Dypsis sancta Rakotoarin. & J.Dransf., Kew Bull. 65(2): 280 (2010)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Madagascar present (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A
Known only from Vatovelona forest, c. 10 km S of the village Manakambahiny 1, buffer zone for the Zahamena strict nature reserve. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Habitat

  • Undergrowth in lowland humid forest, steep slope near river and small foot path; 580 m. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Discussion

  • This species is similar to Dypsis ovobontsira, by having regularly arranged leaflets and in the leaf sheath indumentum. The leaves are, however, strongly curved and the inflorescence is smaller in size, and more highly branched. The specific epithet alludes to the locality? Vatovelona? which means a shrine in Malagasy. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Diagnosis

  • D. ovobontsirae Beentje versosimiliter affinis sed rachidi folii recurvata inflorescentia minore rachillis plurimis differt. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Conservation

  • Critically Endangered [CR, B1a+b(iii)]. Known only from a single site on the boundary of Zahamena Natural Reserve, in a piece of forest of 7 km2. The palm population is protected; however, its habitat is fragmented and local villagers are allowed with regulation to enter the forest and use its natural resources. This species and its habitat are thus threatened. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Description

  • Slender solitary, erect palm. Stem to 10 m tall, 5 cm diam. Leaves 6 - 8 in the crown, strongly arching, pinnate; sheath 31 - 50 cm long, c. 2.5 cm wide, open to c. 10 cm in the distal part, pale green, covered with scattered blackish-red scales becoming more dense distally, auricles 6 - 7 × 0.4 - 0.5 cm, ragged at the margins; petiole 15 - 20 cm long, 3 - 5 cm wide, adaxially flattened to deeply channelled, densely covered with blackish deciduous scales; rachis 75 - 90 cm long, in mid-leaf 7 - 8 mm wide, strongly keeled, with scattered scales; leaflets regularly arranged, 25 - 30 on each side of the rachis, dark green, unequally attenuate, proximal leaflets 9 - 13.5 × 0.7 - 2 cm, median leaflets 23 - 30 × 3.4 - 4.5 cm, distal leaflets 9 - 15 × 1.2 - 2.3 cm, tip to 6 cm long, main veins 3 - 5, abaxial surface glabrous. Inflorescence interfoliar, branched to 3 orders, erect, 50 - 60 cm long, yellowish-green, with scattered orange scales on the peduncle and the proximal part of the rachis, prophyll and peduncular bract not seen, rachis c. 45 cm long, with 7 - 10 branched and 5 - 8 unbranched first order branches, the proximal first order branches with a rachis to 40 cm long, rounded, with up to 13 branched and 15 unbranched second order branches, covered with minute scattered scales; rachillae 7 - 9 cm long, spreading, densely puberulous, triads distant, in shallow pits. Flowers and fruits not seen. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Materials Examined

  • MADAGASCAR. Toamasina, Vavatenina, Vatovelona forest; 17°40 ?S, 49°00'E, 12 Oct. 1998, A. Byg 1 (holotype K!; isotype AAU!). (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Bibliography

    A. M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303