Operculicarya pachypus Eggli, 1995

Randrianasolo, Armand & Lowry Ii, Porter P., 2006, Operculicarya (Anacardiaceae) revisited: an updated taxonomic treatment for Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, with descriptions of two new species, Adansonia (3) 28 (2), pp. 359-371 : 369-371

8. Operculicarya pachypus Eggli

Bulletin du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, 4 e sér., sect. B, Adansonia 17: 156 (1995). — Type: Madagascar, Prov. Toliara, vallée de l’Onilahy, vers l’embouchure, coteaux et plateaux calcaires, [23°33’S, 43°46’E], 10-250 m, 27-30.IX.1924, ♂ fl., Humbert 2614 (holo-, P!) .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagascar. Prov. Toliara, La Table, Tulear, Bosser 10158; Chauvet 167. — Route St. Augustin, Chauvet 203. — PK 19.5, route de Tananarive, Chauvet 224. — Miary, Dequaire 27442. — La Table, Du Puy, Labat & Comtet 686. — Vallée de l’Onilahy, Humbert 2614. — La Table, Keraudren 581. — Près de La Table, Rakotozafy 759. — La Table, Randrianasolo 622, 623. — La Table, St. Augustin, Service Forestier (Capuron) 20807.

REMARKS

Operculicarya pachypus is a very short, branched shrub with tiny compound leaves. It is restricted to xerophytic forest in the vicinity of Toliara in SW Madagascar (Fig. 1). This species most closely resembles (and is often confused with) O. decaryi , but can readily be distinguished by the distinctive zig-zag pattern of its branches.

CONSERVATION STATUS

With an EOO of less than 200 km 2, an AOO of 400 km 2, and four subpopulations, none occurring in a protected area, Operculicarya pachypus is assigned a preliminary status of Endangered (EN B1ab(ii,iii+2ab(ii,iii)) based on the IUCN Red List threat criteria ( IUCN 2001).

EXCLUDED SPECIES