Perrierophytum velutinum (Garcke) 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 : 170

Perrierophytum velutinum (Garcke) M.M. Hanes & Callm. , comb. nov. (F ig. 4D).

Kosteletzkya velutina Garcke in Abh. Naturwiss. Vereins Bremen 7: 198. 1881. Kosteletzkya velutina var. genuina Hochr. in Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 6: 53. 1902 [nom. inval.].

Holotypus: MADAGASCAR. Aeg. Analamanga [Prov. Antananarivo]: “in der Nahe von Antananarivo”, XII.1877, Rutenberg s.n. (BRNU-347802 image!)

= Hibiscus ciliatus Bojer ex Baill. in Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris 1: 541. 1883 [nom. nud.].

= Pavonia macrotis Baker in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 98. 1883. Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR: “Central Madagascar ”, s.d., fl., Baron 1869 (K [ K000240501 ] image!; isolecto-: P [ P00574040 ]!). Syntypi: MADAGASCAR: “Prov Emirna”, 1857, fl., Bouton s.n. (K [ K000240503 ] image!); ibid. loco, s.d., fl., Lyall 189 (K [ K000240504 ] image!); “Tannanarnivon”, s.d., fl., Blackburn s.n (K [ K000240507 ] image!); “Central Madagascar”, s.d., fl., Baron 615 (K [ K000240506 ] image!); ibid. loco, s.d., fl., Baron 933 (K [ K000240505 ] image!); ibid. loco, XI.1885, fl., Baron 3506 (BM, K [ K000240499 ], P [ P00574041 ]). Aeg. Haute Matsiatra [Prov. Fianarantsoa]: N & E of Ankaratra Mts. , s.d., fl., Kitching s.n. (K [ K000240500 ] image!).

= Kosteletzkya velutina var. goudotiana Hochr. in Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 6: 53. 1902, syn. nov. Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Aeg. Analamanga [Prov. Antananarivo]: env. de Tananarive, 15.I.1838, Goudot s.n. (G [ G00014369 ]!; isolecto-: G [ G00014370 , G00014371 ]!).

Distribution and ecology. – Perrierophytum velutinum is restricted to degraded sclerophyllous woodland and secondary montane grassland on the Central Plateau between Antananarivo and F ianarantsoa from 1000–1700 m (F ig. 3).

Conservation status. – Perrierophytum velutinum is relatively widespread across the Central Plateau though only four collections were clearly made within a protected area (Réserve de Manjakatompo Ankaratra). The species has an estimated EOO of 46, 498 km ² and an AOO of 128 km ². The existence of collections made within the last 20 years along roadsides and in degraded habitat suggests P. velutinum is resistant to threats such as habitat loss, grazing, and fires. Perrierophytum velutinum can therefore be assessed as “Least Concern” [LC].

Notes – Diedrich Christian Rutenberg (1851– 1878) was a German explorer and botanical collector. He travelled and collected in Madagascar in 1878 where he was murdered by his porters. His collections were eventually shipped to Bremen thanks to Johann Maria Hildebrandt (1847–1881) (DORR, 1997). Rutenberg’s collections were subsequently evacuated in 1943 to Mährisch-Schönberg (today Sunperk), in Czech Republic (METZING, 1999). They are now deposited at BRNU with some still at BREM. The original material of Kosteletzkya velutina Garcke is represented by a single collection in BRNU considered here to be the holotype.

Three Goudot specimens collected on January 15, 1938 are deposited at G. The best-preserved specimen with Hochreutiner’s handwriting is designated here as the lectotype of Kosteletzkya velutina var. goudotiana Hochr. The variety goudotiana was described on the basis of a slightly larger calyx and the absence of long trichomes. We consider these slight variations within the circumscription of the species and do not retain this taxon here as a separate entity.

Perrierophytum velutinum is distinct in its densely tomentose leaves with strongly cordate leaf bases and rounded leaf apices. It differs from P. malvocoeruleum in having a wider calyx, densely tomentose branches, and peduncles and petals without two lobes. HOCHREUTINER (1917: 98) quoted Perrier de la Bâthie label information discussing the potential role of fire in resprouting in Kosteletzkya velutina .

Selected specimens examined. – MADAGASCAR. Aeg. Amoron’i Mania [Prov. Fianarantsoa]: 48 km N of Ambositra, 1300 m, 24.I.1975, Croat 29340 ( MO 2591499 ) ; col de tapia, entre Antsirabe et Ambositra , 20°15'S 47°06'E, 1500 m, 6.III.1985, fl., Dorr 3836 ( MO-3280577 , P [ P00574185 ]) ; env. d’Ambatofinandrahana (Betsileo), 6.I.1955, fl., Humbert 28044 ( MO-6071577 , P [ P00574179 ]) ; km 49.5 on RN 7 just after Ambohimanjaka between Ansirabe and Ambositra , 20°14'00"S 47°05'31"E, 1414 m, 8.I.2005, fl., Koopman 215 ( MO-6438153 , P [ P00980551 ], TAN, WIS) ; 14 km on road to Itremo from Ambatofinandrahana , 20°34'07"S 46°43' 23"E, 1039 m, 9.I.2005, fl., Koopman 217 ( MO, P, TAN, WIS) ; col des Tapia, près d’Ilaka , 26.X.1960, fl., Leandri 3326 ( P [ P00574186 ]) ; entre Ambositra et Ambohimahasoa , 20.X.1922, fl., Poisson 626 ( P [ P00574196 ]) . Aeg. Analamanga [Prov. Antananarivo]: Antsahadita , [19°01'S 47°27'E], 25.XII.1905, fl. & fr., Alleizette 762 ( P [ P00574038 ]) ; près des marais de la Sisaony , 13.VIII.1950, fl., Benoist 69 ( G, P [ P00574159 ]) ; env. de Tananarive , 10.II.1939, fl., Decary 13880 ( P [ P00574205 ]) . Aeg. Haute Matsiatra [Prov. Fianarantsoa]: Ankafana, 1880, Cowan s.n. ( BM) ; Anja parc à 12 km au S d’Ambalavao, inselberg Ambohilady , 21°51'08"S 46°50'58"E, 1194 m, 10.XII.2010, fl., A. Ramahefaharivelo 259 ( MO-6440406 , P [ P04642005 ], TAN) . Aeg. Ihorombe [Prov. Antananarivo]: Ihosy , 10.IX.1939, fl., Decary 15067 ( P [ P00574169 ]) . Aeg. Itasy [Prov. Antananarivo]: ruisseau entre Soavinandriana et F aratsiho au niveau du village Manakambahiny , 19°12'36"S 46°47'21"E, 1413 m, fl., 12.VI.2015, Andriambololonera 434 ( MO-6715120 , TAN) ; Mahobo (interior), I.1931, fl., Scott Elliot 1905 ( K [ K000240502 ]) ; massif de l’Ankaratra (versant E) , 27.IV.1955, fl., Humbert 30319 ( P [ P00574180 ]) ; entre Arivonimamo et Soamananety , I.1931, fl., Peltier 1664 ( P [ P00574188 ]) . Aeg. Vakinankaratra [Prov. Antananarivo]: Betafo , Alakamisy Marososona , Ranomainty , à 312 m à l’E du Mt Trafo , 20°06'01"S 46°49'11"E, 1743 m, 17.IX.2004, fl., Andriamihajarivo 365 ( G, MO-6260834 , P [ P01072348 ], TAN, TE F) ; Manjakatompo , 5.I.1951, fl., Benoist 926 ( P [ P00574161 ]) ; Ankaratra , entre Antsampandrahana et Nanokely , II.1957, Bosser 10948 ( MO-3332246 ) ; massif des Vavavako , 5.IX.1940, fl., Decary 14410 ( G) ; massif des Vavavato , 9.V.1940, fr., Decary 15410 ( P [ P00574171 ]) ; rocher d’Iaranandriana, PK 38, route d’Antsirabe, avant Behenjy, 19°12'S 47°29' E, 1400 m, 25.XI.1984, fl., Dorr 3278 (MO-3322225, P [P00574173]); Lac d’Andraikiba , 2.IX.1895, ForsythMajor s.n. ( G [4 sheets]) ; Nord-Betsileo: Sirabé , VIII.1880, fl., Hildebrant 3532 ( G [2 sheets], P [ P00574174 ]) ; col de Mahafompeno , 20.X.1963, fl., Peltier 4250 ( P [ P00574190 ]) ; env. de Tsinjoarivo , bassin de l’Onive (Mangoro), II.1925, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 5466 [as “ 77 ” at G] ( G, P [ P00574194 ]) ; env. de F aratsiho (Ankaratra), IX.1921, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 13945 ( P [ P00574195 ]) .