Xyloolaena linearifolia Cavaco, 1951

Lowry Ii, Porter P., Schatz, George E. & Wolf, Anne-Elizabeth, 2002, Endemic families of Madagascar. VIII. A synoptic revision of Xyloolaena Baill. (Sarcolaenaceae), Adansonia (3) 24 (1), pp. 7-19 : 18

Xyloolaena linearifolia Cavaco

Bull. Soc. Bot. France 97: 225 (1950). — Type: Humbert 13853, Madagascar, Prov. Toliara, Mont Apiky au-dessus de Mahamavo, transition du bush xérophile à la forêt basse sclérophylle, [24°45’30”S, 46°43’30”E], 800-900 m, Jan.-Feb. 1934 (holo-, P, not seen) .

The material on which this species was based is not among the collections of Xyloolaena in the Paris herbarium. Shortly after the name was published C AVACO probably realized that H UMBERT ’s collection does not belong to Xyloolaena , as suggested by the fact that he did not cite it in his treatment of Sarcolaenaceae for the Flore de Madagascar ( CAVACO 1952b). The illustration accompanying the protologue shows an exserted fruit, which would appear to exclude it from Xyloolaena , whose fruits are completely enclosed within the involucre. The illustration suggests that HUMBERT’ s material may belong to Diospyros (Ebenaceae) , but this can not be confirmed until the collection is re-located.