2. Homalium brevipedunculatum Scott-Elliot in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 29: 21. 1891.

Typus: Madagascar. Prov. Toliara: Fort-Dauphin, V.18 ??, post-fl., Scott Elliot 2600 (holo-: K [K000231468] image seen; iso-: P [P00375087]!).

Tree to 20 m tall, 35 cm dbh; large twigs dark gray to gray or dark brown; young twigs grayish to pale brown, glabrous (to sparsely or partially pubescent); stipules narrowly lanceolate or linear, 1.7-2 mm, pubescent. Leaves subopposite to alternate especially proximally; petiole 3-12(-17) mm, glabrous or sparsely (to moderately) pubescent when young; blade obovate (narrowly or broadly obovate, elliptical), (3.7-)5.1-11 × 2.1- 5.8(-6.5) cm; base convex (cuneate, rounded); apex rounded to emarginate; margins usually somewhat revolute, occasionally minutely toothed then with 1-5 glands toward base of leaf, rarely more; abaxial surface sparsely pubescent on midrib (and blade), drying brown; adaxial surface glabrous, drying brown (green). Inflorescences racemose, lateral, sometimes mostly confined to distalmost portion of twigs, 1.5-4(-5.3) cm, densely (to moderately) short-pubescent; peduncle 0.3-0.8 cm, sturdy; pedicel 1-2(-4) mm, densely pubescent; bracts broadly ovate (ovate), (1.4-) 2-3.8 mm, densely pubescent; bracteoles ovate, sometimes apparently absent, 1.5-2.5 mm, densely pubescent. Flowers: sepals (4-)5(-6), greenish-beige to whitish or yellowish, narrowly oblong (oblong-elliptical, oblanceolate) with acute apex, 4.5-7.5 mm, abaxial surface densely to moderately pubescent (to sericeous), often slightly keeled at apex; calyx cup funnelform (becoming cylindrical), densely to moderately pubescent (to sericeous); sepal glands yellow, conspicuously elevated, 0.9-1.3 × 0.9-1.3 mm, the upper surface glabrous and wrinkled, with pubescence underneath on abaxial surface; petals greenish-white to white or yellowish-white, oblanceolate to narrowly obovate with a narrow base, acute to obtuse or rounded apex, 4.5-8.5 × 1.8-3.2 mm, slightly longer than or about equal to sepals, abaxial surface densely pubescent and often shallowly keeled, adaxial surface glabrous or rarely sparsely pubescent; filaments white to yellowish, 2.4-3.8 mm, glabrous; anthers yellow, 0.3-0.4 mm; ovary short-conical, long-pubescent to pilose; styles 3(-4), dark reddish green, 1.5-3.5 mm, basally long-pubescent. Seeds probably 1 per fruit; mature seeds not seen.

Vernacular names. – “Maranikoditra” (Faliniaina et al. 37, Ramison et al. 139); “Rohandriana” (Service Forestier 6610, 7851).

Distribution, ecology and conservation status. – Homalium brevipedunculatum is native to littoral and low-elevation humid forests of southeastern Madagascar; it is reported primarily on sand, but occasionally on laterite. Fewer than ten distinct locations are known, most close to Fort-Dauphin; though these include some protected land, the remainder of its range is subject to ongoing forest loss, justifying a preliminary conservation status assessment of “Vulnerable” [VU B2ab(iii)] following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Notes. – Homalium brevipedunculatum most closely resembes, and co-occurs in part of its range with H. nobile; the latter species has sometimes very large leaves, (5.5-)6.5-18 × (3-) 4-9 cm, with at least slight pubescence on the midribs, and petals 3.4-5 mm broad. The other common littoral species with racemose inflorescences and densely pubescent perianth, H. laxiflorum, has broader and on average shorter sepals and petals with rounded apices, with the petals usually well exceeding the sepals; neither petals nor sepals are at all keeled, and their indument, though partly dense, is generally short.

Rabenantoandro et al. 954 from Mahabo (23°10’20”S 47°42’23”E; MO) has flowers like those of H. brevipedunculatum, with narrow petals, and the leaf midribs are virtually glabrous, but the leaves are very large as is typical of H. nobile . Both species are known from Mahabo. It is suggested to be a hybrid between those species.

Additional material examined. – Madagascar. Prov. Fianarantsoa: S of Farafangana, near village of Mahabo, 23°10’51”S 47°42’29”E, 30 m, 5.XI.2001, fl., McPherson & Rabenantoandro 18358 (MO, P) ; Fkt. Nosy ala, forêt d’Analazaha, 23°10’13”S 47°43’27”E, 22 m, 26.VIII.2003, fl., Rabehevitra et al. 558 (P). Prov. Toliara: Fort-Dauphin, fl., Cloisel 125 (P); forêt sur la route de Ste Luce, partie S, 24°46’S 47°09’E, 0-10 m, 23.III.1989, post-fl., Dumetz 631 (MO, P) ; Fkt. Sainte Luce, 24°46’41”S 47°10’04”E, 17.XII.2000, fl. and post-fl., Faliniaina et al. 37 (MO); Bemangidy forest, ca. 3 km E of Antsotso, along RN 12a, 24°34’05”S 47°12’38”E, 100 m, 10.II.2006, post-fl., Lowry et al. 6756 (MO, P) ; Ste. Luce region, Manafiafy, 24°47’S 47°10’E, 25 m, 19.X.1989, fl., McPherson et al. 14168 (MO, P) ; few km NW of Manantenina, forêt d’Analalava, 24°13’S 47°21’E, 40 m, 28.X.1989, fl., McPherson 14274 (MO, P) ; N of town near village of Ste. Luce (Manafiafy), forest NW of village, 24°47’S 47°10’E, 20 m, 16.I.1990, post-fl., McPherson et al. 14808 (MO, P) ; Taolagnaro, forêt M 7, 24°57’31”S 47°00’02”E, 0-10 m, 6.X.2000, fl., Rabenantoandro et al. 333 (MO, P) ; Fkt. Sainte Luce, forêt sublittorale de S8, Hova site minier, 24°46’29”S 49°08’57”E, 6 m, 4.XI.2003, fl., Rabenantoandro & Ramisy 1540 (MO, P) ; Fkt. Sainte Luce, forêt d’Analavinaky, à l’W du village d’Ambandrika, 24°46’30”S 47°09’00”E, 21 m, 24.XI.2009, fl., Rakotovao 4736 (MO) ; sentier reliant Ampasy et Iaboakoho village, 24°35’57”S 47°09’31”E, 29.XI.2009, fl., Rakotovao et al. 4909 (MO) ; forêt d’Ambavarano, 24°57’32”S 47°02’07”E, 7 m, 11.XII.2006, fl, Ramison et al. 139 (MO) ; Ste. Luce, fkt. Manafiafy, forêt de Manafiafy, 24°46’08”S 47°10’14”E, 21 m, 30.XI.2002, fl., Randrianaivo et al. 865 (MO, P) ; Antsotso, forêt d’Ivohibe, 24°56’46”S 47°19’54”E, 386 m, XI.2005, fl., Razakamalala et al. 2458 (MO, P); Iaboko, Antsotso Avaratra, 24°34’35”S 47°12’28”E, 25 m, 13.XII.2007, fl., Razakamalala et al. 4025 (MO, P) ; N of Ft. Dauphin on road to Ste. Luce, block S-9 of QUIT-FER, 24°47’S 47°11’E, 15 m, 12.XI.1990, fl., Schatz et al. 2999 (MO, P); Mandena, 19.XII.1952, post-fl., Service Forestier 6610 (P); Mandena, 3.XI.1953, fl., Service Forestier 7851 (P); Vinanibe, à l’W de Fort-Dauphin, 7.XII.1968, fl., Service Forestier 28619 (P [2 sheets]).