Dentella repens (L.) J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.,

Char. Gen. Pl.: 25, tab: 13. 1775.

 Oldenlandia repens L., Mant. Pl. 1: 40. 1767.

Lectotypus (designated by VERDCOURT, 1983b): INDIA [?]: sine loco, s.d., Anon. s.n. (LINN nº 155/2).

Small prostrate herb, rooting at nodes. Stems and leaves fleshy, leaf blades subsessile, 4– 5 × 1.5– 2 mm, obovate to spathulate, base narrowed, apex acute; stipules connate. Flowers axillary, solitary, sessile, 5-merous. Calyx tube c. 1 mm long; lobes 5, subulate. Corolla tube funnel-shaped, greenyellowish, glabrous outside and inside; lobes white, toothed. Stamens 5, included, attached in the middle of corolla tube. Ovary 2-celled; style filiform; stigma 2-lobed. Fruits globose, indehiscent, densely villous with multicellular, transparent, bulbous-tipped trichomes, becoming glabrescent when fully mature, many-seeded with persistent calyx crown. Seeds minute, angular, brown, rugose.

Specimen examined. – MADAGASCAR.Reg. Sofia [Prov. Mahajanga]: Dist. Analalava, Cne. Antonibe, Fkt. Antsanifera, marais de Mahavelona Masiloka, [14°45'47"S 47°25'57"E], 20 m, 12.IX.2016, fl. & fr., Manjato & Avizara 777 (MO, TAN).

Note. – We postulate that D. repens may well have reached Madagascar via a long-distance dispersal either from Sri Lanka or Mauritius. On the other hand, it is possible that the species might be present in East Africa and remains unnoticed. In this case, a long-distance dispersal from East Africa to Madagascar cannot be ruled out.