Buxus macrocarpa Capuron, 1960

Schatz, George E. & Lowry Ii, Porter P., 2002, A synoptic revision of the genus Buxus L. (Buxaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, Adansonia (3) 24 (2), pp. 179-196 : 191

6. Buxus macrocarpa Capuron

Notul. Syst. (Paris) 16: 80 (1960). — Type: Service Forestier (Capuron) 9093, Madagascar, Prov. Toamasina, Est: crête entre les bassins de la Minongo et de Vohilava (bassin de la Rantabe), au nord-ouest de Sahajinja, c. 800 m, Mar. 1954, fr. (holo-, P!, iso-, MO!, P!, TEF!) .

Buxus macrocarpa is a small to medium sized tree to 15 m known from humid forest in the region of the Bay of Antongil and the valley of the Beandrona river east of Ambanja in the Sambirano region (Fig. 3). It is easily distinguished from all other Malagasy Buxus species by its large leaves with 15-23 pairs of secondary veins and spectacularly large fruit (20-30 mm tall – undoubtedly the largest in the genus) with a 5-6 mm thick, fleshy endocarp.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — With an Extent of Occurrence of c. 2,980 km 2, an Area of Occupancy of 300 km 2, and only 4 sub-populations, Buxus macrocarpa is assigned a preliminary status of Endangered (EN B1ab2ab). Recent collections from Masoala PN provide hope for its long-term persistence.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — MADAGASCAR, Prov. Antsiranana: Service Forestier (Capuron) 18920, Beandrona, Ambanja; Service Forestier (Rabevohitra) 34875, Ambatoledama. Prov. Toamasina: Rabe 82, 83, Ambodiforaha, Masoala PN .