Acalypha boinensis Leandri

Muñoz, Iris Montero, Levin, Geoffrey A. & Cardiel, José María, 2023, Monograph of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae) of the Western Indian Ocean Region, with the description of a new species from Mayotte, Adansonia (3) 45 (26), pp. 395-496 : 424

7. Acalypha boinensis Leandri

Notulae Systematicae. Herbier du Muséum de Paris. Phanérogramie. Paris 10: 268 ( Leandri 1942). — Type: Madagascar. Prov. Mahajanga, Ambongo et Boïna, bassin moyen du Bemarivo, 200 m, XI.1919, H. Perrier de la Bâthie 9823 (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. (2018a: 93): P[P00508582]). — Former syntypes: Madagascar. Prov. Mahajanga, Maintirano, s.d., R. Decary 8216 (P[P00508588]); Maromandia (Andranosamontana), s.d., R. Decary 1045 (P[P00508585]); Morovoay, s.d., H. Humbert & H. Perrier de la Bâthie 2350 (P[P00508570, P00508571, P00508572, P00508573, P00508574]); Ambongo et Boïna, 300 m, s.d., H. Perrier de la Bâthie 9546 (P[P00508576]), 9551 (P[P00508577]); Prov. Toliara, Forêt de Besomaty, entre le Fiherena et l’Isahaina (Mangoky), 750-800 m, s.d., H. Humbert 11234 (P[P00508575]). — s.l., s.d., Baron 5393 (P[P00508586]), 5450 (P[P00508587]).

ICONOGRAPHY. — Leandri (1942: 257); Figs 24D ; 28D, E.

ETYMOLOGY. — The epithet refers to the former Iboina or Boina Region (now Mahajanga province) in northwestern Madagascar.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Endemic to Madagascar (Sava, Sofia, Boeny, Betsiboka, Melaky, Menabe, Atsimo-Andrefana, Haute Matsiatra, Ihorombe, and Androy). Dry deciduous forest, dry spiny thickets, and medium altitude moist evergreen forest (Analavelona). On Mesozoic limestone, basalt, and sandstone. Altitudinal range (50-)200-1000(-1250) m ( Fig. 20 ).

PRELIMINARY CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT. — The EOO of Acalypha boinensis is estimated to be 388 446 km 2 and its AOO 140 km 2, which is less than the 500 km 2 threshold of the B2 subcriterion of the Endangered category. This species grows mainly in western dry deciduous forests (see A. diminuta assessment). It has been collected in some protected areas, but it is also known from several unprotected forests subject to various threats (uncontrolled fires for grazing and crops, logging, mining, etc.). Ongoing habitat loss will cause continued decline of its EOO and AOO. Acalypha boinensis is assessed as Near Threatened (NT) under criterion B. It meets the AOO values needed for a threatened category, but the number of locations is too high to meet the conditions required to list it under the Endangered category.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 45 collections. Madagascar. Anonymous 5340 (P[P05547039]); Anonymous 5448 (P[P05547072]); Baron, R. 5393 (P[P00508586]), 5450 (P[P00508587]); Bosser, M.J. 13985 (P[P04779823]), 18203 (P[P04779794]); Capuron, R. 24329- SF (G, P[P05547235]); d’Alleizette, Ch. 208 (P[P00324564]); Decary, R. 1038 (P[P05543672]), 1045 (P[P00508585]), 8216 (P[P00508588]), 15006 (P[P05547234]), 16385 (P[P05546982]), 17089 (K, MO[MO-3025004], P[P00324527, P05543670], TAN); Gillespie, L. 4037 ( MO, US[US01287287]), 10813 ( MO), 10817 ( MO); Humbert , H. 2350 (P[P00508570, P00508571, P00508572, P00508573, P00508574]), 2715 (P[P05546983, P05546984]), 2997 (G, K, MO, P[P00508549]), 2998 (P[P00508579]), 2998 bis (P[P04779536, P04779537]), 6766 (P[P00324579, P05543684]), 11234 (P[P00508575]), 19373 (P[P05547240]), 19402 (P[P05547241]), 19521 (P[P05547236]), 19693 (P[P05547238]); Keraudren-Aymonin, M. 25935 (P[P00508583, P00508584]); Leandri, J. 401 (P[P00508578]), 3886 (G, P[P05547237]), 3976 (P[P05547239]); Nusbaumer, L. LN 1852 (G[G00090225], P[P05481890]); Perrier de la Bâthie, H. 116 (P[P00508581]), 3676 (P[P00508580]), 9546 (P[P00508576]), 9551 (P[P00508577]), 9823 (P[P00508582]), s.n. (P[P04779845]); Phillipson, P.B. 6220 (K, MO[MO-2965766]); Rakotovao, C. 1052 ( MO, P[P04779370], TEF, WAG[WAG0304986]); Ramananjanahary, R. 115 ( MO [MO-2965740], P[P04779320], TEF), 266 ( MO [MO-3025031], P[P05481881]); Razakamalala, R. 5162 ( MO [MO-3025027], P[P 01152838], TAN), 6044 ( MO [MO-3025025], P[P00887485]); Seyrig, A. 81B (P[P05547034]) .

REFERENCES. — Govaerts et al. (2000: 51); Montero Muñoz et al. (2018a: 93).

DESCRIPTION

Shrubs, deciduous, to 2 m tall, monoecious. Branches velutinous and with sparse, simple, erect trichomes to 0.5 mm long, glabrescent when mature. Axillary buds ovoid, to 2.5 × 2 mm, perulate, perules 2, valvate, membranous, brownish, puberulent with simple, appressed trichomes. Stipules to 5 mm long, elliptic-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, pubescent with simple, short, appressed trichomes, denser on midrib; margin ciliate and with some minute glands. Petioles (1-) 1.5-4 cm long, indumentum similar to that of the young branches. Leaf blades 3-7 × (2-)2.5-5(-5.5) cm, ovate-lanceolate to subtriangular, membranous; base rounded to subcordate; apex obtuse to acute; margin serrate, teeth acute, reddish, sometimes ending in a minute sessile gland; upper and lower surfaces subvelutinous; venation actinodromous, basal veins 5, secondary veins 4-5 per side. Stipels glandular, to 0.5 mm long, sparsely hairy. Inflorescences spiciform, androgynous, axillary, to 9 cm long, mostly female with short male segment; peduncle to 15 mm long, it and rachis velutinous. Female segment to 7.5 cm long; bracts 4-15, sessile, enlarging in fruit to 5 × 7 mm, elliptic, pubescent with short, simple trichomes; margin dentate, teeth 20-30, triangular, sometimes ending in a minute, sessile gland, central tooth not prominent; bracteoles to 2 mm long, linear-lanceolate, indumentum similar to that on stipules. Male segment persistent, to 2 cm long; flowers glomerate; bracts to 2 mm diameter, suborbicular, margin irregular, scarious, appressed-pubescent, ciliate. Male flowers: pedicel to 1 mm long, sparsely hairy; buds to 0.4 mm diameter, sparsely hairy. Female flowers 1 per bract, sessile; sepals 3, to 1 mm long, triangular, pubescent with simple, short trichomes; ovary c. 1 mm diameter, 3-lobed, apparently smooth, surface hispid with simple, short, erect trichomes; styles 3, to 4 mm long, distinct, sparsely hairy on rachis, each divided into 8-10 segments. Allomorphic flowers not seen. Capsules to 2.5 mm diameter, papillose, papillae rounded, surface sparsely hairy with simple, short trichomes and hyaline trichomes to 1 mm long. Seeds c. 1.5 × 1.2 mm, pyriform, foveolate.

Figures

FIG. 24. — Mature female bracts:A, Acalypha andringitrensis Leandri (H. Perrier de la Bâthie 13640); B, A. ankaranensis I.Montero & Cardiel (A. J. M. Leeuwenberg 14374); C, A. bailloniana Müll.Arg. (G. Viscardi 439); D, A. boinensis Leandri (R. Ramananjanahary 115); E, A. burmanii I.Montero & Cardiel (P. Commerson s.n.); F, A. cardielii I.Montero & G.A.Levin (J. Leandri 115); G, A. chibomboa Baill. (F. Barthelat 1436); H, A. claoxyloides Hutch. (F. Friedmann 5633). Illustration by Iris Montero Muñoz. Scale bars: A, 2 mm; B-H, 1 mm.

FIG. 28. — A, Acalypha diminuta Baill. (photo by L. Gillespie, L. Gillespie 10704); B, C, A. andringitrensis Leandri (photo by P. Phillipson, P. Phillipson 5669); D, E, A. boinensis Leandri (photo by L. Gillespie, L. Gillespie 10813); F, A. decaryana Leandri (photo by P. Lowry II, P. Lowry II 6991); G, H, A. emirnensis Baill. (photo by L. Nusbaumer, P. Ranirison PR994).

FIG. 20. — Distribution map of Acalypha boinensis Leandri Madagascar.