Dypsis pulchella J.Dransf., Palms Madagascar : 297 (1995)

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Introduction

  • An attractive undergrowth palmlet with very much the appearance of D. louvelii, but with shorter inflorescences and staminate flowers with six rather than three stamens. The species name refers to the pretty appearance of the three known specimens. (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
E Madagascar, Andasibe and lower Mangoro. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Discussion

  • S. This taxon was included in the folders of D. louvelii in the Paris Herbarium. However, the inflorescence has a relatively shorter peduncle and the sometimes zigzag rachis gives the inflorescence a different appearance, but it is the staminate flowers which immediately separate the taxon from D. louvelii. There are six biseriate stamens, in form reminiscent of those of D. nodifera. The two collections from the lower Mangoro are clearly conspecific; the collection from Andasibe differs slightly in having a zigzag inflorescence rachis. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Diagnosis

  • D. louveliifoliis et inflorescentiis superficialiter similis, sed pedunculo breviori floribus staminatis 6 staminibus biseriatis bene distincta. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Rain forest; 300-1000 m. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • Presumed extinct. Not seen (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

  • Slender ?clustering palm of the forest undergrowth. STEMS probably not exceeding 1 m tall, 4-7 mm diam., internodes 8-13 mm, with sparse scattered dark brown scales. LEAVES 5-8 in crown; sheath 3-6 cm long, c. 1 cm diam., covered with scattered dark brown scales, auricles triangular, to 15 x 5 mm, membranous, soon disintegrating; petiole absent or to 2 cm long, c. 2 mm wide, with scattered dark brown scales; blade entire, bifid, plicate, 20-23 cm long, 8-10 cm wide, divided to just under to over half the length, costa 6-11 cm long, the two lobes 12-15 x 2.5-3 cm, adaxially with scattered brown punctiform scales, abaxially densely covered with brown punctiform scales and larger laciniate scales in bands, leaf tips shallowly lobed. INFLORESCENCE interfoliar, shorter than the leaves, branched to 1 order; peduncle 13-17 cm long, 1-1.5 mm diam., with scattered dark brown laciniate scales; prophyll inserted c. 2.5 cm above the base of the peduncle, 5-12 cm long, c. 7 mm wide, membranous, with scattered dark brown scales; peduncular bract inserted 3-8 cm above the prophyll insertion, 6-9 cm long, c. 7 mm wide; rachis 2.5-4 cm long, straight or somewhat zigzag, bearing scattered dark brown scales; rachillae 6-9, 2.5-3.5 cm long, c. 1 mm diam., dark brown scaly, triads c. 1-3.5 mm distant, rachilla surface with scattered dark laciniate scales and minutely papillose. STAMINATE FLOWER c. 2.5 x 1.5 mm; sepals rounded, 1.1 x 1.1 mm, irregularly keeled; petals triangular, 1.6 x 1.3 mm, striate; stamens 6, biseriate, antepetalous filaments 0.8 x 0.2 mm, antesepalous filaments 0.5 x 0.2 mm, anthers didymous, the antesepalous c. 0.4 x 0.4 mm, the antepetalous smaller; pistillode scarcely evident. PISTILLATE FLOWER bud immature, c. 1 mm diam. FRUIT, only immature known, fusiform, 6-7 x 2-3 mm. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Materials Examined

  • Moramanga: Andasibe, Feb. 1925 (fl., fr.), Perrier 17216 (P). Mahanoro: Mangoro, Oct. 1927 (fl.), Perrier 18045 (P); idem (fl.), Perrier 18046 (Holotype 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