Dypsis soanieranae Beentje, Palms Madagascar : 266 (1995)

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Introduction

  • The description of this species is not complete, but the single long fat rachilla makes it so distinct that we feel obliged to give it a name, which refers to the locality. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Madagascar present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Only known from Soanierana-Ivongo. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Discussion

  • Distinct among all Dypsis species by its unbranched inflorescence combined with the large pinnate leaf and long rachilla. The inflorescence reminds us of a long version of that of D. pervillei. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Diagnosis

  • D. boivinianae affinis folio pinnato foliolis fasciculatis sed inflorescentia spicata rachilla longa distincta. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Lowland rain forest, 75 m. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • Probably extinct. Not seen since 1938, in an area where the forest has been severely fragmented and is under continuing pressure. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Common Name

  • Tsinkary (a rather general Betsimisaraka name for smaller palms). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Uses

  • Not recorded. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Description

  • Solitary palm. STEM 4-5 m tall, distally with internodes 4-6.5 cm long, c. 1.5 cm diam., distally with dense scales; nodal scars 2-5 mm. LEAVES pinnate; sheath 16-17.5 cm long, with scattered scales and ragged shoulders; petiole 13-13.5 cm long, 5-6 x 3-5 mm diam., flat adaxially, with scattered scales but glabrescent; rachis 71-95 cm long, with scattered scales, in mid-leaf 2-4 mm wide; leaflets 19-21 on each side of the rachis, in groups of 2-3, group interval 6-9 cm, the most proximal 17 cm below the next, proximal 17-25 x 0.4-0.8 cm, median 21-37 x 1.3-1.9 cm (interval 0.3-2 cm), distal 16-22 x 1.2-2.2 cm, lanceolate or slightly sigmoid, main veins 1-3, with faint reddish scattered scales on the minor veins, apices attenuate, distal pair joined for 1-3 cm, with 2-3 main veins and narrowly (< 4 mm) dentate apices. INFLORESCENCE interfoliar, unbranched; peduncle 40-47 cm long, dense red-pubescent, 3-4.5 mm in diam.; prophyll 20-28 x 0.8 cm, with scattered scales, open for the distal 1-2.5 cm, borne at c. 9 cm above the base of the peduncle; peduncular bract 22-27+ cm exserted from the sheath, opening in the distal 3-9 cm, densely scaly; rachilla (16 cm in Perrier, bud?) c. 72 cm long, 4-5 mm diam., densely puberulous, with rather densely packed triads. STAMINATE FLOWERS with sepals 1.7-2.2 x 1.2-1.5 mm; petals 2.7-3.2 x 1.6-1.8 mm; stamens 6, slightly biseriate (offset 0.1 mm), filaments 1-1.2 mm, thin, anthers 1.4-1.7 x 0.6-0.7 mm, versatile to slightly sagittate; pistillode 0.4-1.2 x 0.2-0.5 mm, trifid. PISTILLATE FLOWERS not seen. FRUIT not seen. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Materials Examined

  • Soanierana-Ivongo: Ambahoabe, Dec. 1938 (fl.), Lam & Meeuse 5659 (Holotype, L); Simianona (Simiane) R., Sept. 1912 (bud?), Perrier 12065 (FI, photo at K; absent from P). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae