Abrahamia latifolia (Engl.) Randrian. & Lowry

Randrianasolo, Armand, Lowry II, Porter P. & Schatz, George E., 2017, Taxonomic treatment of Abrahamia Randrian. & Lowry, a new genus of Anacardiaceae from Madagascar, Boissiera 71, pp. 1-152 : 78-79

15. Abrahamia latifolia (Engl.) Randrian. & Lowry , comb. nova.

≡ Protorhus latifolia Engl. in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 1: 421. 1881.

≡ Rhus latifolia (Engl.) Baill. in Grandid., Hist. Phys. Madagascar Atlas: tab. 231. 1892.

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR: sine loco, s.d., fl., Thouars s.n. ( P [ P00722655 ]!; isolecto-: P [ P00722656 , P00722657 ]!) .

Description

Trees 6-16 m tall, 30 cm DBH, bark with translucid, white or reddish milky latex; young twigs usually with white corky exoderm, glabrous, with lenticels. Leaves alternate; blades oblanceolate, 11-37 3 3.5-9 cm, subcoriaceous, apex shortly acuminate, retuse or rounded, margin entire, base acute or cuneate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface glabrous, venation craspedodromous, midvein prominent abaxially, secondary veins 40-60 pairs, parallel, 1-4 mm apart, prominent abaxially, tertiary veins visible on abaxial surface, slightly less so on adaxial surface; petiole 10 mm long, shallowly canaliculate on adaxial surface, glabrous or glabrescent. Inflorescence axillary, a panicle, 2.5-8 cm long, branches flattened or slightly triangular, pubescent or glabrescent. Male and female flowers 5-merous; pedicel c. 0.5 mm long, pubescent; calyx lobes deltate, c. 0.8 3 1 mm, valvate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface pubescent, persistent on fruit; corolla lobes ovate, 3 3 1.5 mm, imbricate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface pubescent, pale yellow; stamens 5. Male flowers with filaments 1.5 mm long, glabrous, white, anthers 0.5-0.7 mm long, subglobose, yellow, glabrous; disk, c. 1-1.5 mm in diam., cupuliform, glabrous; ovary rudimentary. Female flowers with filaments 0.7-0.8 mm long, anthers 0.5 mm long, ovoid, sterile, yellow, glabrous; disk c. 1.5 mm in diam., glabrous; ovary depressed ovoid, c. 1 3 1- 1.5 mm, glabrous, placentation subapical; style shortly trifid, apicaly inserted, c. 1 mm long, glabrous, stigmas capitate. Fruits 2.5 3 1.7 cm, ellipsoid, surface smooth, glabrous.

Vernacular names

“Hazombarora’’, “Hazombarora beravina’’, “Hazombarorana’’.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Abrahamia latifolia occurs at low- to mid-altitude sites (at elevations from sea level to 780 m) on sandy or lateritic soils in eastern coastal and sublittoral humid forests ( Map 5 ). It has been recorded in flower in October and November and in fruit in December.

Conservation status

With an EOO of 15,645 km 2, a minimum AOO of 44 km 2, but a maximum AOO that is estimated to exceed 2,000 km 2, and 11 known localities representing 9 locations, only 2 of which are in protected areas (Makira and Mananara) while the remainder are subjected to land clearing leading to a projected decline in quality of habitat, A. latifolia is assigned a preliminary conservation status of “Vulnerable’’ [VU B1ab(iii)] using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012).

Notes

Abrahamia latifolia can be distinguished from all other members of the genus by its particularly large leaves (11-37 3 3.5-9 cm), which are glabrous on both surfaces.

Among the three syntypes collected by du Petit-Thouars, we have selected as the lectotype the sheet that is accompanied by a hand-written description and a line drawing of a flower.

Additional material examined

Madagascar. Prov. Mahajanga: Mandritsara, village le plus proche Lambafotsy, [16°10’S 48°50’E], 26.X.1955, fl., Service Forestier 15129 ( MO, P [3 sheets], TEF) . Prov. Toamasina: Antsirabe, Anjiahely , Ankahaminivola forest , 15°23’57’’S 49°26’08’’E, 780 m, 15.XII.2002, fr., Antilahimena 1493 ( G, K, MO, P, TAN) ; Foulpointe , [17°41’S 49°31’E], s.d., Humblot s.n. ( P [4 sheets]) ; Saharamy, [16°24’30’’S 49°41’00’’E], 14.X.1990, fl., Raharimalala 2320 ( P) ; Tampolo forest station, 0-3 m, 31.VII.1996, ster., A. Randrianasolo 470 ( G, MO, P, TAN) ; Mahatsara forest station, 17°38’S 49°29’E, 0-5 m, 26.X.1996, fl., A. Randrianasolo 511 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Sainte Marie, Lonkintsy, forêt d’Ambohidena, 16°46’23’’S 49°42’47’’E, 15. V.2003, ster., Razakamalala et al. 451 B ( MO, P, TAN) ; Maroantsetra , massif de l’Androrona, [15°51’S 49°31’E], 700 m, II.1954, fr., Service Forestier 8999 ( G, MO, P [2 sheets]) ; Tampolo, Jardin Botanique n° 21, [17°17’S 49°23’E], 29.XI.1956, fl., Service Forestier 16469 ( MO [2 sheets], P [3 sheets], TEF) ; ibid. loco, [17°17’00’’S 49°23’30’’E], 21.XI.1957, bud & fl., Service Forestier 17807 ( G, MO, P [2 sheets], TEF) ; ibid. loco, [17°17’S 49°23’E], 16.X.1958, fl., Service Forestier 19229 ( MO, P [3 sheets], TEF) ; Vavatenina, forêt de Sahavolo, [17°40’50’’S 49°06’30’’E], 25.X.1964, fl., Service Forestier 21919 ( P, TEF) ; forêt de Mangalimaso, W de Foulpointe , [17°41’30’’S 49°29’30’’E], 23.XI.1962, fl., Service Forestier 22103 ( MO, P, TEF) ; Nosy Sainte Marie, forêt de Kalalao, 5.VIII.1964, ster., Service Forestier 8-R-64 ( P) .

Figures

Map 5. Geographic distribution of species of Abrahamia Randrian.& Lowry