Beilschmiedia moratii van der Werff

Werff, Henk van der, 2003, A synopsis of the genus Beilschmiedia (Lauraceae) in Madagascar, Adansonia (3) 25 (1), pp. 77-92 : 83-84

3. Beilschmiedia moratii van der Werff

Novon 6: 463 (1996). — Type: Service Forestier (Capuron) 24985, Madagascar, massif de Tsaratanana (holo-, MO!; iso-, P, n.v.) .

Shrubs or trees, to 15 m tall. Twigs terete, glabrous, the young ones black, older ones with grey, corky bark. Terminal bud glabrous. Leaves subopposite, coriaceous, 2.5-4 × 1.5-3 cm, broadly elliptic, shiny, base and apex obtuse to rounded, the margin often incurved, glabrous, lateral veins 4-7 on each side, poorly differentiated from the tertiary venation, midrib weakly raised on both surfaces, lateral veins and reticulation prominently raised. Petioles 4-7 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary, paniculate, to 2.5 cm long, puberulous, the hairs curled, more or less erect, base of the flower often with a glabrous bract with ciliate margin, this c. 2 mm long. Flowers depressed globose, 3-4 mm wide, reddish green. Tepals 6, equal, broadly elliptic to ovate, the margin thinner than the center, outside sparsely puberulous, inside glabrous, the bases fused, tepals deciduous in old flowers and leaving a circular scar at the base of the very young fruit. Stamens 9, 2-celled, the outer 6 broadly ovate, c. 2 mm long, pubescent along margin, cells large, introrse, filament very short; inner 3 narrowly triangular, densely pubescent, 1.5-2 mm long, cells lateral, 2 large globose glands present at base of filaments; staminodia of Whorl IV small, triangular, pubescent; bases of filaments of Whorls III and IV fused into a narrow, pubescent ring. Pistil glabrous, ovary turbinate, gradually narrowed into the short style. Fruit obovoid or roundish, 4.5 × 3.5 cm, a little warty.

15S

20S

25S

ECOLOGY. — Forest at mid and high elevation (1300-2100 m).

DISTRIBUTION. — Mountains in northern Madagascar (Manongarivo, Tsaratanana, Marojejy). A fruiting collection from Fianarantsoa (Andringitra) is provisionally placed here. — Fig. 3 .

PHENOLOGY. — Flowers in November.

Beilschmiedia moratii is closely related to B. opposita and B. sary ; these species are characterized by their subopposite leaves, black young twigs, dehiscent tepals in old flowers and their (nearly) glabrous condition. Beilschmiedia moratii differs from both species in its obtuse to rounded leaf bases and the sparse, erect hairs on the inflorescences; from B. opposita it also differs in its raised reticulation and from B. sary in its smaller leaves.

COMMON NAMES. — Maitsoravina, Voantsilana.

SPECIMENS STUDIED. — MADAGASCAR: Antilahimena et al. 657, Tsaratanana massif, fr. (G, MO, P, TAN); Gautier & Derleth LG 2577, Manongarivo, sommet du Bekolosy, fr. (MO); Gautier et al. LG 3342, Manongarivo, fr. (MO); Gautier et al. LG 3658, Manongarivo, old fl. (MO); Lewis et al. 1085, Andringitra, Camp IV, fr. (MO); Morat 2284, Tsaratanana, fl. (P); Rakotomalaza et al. 825, RNI Marojejy, buds (MO); Rakotomalaza et al. 951, same location, fr. (MO); Service Forestier (Capuron) 24985, massif du Tsaratanana, haut bassin de la Maevarano, fl. (MO); Service Forestier (Capuron) 27013, massif du Tsaratanana, fr. (P).

Figures

Fig. 3. — Distribution of Beilschmiedia microphylla (*); B. moratii (✚); B. opposita (Δ); B. rugosa (•); B. sary ().