Perrierophytum reflexiflorum (Hochr.) M.M. Hanes & Callm.

Hanes, Margaret M., Mashburn, Brock & Callmander, Martin W., 2022, Transfer of the endemic Malagasy species of Kosteletzkya to Hibiscus and Perrierophytum (Malvaceae), Candollea 77 (2), pp. 161-171 : 168-169

Perrierophytum reflexiflorum (Hochr.) M.M. Hanes & Callm. , comb. nov. (F ig. 4C).

Kosteletzkya reflexiflora Hochr. in Candollea 2: 138. 1929. Kosteletzkya reflexiflora var. genuina Hochr. in Candollea 5: 13. 1932 [nom. inval].

Holotypus: MADAGASCAR. Aeg. Haute Matsiatra [Prov. Fianarantsoa]: contreforts W de l’Andringitra , [22°13'S 46°55'E], 900 m, IV.1921, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 13589 ( G [ G00014374 ]!; iso-: P [ P00037084 , P00037085 ]!) .

= Kosteletzkya reflexiflora var. meridionalis Hochr. in Candollea 5: 13. 1932, syn. nov. Holotypus: MADAGASCAR. Aeg. Androy [Prov. Toliara]: bassin supérieur du Mandrare, du col de Vavara à la vallée de la Manambolo, 700 – 1200 m, 20.XI.1928, fl., Humbert 6745 (G [ G00014470 ]!; iso-: G [ G00014471 ]!, K [ K000240511 ] image!, P [ P00037087 , P00037086 ]!, US [ US00101868 ]!).

Vernacular name. – “Sarondroy” (Humbert 12941).

Distribution and ecology. – Perrierophytum reflexiflorum grows on granite, gneiss or calcareous soils at altitudes from 0–900 m, primarily in deciduous dry forest of southeastern Madagascar. In the far south-east of the island, collections have been made within the last 30 years from roadsides (e.g. Koopman 258, Phillipson 3993) and from protected areas such as Andohahela National Park (e.g. Lowry 6987). Though a majority of specimens are found in this southeastern region, the holotype (Perrier de la Bâthie 13589) was collected over 200 km to the north, in the vicinity of Andringitra National Park. Already in 1921, Perrier de la Bâthie noted the significant loss of individuals from the region near Andringitra : “Cette espèce […] est sans doute en voie d’extinction; je n’en ai vu qu’un seul pied, et dans une région que j’ai souvent parcourue [This species […] is probably on the way to extinction; I have only seen one individual in an area I have often visited].” Another distant collection (Andriamihajarivo 1641) comes from the “F orêt d’Analavelona”, 135 km to the northwest of the nearest collection. Altogether, these collections indicate the P. reflexiflorum may have once occurred widely throughout the dry southern third of Madagascar (F ig. 3).

Conservation status. – More than 100 years ago, Perrier de la Bâthie noted the significant deforestation and threat of fire affecting populations of Perrierophytum reflexiflorum (Perrier de la Bâthie 13589). Given this assessment and the fact that no other specimens have been collected near Andringitra since his collection in 1921, we do not include this location in our current conservation assessment. The majority of the collections of P. reflexiflorum listed below were made in or nearby areas in south-east Madagascar that are now in the Protected Area Network: Réserve de Vohidava-Betsimalaho, Complexe Anjozorobe-Angavo, Nord Ifotaka (Ifotaky), Complexe Behara-Tranomaro and Andohahela National Park, and at Analavelona (Monument Naturel de la F orêt Sacrée Alandraza Analavelo) in the south-west, where a collection was made in 2010, c. 135 km to the NW of the nearest other collection of the species. Perrierophytum reflexiflorum has an estimated EOO of 19, 539 km ², and an AOO of 100 km ². The number of locations is inferred to be greater than 10. Perrierophytum reflexiflorum can therefore be assessed as “Least Concern” [LC].

Notes – Perrierophytum reflexiflorum can be easily distinguished in flower from all other Perrierophytum species, as it is the only species with red, deeply notched petals and free epicalyx lobes with cordate bases and long acuminate tips. The leaves of P. reflexiflorum have a rounded base and are discolorous (dark green above, light, yellowish green below) and the petioles are articulated towards the apex.

Kosteletzkya reflexiflora var. meridionalis Hochr. was described in 1932 based on its larger flowers and leaves. In light of the rather continuous variation in these characters displayed by the specimens that have accumulated since then, we prefer to maintain a species with broad distribution and encompassing some morphological variation pending a full revision of the genus Perrierophytum .

Hochreutiner received G00014470 from Henri Humbert in 1931. The second sheet at G [G00014471] arrived only in 1949 and was not studied by Hochreutiner when Kosteletzkya reflexiflora var. meridionalis Hochr. was published in 1932. We therefore consider G00014470 as the holotype.

Selected specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Aeg. Androy [Prov. Toliara]: Distr. Ambovombe , 18.IV.1924., fl., Decary 2573 ( P [ P00569759 ]) ; moyenne Mananara , à la limite orientale de l’Androy , 27.XI.1931, fl., Decary 9448 ( P [ P00569755 ]) ; vallée de la Manambolo , rive droite ( bassin du Mandrare ) aux env. d’Isomonono (confluent de la Sakamalio), XII.1933, fl., Humbert 12941 ( G [2 sheets], MO-6200327 , P [ P00569737 , P00569738 , P00569739 , P00569740 ]) ; just NE of Ankoba village , Andohahela NP, 24°47'34"S 46°41'55"E, 200 m, 24.I.2008, fl., Lowry 6987 ( MO-6443243 ) ; 7.5 km N of Beraketa, on road to Bevitiky , 24°06'55"S 45°42'00"E, 590 m, 27.III.1992, fl., Phillipson 3993 ( MO-4287798 ) ; Ambararata, 1 km du pic de Vohimainty, III.1949, fl., Réserves Naturelles 4803 ( P [ P00569750 , P00569751 , P00569752 ]) ; Ampandrandava , crête E, XI.1942, fl., Seyrig 276 ( P [ P00569747 , P00569748 ]) . Aeg. Anosy [Prov. Toliara]: Ranobe , Behalomboro , Betsingilo , Besely , 24°16'53"S 46°10'56"E, 15.XI.2008, fl., Andriamihajarivo 1611 ( MO-6563348 , P [ P01044580 ]) ; RNI d’Andohahela , Parcelle nº 2, 24°49'49"S 46°32'15"E, 16.III.1994, Andrianarisata 83 ( P [ P00554893 ]) ; de Ranipiso à Amboasary , 100–150 m, 17.XI.1967, Bernardi 11553 ( G) ; Tranomaro , au NE d’Ambovombe , 18.VI.1931, fl., fr., Decary 9002 ( P [ P00569754 ]) ; Bevilany , confins de l’Anosy et de l’Androy , 8.VIII.1932, fl., Decary 10259 ( G, P [ P00569746 ]) ; basse vallée de la Mananara , affluent du Mandrare , III.1955, fl., Humbert 29192 ( P [ P00574219 ]) ; près du poste forestier d’Imonty au N d’Ambatohabo , haute Mananara , II.1962, bud, Keraudren 1524 ( P [ P00574221 ]) ; 44 km N of Amboasary on the road to Tranomaro , 24°44'25"S 46°26'13"E, 167 m, 7.II.2005, fl., Koopman 258 ( MO-6438159 , P [ P00980543 ], TAN, WIS) ; Amboasary Sud , Marotsiraka , Besavoa , forêt d’Anadabolava-Betsimalaho , 24°15'00"S 46°08'36"E, 282 m, 8.II.2013, fl., Randriatsivery 329 ( MO-6730804 ) ; galerie de la Mangatsiaka, à Ranomainty ( entre le Mandrare et Ranopiso ), III.1955, fl., Service Forestier 11849 ( P [ P00874224 , P00574224 ]) . Aeg. Atsimo-Andrefana [Prov. Toliara]: Sakaraka , Mahaboboka , Marotsiraka , forêt d’Analavelona , 22°39'52"S 44°12'05"E, 869 m, 18.II.2009, fl., Andriamihajarivo 1641 ( MO-6485227 , P [ P01044602 ], TAN) .