Micronychia minutiflora (H.Perrier) Randrian. & Lowry, 2009

4. Micronychia minutiflora (H.Perrier) Randrian. & Lowry View in CoL , comb. et stat. nov.

Micronychia tsiramiramy H.Perrier var. minutiflora H.Perrier, Mémoires du Muséum d’Histoire naturelle, Paris 18: 268 (1944). — Type: Madagascar, Mahajanga Prov., bassin supérieur de la Bemarivo, affluent de la Sofia, forêt d’Analamaitso, bois des pentes occidentales, vers 1000 m, sur gneiss, IX.1907, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 4540 (holo-, P!).

REMARKS

In Randrianasolo’s recent revision of Micronychia (2000) , this taxon was recognized as a variety within M. tsiramiramy . However, careful re-examination of the material now available, which includes many collections made in recent years, reveals that M. minutiflora is better treated as a distinct species. It can easily be distinguished from M. tsiramiramy by its smaller leaf blades (2-6.2 vs. 3-11.5 cm long) with a shortly acuminate to rounded, or very rarely emarginate apex (vs. predominantly emarginate and rarely rounded in M. tsiramiramy ), much shorter petioles (3-6 vs. 3-15 mm), and smaller fruits (0.8- 1.2 × 0.6-1.1 vs. 1.2-1.4 × 1.5 cm).

Micronychia minutiflora occurs in a wide variety of habitats throughout much of eastern Madagascar and the Sambirano region in the northwestern part of the island, ranging from humid forest at low altitude ( c. 100 m) to montane forest up to 1500 m ( Fig. 5 View FIG ).

CONSERVATION STATUS

Micronychia minutiflora has a large Extent of Occurrence (EOO = c. 138 000 km²) and Area of Occupancy (AOO = 306 km ²), and 32 subpopulations, of which 20 (60%) occur within six protected areas (Ambohitantely, Analamazaotra, Andohahela, Anjanaharibe-Sud, Ranomafana and Zahamena). Following the IUCN Red List threat criteria ( IUCN 2001), this species is assigned a preliminary status of Least Concern (LC).