Thecacoris perrieri Leandri

McPherson, Gordon, 2015, Observations on Madagascan Amyrea Leandri and Tannodia Baill. (Euphorbiaceae), Candollea 70 (1), pp. 141-144 : 143

Thecacoris perrieri Leandri in Notul. Syst. (Paris) 6: 19. 1937.

Typus: M A DAG A S CA R. Prov. Toamasina: Forêt d’Analamazaotra , 1400 m, 1911, Perrier de la Bâthie 2203 (holo-: P [ P04778878 ] image seen; iso-: TAN [ TAN000565 ] image seen) .

= Amyrea myrtifolia Radcl. - Sm. in Kew Bull. 53: 447. 1998. Typus: M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Ilôt boisé du sommet de la montagne appelé Analavorikely , 29.XII.1944, Cours 2149 (holo-: P [ P00098123 ] image seen; iso-: MO-5957215!, P [ P00098124 ] image seen), syn. nov.

Distribution and habitat. – Thecacoris perrieri is widespread in Madagascar. The species is distributed along the east of Madagascar and in the Sambirano region, in tropical evergreen forest, and has also been identified from riverine and dry forest in the west and the north.

Observations. – The type specimen of Amyrea myrtifolia consists of a leafy twig bearing a few, somewhat weathered, infructescence axes and is accompanied by some unattached fruits. The biovulate nature of each locule, which would preclude the placement of the specimen in the Acalyphoideae with Amyrea , is thus not apparent. However, as in Thecacoris , the type has leaves that have an entire margin (vs at least obscurely dentate in Amyrea ), lack a pair of small stipel-like structures at the base of the blade (present in Amyrea ), and also lack scattered crater-like glands in the blade (present in Amyrea ); as well, the column of the fruit is divided roughly equally into a thicker proximal portion and a thinner distal portion (the proximal portion is much shorter than the distal in those species of Amyrea for which the mature fruit is known). Furthermore, in leaf shape, indument, and other details this type specimen falls easily with the variation of Thecacoris perrieri .