Scolopia spinescens Sleumer, 1972

Applequist, Wendy L. & Schatz, George E., 2016, A synoptic revision of the Malagasy species of Scolopia Schreb. (Salicaceae, Scolopieae), Adansonia 38 (1), pp. 99-115 : 113

12. Scolopia spinescens Sleumer

Blumea 20: 48, 49 (1972).

— Type: Madagascar. Prov. Toliara, Ampandrandava (entre Bekily et Tsivory), Pisopiso , 800 m, XI.1943, fl., Seyrig 331 [“ Decary 5374 ”] (holo-, P [ P00077441 ]! ; iso-, L [ L0011257 ], P [ P00077440 ], photos seen).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagascar. Prov. Toliara, vallée du Mandrare ( Sud ), Aubréville s.n. (P). — Antanimora, XII.1959, fr., Bosser 13929 (P). — Préfecture de Fort Dauphin, Réserve Intégrale d’Andohahely, parcelle 3, 17.XI.1990, fr., Dumetz 1410 (MO, P). — Mont Eromo près Beraketa entre Isoanala et Antanimoro ( Sud ), gneiss, 500-1000 m, III.1934, Humbert 14174 (P). — Entre Antanimora et Ambovombe , 15.II.1949, fr., Service Forestier 352 (P). — Sur la crête de Maroakaoho , vers 250 m d’alt. (rive droite de la Menarandra , à l’W de Tranoroa ), 13.I.1962, Service Forestier 20662bis (P). — Route Tuléar-Sakaraha, vers les PK 55-65 (à l’W d’Andranovory), XII.1961 - I.1962, Service Forestier 20726 (P×4). — Au PK. 45 de la route de Tuléar à Sakaraha , 12.XII.1962, fr., Service Forestier 22281 (P×2). — Entre Imonty et Ankeba, bassin de la Mananara , affluent du Mandrare , 20.I.1963, fr., Service Forestier 22431 (P). — Forêt d’Analamatahitse (Analamatahotra) entre Bekily et la route Beraketa – Antanimora, 28.I.1963, fr., Service Forestier 22524 (P). — A 20 km env. au S de Beraketa, 18.XII.1968, fr., Service Forestier 28515 (P). — Environs d’Ampandrandava (entre Bekily et Tsivory ), crête Est , 1000 m, XII.1943, fl., Seyrig 331B (P).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Scolopia spinescens is endemic to southern Madagascar ( Fig. 6 ), where it occurs in dry forest, degraded bush, and transitional vegetation; one collection is reported from a gneiss substrate.

REMARKS

Scolopia spinescens is a small tree or shrub, sometimes spiny, with platanoid bark. It is distinguished from similar species by its small, often suborbicular, few-veined leaves and glabrous ovary. The only other southern xerophytic species is S. meridionalis , which has larger, proportionately narrower leaves and a pubescent ovary.

The holotype of Scolopia spinescens is numbered only as Seyrig 331. The isotype at P bears several labels, including a handwritten label with Seyrig’s number 331, later annotated “5374”; a Herbier du Jardin Botanique label numbered 5374; a printed Paris label with Decary’s name; and a typed slip by Sleumer indicating that “Decary 5374 = Seyrig 331”. Sleumer’s protologue of S. spinescens listed the type as “ Herb. Decary 5374, leg. Seyrig 331 ” ( Sleumer 1972a: 49). The actual collector’s number, 331, must be used in preference to the later-added cataloguing number, 5374, which is not present on all duplicates.

CONSERVATION STATUS

The preliminary assessment of the conservation status of Scolopia spinescens is Near Threatened (NT). It is known from thirteen locations and has an Extent of Occurrence of 57 289 km 2 and a minimum Area of Occupancy of 52 km 2, but an estimated potential maximum Area of Occupancy based upon likely suitable habitat that probably exceeds 2000 km 2. Except for one collection within the Protected Area of Andohahela, the habitat is almost completely unprotected and subject to ongoing degradation. Only one collection has been made since 1968. It is therefore plausible that this assessment underestimates this species’ actual risk.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Distributions of S. inappendiculata H.Perrier (★), S. madagascariensis Sleumer (●), S. manongarivae H.Perrier (■), and S. spinescens Sleumer (▲).