Hilsenbergia moratiana J.S. Mill., 2003

Miller, James S., 2003, Classification of Boraginaceae subfam. Ehretioideae: Resurrection of the genus Hilsenbergia Tausch ex Meisn., Adansonia (3) 25 (2), pp. 151-189 : 182-185

12. Hilsenbergia moratiana J.S. Mill. , sp. nov.

Arbor usque ad 8 m alta, cortice in laminas exfoliante, ramunculis glabris. Folia decidua, alterna; lamina lanceolata usque lanceolata-ovata, interdum leviter falcata, 6- 14.5 cm longa, 2-5.5 cm lata, apice acuminata usque attenuata vel acuta, basi acuta usque obtusa , margine integra, utrinque glabra ; petiolo 1.5-5 cm longo. Inflorescentia terminale interdum ut videtur subterminalis, cymosa , 3-13 cm latae. Flores bisexuales; calyce campanulato, 3.5-5 mm longo, 5-lobo, extus glabro vel granulari usque minute puberulo, intus dense puberulo usque tomentoso; corolla alba , urceolata , 4-6 mm longa. Fructus drupaceus, aurantiacus , globosus, 6-8 mm longus, 6-7 mm in diam.; pyrenis 4, matures non visis.

TYPUS. — Service Forestier: SF24435 (Capuron) , Madagascar, Prov. Antsiranana, forêt d’Orangéa, à l’est de Diégo-Suarez, 12°15’S, 49 o 24’E, fl., fr., 25 Jan. 1966 (holo-, P!; iso-, MO!, P!) .

Tree to 8 m tall, 30 cm dbh, the bark exfoliating in plates, the twigs glabrous. Leaves deciduous, alternate; blades lanceolate to lance-ovate, the widest point below the middle, sometimes somewhat falcate, 6-14.5 cm long, 2-5.5 cm wide, the apex acuminate to attenuate or acute, the base acute to obtuse, the margin entire, glabrous on both surfaces, the venation brochidodromous, the midrib even with or slightly impressed on the adaxial surface, raised on the abaxial surface, the secondary veins 8-13, the tertiary venation reticulate; petioles 1.5-5 cm long, glabrous, canaliculate on the adaxial surface.

Inflorescences terminal or appearing subterminal and lateral as shoot elongation continues, cymose, 3-13 cm broad, the peduncle 1.5-3 cm long, the branches glabrous, with small leaf-like bracts subtending the flowers, these 2.5-3 mm long, pubescent on the adaxial surface. Flowers bisexual; calyx campanulate, 3.5-5 mm long, 4- 5 mm wide, 5-lobed, the lobes deltate, 1.5-2 mm long, glabrous or granular to minutely puberulent on the exterior surface, densely puberulent to tomentose on the interior surface and appearing ciliate on the margin of the lobes; corolla white, urceolate, the tube 4-6 mm long, 5-lobed, the lobes widely to depressed-ovate, 1-1.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; stamens 5, the filaments 4-5 mm long, the upper 1-1.5 mm free, glabrous, the anthers ellipsoid, 1.5-2 mm long; ovary ovoid, 1.5-2 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, the style 3- 4 mm long, the 2 stigmas capitate.

Fruits drupaceous, orange at maturity, borne in the 8-12 mm broad persistent calyx, globose 6- 8 mm long, 6-7 mm in diameter, the endocarp bony, separating into 4 pyrenes at maturity, mature pyrenes not seen. — Fig. 15 .

Hilsenbergia moratiana is similar in appearance to H. schatziana , and the two are probably closely related, but it is easily distinguished from that species by the small, leafy bracts that it has in its inflorescence. It is named in honor of Prof. Philippe MORAT who has collected extensively in Madagascar, published prolifically on the taxonomy of the Malagasy flora, and has provided much encouragement and support for this study.

DISTRIBUTION. — Hilsenbergia moratiana occurs on sandy substrates in northern Madagascar ( Fig. 14 ).

CONSERVATION STATUS. — Provisional IUCN Red List Category: Endangered (EN B2ab(I-iv)). Hilsenbergia moratiana is known only from three

scattered localities in northern Madagascar, none of which are currently protected. Its Extent of Occurrence is limited to 40 km 2.

PARATYPES. — MADAGASCAR: Perrier de la Bâthie 1793, Prov. Mahajanga, boix sablonneux, Manongarivo, Ambongo, 16°16’S, 45°22’E, fl., Oct. 1904 ( MO!, P!); Service Forestier: SF26 - R301 , Prov. Mahajanaga, Analanitsiny, Ambolobozo , 14°25’S, 47°49’E, ster., 25 Jan. 1955 ( P!); Service Forestier: SF24485 (Capuron) , Prov. Antsiranana, sables, près d’Antsoha , à l’ouest de la baie de Rigny, 12°29’S, 49°28’E., fl., 27 Jan. 1966 ( P!, TEF!); Service Forestier: SF24689 (Capuron) , Prov. Antsiranana, partie sud de la forêt d’Orangea , à l’est de Diégo-Suarez, 12°15’S, 49°24’E, fr., 24 June 1966 ( P!, TEF!); Service Forestier: SF28750 (Capuron) , Prov. Antsiranana, forêt d’Orangea , sur sables, à l’est de Diégo-Suarez, 12°15’S, 49°24’E, fl., fr., 1 Feb. 1969 ( P!, TEF!) .

13. Hilsenbergia nemoralis (Gürke) J.S. Mill. , comb. nov.

Ehretia nemoralis Gürke , in Engler A. & Prantl K., Die Natürlichen Pflanzanfamilien IV. 3a: 336 (1893). — Bourreria nemoralis (Gürke) Thulin, Nord. J. Bot. 7: 415 (1987). — Lectotype (here designated): Holst 2814, Tanzania, Tanga District, Amboni , (B; iso-, K!).

Ehretia litoralis Gürke , in Engler, Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C: 335 (1895). — Lectotype (here designated): Holst 2115, Tanzania, Tanga (B; iso-, K!).

While VERDCOURT (1991) indicated that this species might be only varietally distinct from H. petiolaris , the two appear easily distinguished and I have maintained it as separate.

DISTRIBUTION. — Hilsenbergia nemoralis occurs in coastal areas of eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique ( THULIN 1987; MARTINS 1990; VERDCOURT 1991).

14. Hilsenbergia orbicularis (Hutch. & E.A. Bruce) J.S. Mill. , comb. nov.

Ehretia orbicularis Hutch. & E.A. Bruce, Kew Bull. 1941: 159 (1941) . — Bourreria orbicularis (Hutch. & E.A. Bruce) Thulin, Nord. J. Bot. 7: 415 (1987). — Type: J.B. Gillett 4472, Somalia, Afard, 690 m, 48°08’E, 10°10’N, fl., 26 Oct. 1932 (holo-, K!) .

Hilsenbergia orbicularis is a poorly known species from Ethiopia and Kenya and additional collections will be required to clarify its relationship with H. teitensis . The two are similar in appearance, are the only two species of the genus with glandular hairs, and appear closely related.

DISTRIBUTION. — Hilsenbergia orbicularis occurs in Somalia and eastern Ethiopia ( THULIN 1987; VERDCOURT 1991).

15. Hilsenbergia petiolaris (Lam.) J.S. Mill. , comb. nov.

Ehretia petiolaris Lam., Encycl. Méth. Bot. A : 527 (1785). — Bourreria petiolaris (Lam.) Thulin, Nord. J. Bot. 7: 414 (1987). — Type: Cultivé au jardin du Roi, Mauritius (holo-, P-LAM!).

Hilsenbergia ehretia Meisn., Pl. Vasc. Gen. Comment. : 198 (1840). — Lectotype (here designated): Sieber Fl. Maurit. II: 160, Mauritius (P!; iso-, K!, PR!, PRC!).

Hilsenbergia petiolaris is one of only two species that occur in both eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean. It is similar in appearance to H. nemoralis from east Africa, from which it differs in being consistently glabrous on the lower surface of its leaves, and H. comorensis from the Comores, from which it differs in having elliptic leaf blades that are widest at the middle and obtuse to acute at the base; Hilsenbergia comorensis has leaf blades that are ovate to lanceolate, widest below the middle, and rounded at the base.

DISTRIBUTION. — Hilsenbergia petiolaris occurs in coastal areas of eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique and also in the Mascarenes ( THULIN 1987; MARTINS 1990; VERDCOURT 1991).

16. Hilsenbergia randrianasoloana J.S. Mill. , sp. nov.

Arbor parva , cortice fissurato, ramunculis puberulis. Folia decidua, alterna; lamina elliptica usque obovata , 2.5-5.5 cm longa, 1-3.5 cm lata, apice acuta usque obtusa vel leviter acuminata , basi acuta usque obtusa , margine integra, revoluta , utrinque sparsim strigillosa; petiolo 0.5-3.5 cm longo. Inflorescentia floresque non visi. Fructus drupaceus, depresse-globosus, 3-4 mm longus, 4-5 mm in diam.; pyrenis 4, porcati.

TYPUS. — Service Forestier: SF15554 , Madagascar, Prov. Toliara, Morondava, forêt d’Antanambao , 20°17’S, 44°17’E, fr., 8 Feb. 1956 (holo-, P!; iso-, K!, MO!, P!, TEF!) .

Small tree, the bark fissured, the twigs puberulent. Leaves deciduous, borne on the current season’s growth, alternate; blade elliptic to obovate, the broadest point at or above the middle, 2.5- 5.5 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, the apex acute to obtuse or slightly acuminate, the base acute to obtuse, the margin entire, tightly revolute, the adaxial surface sparsely, but evenly, strigillose, the hairs appresssed and parallel, the abaxial surface sparsely, but evenly, strigillose, the hairs not all parallel, the venation brochidodromous, the midrib slightly impressed on the adaxial surface, raised on the abaxial surface, the secondary veins 3-5, the tertiary venation reticulate; petioles 0.5- 3.5 cm, narrowly canaliculate on the adaxial surface, strigillose. Flowers unknown.

Fruits drupaceous, color at maturity unknown, borne in the persistent spreading calyx, the calyx lobes not fully separating so the fruiting calyx 3- 5-lobed, globose, 3-4 mm long, 4-5 mm in diameter, the endocarp bony, separating into 4, single-seeded pyrenes at maturity, c. 3 mm long, 2 mm wide, prominantly ridged on the exterior surface. — Fig. 16 .

Hilsenbergia randrianasoloana is an apparently rare tree of southwestern Madagascar that differs from other members of the genus in having leaves that are strigillose on the lower surface and inflorescences that are reduced to only a single branch, thus appearing racemose or nearly so. Hilsenbergia randrianasoloana is named in honor of my friend and fellow researcher Armand RANDRIA- NASOLO, a specialist who has contributed significantly to our understanding of the taxonomy of Malagasy Anacardiaceae and who has often traveled with me and helped support my interest in the flora of Madagascar in numerous ways.

DISTRIBUTION. — Hilsenbergia randrianasoloana is known from only three collections from southwest Madagascar ( Fig. 14 ) where it occurs on basalt.

VERNACULAR NAMES. — Korindy, Vatoa.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — Provisional IUCN Red List Category: Endangered (EN B2ab(i-iv)). Hilsenbergia randrianasoloana is known from only three scattered localities along the west coast of Madagascar, none of which are protected, and it has not been collected for nearly 50 years.

PARATYPES. — Humbert 20059, Prov. Toliara, Manambo Atsimo, environs de Manombo, colline basaltique d’Ambatomainty, 150 m, 22°57’S, 43°27’E, ster., 29-30 Jan. 1947 ( P!); Service Forestier: SF24617 (Capuron) , Prov. Mahajanga (Menabe), tables basaltiques au SW du Cap Kimby, Antsalova , 18°52’S, 44°14’E, fr., 1 Apr. 1966 ( P!, TEF!) .

Figures

Fig. 15. — Hilsenbergia moratiana J.S. Mill.: A, flowering branch; B, whole flower; C, open flower showing androecium and gynoecium; D, whole fruit with persistent calyx. Service Forestier: SF24435 (Capuron). Drawn by A. JOUY.

Fig. 14. — Distributions of Hilsenbergia species, mapped on the simplified bioclimate zones of Madagascar (after CORNET 1974; see SCHATZ 2000).

Fig. 16. — Hilsenbergia randrianasoloana J.S. Mill.: A, fruiting branch; B, lateral view of whole fruit with persistent calyx; C, basal view of whole fruit with persistent calyx; D, dorsal view of pyrene. Service Forestier: SF15554. Drawn by A. JOUY.