Dypsis ceracea (Jum.) Beentje & J.Dransf., Palms Madagascar : 151 (1995)

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Content

Introduction

  • This species has not been collected for almost fifty years, and the material is rather poor. This is another mystery, resembling D. bejofo and D. canaliculata. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Distribution

Only known from the Marojejy area and Betampona. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Discussion

  • The following data from the protologue do not appear on the type label: found at 100 m altitude. This species resembles both D. bejofo and D. canaliculata but is distinct in the smaller and thinner trunk, the more branched inflorescence and the much smaller fruit. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Moist lowland forest; 450 m (fide Cours). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • ?Extinct; not seen since 1949. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Common Name

  • Lafaza (Betsimisaraka). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Uses

  • Leaves used in thatching. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Description

  • Solitary palm. TRUNK 8-15 m high, cylindrical, 8-15 cm diam. LEAVES: sheath medium brown with a dense layer of wax, the young sheath bright pink, without ligules or auricles, distally with medium-sized laciniate scales; petiole c. 35 cm long, waxy, with scattered scales; rachis in mid-leaf 1.4-1.8 cm wide, keeled, with scattered scales, slightly waxy; leaflets in groups of 4-6, the group interval > 6 cm, the leaflet interval 0.5-1 cm, "hanging towards the middle" (Perrier); proximal 82-86 x 2.5-3.2 cm, median 55-92 x 2.3-2.9 cm, distal 13-39 x 0.3-2 cm, adaxially dark green, abaxially glaucous, with sparse large ramenta (6-10 mm long) on the proximal midrib, with minute reddish scales scattered over the minor veins, main vein 1, with slightly thickened margins, apex unequally attenuate. INFLORESCENCE interfoliar, branched to 3 orders (or more); prophyll coriaceous; peduncular bract coriaceous, deciduous, with a rather long beak; first order branch seen with secondary rachis of 6-20 cm, proximally 1-3 x 0.5-1.3 cm, glabrous, with 7-12 second order branches; rachis bracts up to 12 mm long; rachillae 16-30 cm long, 3-4.5 mm diam., with distant triads in shallow pits; rachilla bracts proud, rounded to acute. STAMINATE FLOWERS not seen. PISTILLATE FLOWERS not seen at anthesis; in the fruit the sepals are 3.7-4.1 x 3.9-4.7 mm (the outermost largest), obtuse, with membranous margins; petals 5-6 x 3.9-4.7 mm, the innermost largest; staminodes 0.5-1.1 mm, thin and flat. FRUIT ellipsoid, 16-20 x 8.5-12.5 mm, rounded at base and apex, with sub-basal stigmatic remains (with a ridge to the stalk); endocarp fibrous, with slightly anasto-mosing fibres. SEED ellipsoid, 12-13 x 5-6 mm, pointed at the base, rounded at the apex, attached to the spot corresponding to the stigmatic remnant on the outside; endosperm deeply ruminate, the ruminations reaching the middle. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Materials Examined

  • Andapa: Mt Mainampango, Amtalavanio, Jan. 1949 (fr.), Cours 3234 (K, P, TAN). Toamasina: Betampona, Dec. 1925 (fr.), Perrier 17474 (P, type). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar