Abrahamia latifolia Randrian. & Lowry

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).