Acalypha vulneraria Baill., 2314

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 : 485

48. Acalypha vulneraria Baill.

Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Paris 2: 1180 ( Baillon 1895a). — Type: Madagascar. Prov. Toliara, Fort-Dauphin, s.d., G. F. Scott-Elliot 3010 (lecto-, designated by Montero Muñoz et al. [2018a: 112]: P[P00536740]; isolecto-, K[K000186511], P[P00536739]). — Former syntype: Madagascar. Prov. Toliara, Fort-Dauphin, M. Cloisel 51 (wrongly transcribed as “Cloisel 50” in the protologue; P[P04779526]).

ICONOGRAPHY. — Figs 71 ; 73G.

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet vulneraria means ‘healer of wounds’. Baillon (1895a) reported this use for the flowers of this species.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Endemic to Madagascar (Androy and Anosy). Sclerophyllous woodland, littoral forest, and dry spiny thickets. On basement rocks, Tertiary limestone, and unconsolidated sand. Altitudinal range sea level to 1200 (-1400) m ( Fig. 72 ).

PRELIMINARY CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT. — The EOO of Acalypha vulneraria is estimated to be 6 813 km 2 and its AOO 36 km 2, which is less than the 500 km ² threshold of the B2 subcriterion of the Endangered category. Moreover, this species is mainly recorded from littoral forests and dry spiny thickets (see assessment of A. decaryana ). Due to its restricted geographical range and the continued degradation of forests in these areas, we assess A. vulneraria as Vulnerable: VU B1ab(i,iii,iv), but due to likely continued habitat degradation, future re-evaluation of this species probably will move it to Endangered under subcriteria B1 and B2.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 20 collections. Madagascar. Cloisel, J. 51 (P[P04779526]); d’Alleizette, Ch. s.n. (L[L0242226]); Decary, R. 9978 (P[P00324563]); Dumetz, N. 1119 (P[P04779516]); Humbert , H. 13170 (P[P04779512, P04779513, P04779515]), 13171 (P[P04779522, P04779523, P04779524, P04779525]), 13355 (P[P04779518, P04779519, P04779521]), 20779 (G, K, MO[MO-3025005], P[P00324586, P00324587, P04786278], TAN, WAG[WAG.1196748]), 29129 (P[P05547271]), 29155 (P[P05547270]), 29317 (P[P05547057]); McPherson, G. 14688 (P[P04779514]), 14766 (P[P04779517]); McWhirter, J.H. 195 (P[P05547056]); Rabevohitra, R. 1844 ( MO, P[P04804485]), 2110 (P[P04779520]); Rakotovao 11059-RN (P[P05547272]); Randriatafika, F. 460 ( MO [MO-3025038], P[P01198034], TEF), 812 ( MO [MO-3025039], P[P06490053]); Scott-Elliot, G.F. 3010 (K[K000186511], P[P00536739, P00536740]).

REFERENCES. — Palacký (1907: 26); Nitschke (1923: 281); Pax & Hoffmann (1924: 128); Leandri (1935: 46); Leandri (1942: 279); Govaerts et al. (2000: 93); Montero Muñoz et al. (2018a: 112).

DESCRIPTION

Shrubs, probably evergreen,to 1.5 m tall, monoecious. Branches pubescent with simple, erect trichomes to 1 mm long, glabrescent when mature. Axillary buds ovoid, to 1 × 0.7 mm, perulate, perules 2, valvate, membranous, dark brown, hispid with simple, erect trichomes to 1 mm long; Stipules to 5 mm long, linear, with simple, erect trichomes to 1 mm long. Petioles (1-) 2-3 cm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches. Leaf blades (3.5-)5-17 × (1.5)2-3.5(-7.5) cm, ovate to oblong-lanceolate,subchartaceous; base rounded to truncate; apex acuminate, acumen to 15 mm long, acute, mucronate; margin crenate to dentate, teeth rounded to subacute; upper surface laxly pubescent with simple, erect trichomes to 1 mm long, and with simple, appressed, basally thickened trichomes on veins; lower surface indumentum similar to that on upper surface but denser; venation actinodromous, basal veins 3 or 5, secondary veins 6-9 per side. Stipels glandular, to 0.5 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences spiciform, unisexual, axillary. Male inflorescences laxly flowered, to 10 cm long; peduncle to 15 mm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches; flowers glomerate; bracts to 0.6 mm long, triangular, with short, glandular trichomes. Female inflorescences densely flowered, to 13 cm long; peduncle to 10 mm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches; bracts c. 37, subsessile,petiole to 0.5 mm long, indumentum similar to that on young branches, enlarging in fruit to 7 × 10 mm, subtriangular-reniform, pubescent with simple trichomes to 1 mm long and thick glandular trichomes especially on margin; margin entire; bracteoles to 0.5 mm long, linear-lanceolate, hispid with simple, erect trichomes to 1 mm long. Male flowers: pedicel to 0.5 mm long, sparsely hairy; buds to 0.7 mm diameter, sparsely hairy. Female flowers 1 per bract, sessile; sepals 3, to 1 mm long, ovate-triangular, sparsely hairy with simple, hyaline trichomes to 1 mm long; ovary c. 1 mm diameter, 3-lobed, papillose-hispid, papillae ending in a simple trichome to 1 mm long, surface apparently hispid; styles 3, to 4 mm long, distinct, sparsely hairy on rachis and papillate, each divided into c. 10 segments. Allomorphic flowers not seen. Capsules to 3 mm diameter, papillose-hispid, papillae rounded, to 0.3 mm long, ending in simple trichome to 1 mm long, surface sparsely hairy with simple, short, appressed trichomes. Seeds 2 × 1.5 mm, pyriform, minutely foveolate.

Figures

FIG. 71. — Acalypha vulneraria Baill.: A, flowering female branch; B, flowering male branch; C, detail of node, stipules, and petiole base; D, detail of the leaf base and stipels; E, mature female bract; F, ovary and styles; G, calyx of the female flower; H, capsule; I, seed. Based on F. Randriatafika 812 (A, C-I) and H. Humbert 20779 (B). Illustration by Laura González Hernández. Scale bars: A, B, 1 cm; C-E, G, 1 mm; F, 0.5 mm.

FIG. 73. — Mature female bracts:A, Acalypha spachiana Baill. (H. Humbert 19791); B, A. tremula I.Montero & Cardiel (R. Randrianaivo et al. 1160); C, A. urophylla Boivin ex Baill. (J. Goudot s.n.); D, A. urophylla (J. M. Hildebrandt 2914); E, F, A. urophylla (S. Malcomber 1746); G, A. vulneraria Baill. (F. Randriatafika 812); H, A. wilkesiana Müll.Arg. (Sagun et al. 2010; Sagun & Risna SR50). Illustration by Iris Montero Muñoz. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 72. — Distribution map of Acalypha vulneraria Baill. in Madagascar.