2, and 2 subpopulation, one encompassed in a protected area (Montagne d'Ambre), O. velutina is assigned a preliminary status of Endangered (EN B1ab[i, iii]).
Notes. — Ophiocolea velutina is based on 2 syntypes (Perrier de la Bâthie 17554, Perrier de la Bâthie 18835); we have chosen the gathering that comprises both flowering and fruiting material as the lectotype. This species occurs in the North around the Montagne d'Ambre in dry or transition forests (Fig. 1) and is characterized by its hairy sub-coriaceous leaves and its condensed inflorescences bearing red-tinted flowers marked yellow in the throat.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza and the local office of the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) in Antananarivo for assistance in Madagascar. The authors are also grateful to the curators of the following herbaria for access to their collections: G, K, MO, P, TAN, TEF and WIS. We thank Roger Lala Andriamiarisoa for the fine illustrations and Roy Gereau for preparing the Latin diagnoses. We are also grateful to Narcisse Amavatra, Anselme Be, Sharon Bodine, Zuzana Burivalova, Frédéric Delesques, Laurent Gautier, Zachary Rogers, Sonia Trigui and Sébastien Wohlhauser for their help and support, and to Porter P. Lowry II for the careful review of this manuscript. The first author would like to thank Bernard Genier (Télévision Suisse Romande) who made possible the 2004 field excursion to Madagascar. Financial support was provided to MWC through the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) project by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Cooperative Agreement U01 TW000313. The participation of MWC and PBP was also supported by grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation (0743355) and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. MHR and LN would like to thank Sud Expert Plantes (SEP) for the support of their filedwork in Madagascar.
