Dypsis canescens (Jum. & H.Perrier) Beentje & J.Dransf., Palms Madagascar : 410 (1995)

Primary tabs

no image available

Content

Introduction

  • Insufficiently known species. (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
NW Madagascar, only known from the type. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Discussion

  • In the protologue the species is compared (as is Chrysalidocarpus brevinodis) with D. lutescens with the following difference: absence of petiole. The type locality is either Ambaliha on the Ampasindava Peninsula, as seems to be indicated in the protologue, or another Ambaliha (not found on map or in Gazetteer) on the left bank of the Sambirano River.
    The fact that it is compared with D. lutescens makes us think the leaflets might be regular, but unfortunately we cannot be certain. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Forest on sandstone; c. 40 m. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • Presumed extinct; not seen for more than fifty years. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Common Name

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

Uses

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

Description

  • DESCRIPTION FROM LITERATURE: TRUNK 4-8m, straight, ringed, < 10 cm diam., base somewhat thickened in a cone. LEAVES 8-12, ascending; sheath glabrous, membranous, without ligule; petiole absent; rachis c. 2 m long; leaflets regular, recurved, 3.5-4 cm distant, proximal 60-65 x 0.6-0.7 cm, median 75-80 x 1.5 cm, some brownish ramenta on the midrib, adaxially white-mealy when young. INFLORESCENCE at most branched to 2 orders; peduncle 60 cm; prophyll borne at 13 cm above the base of the peduncle, 40 cm long, split only at apex; peduncular bract deciduous, inserted at 30 cm above the base of the peduncle, 45 cm long, conical at the apex, split along its length; rachillae often with paired or solitary staminate flowers due to abortion of the pistillate ones. STAMINATE FLOWERS with keeled and slightly spurred sepals, glabrous, ovate, obtuse, 2 x 2 mm; petals ovate, acute, 3 x 2.2 mm; filaments c. 1.3 mm; ovary rudiment cylindrical, 1.8 mm, about aslong as the stamens. PISTILLATE FLOWERS unknown. FRUIT unknown. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Materials Examined

  • None. Despite a thorough search, we have not found the type specimen. (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