Dypsis metallica Rakotoarin. & J.Dransf., Kew Bull. 65(2): 282 (2010)

Primary tabs

no image available

Content

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Madagascar present (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A
Northeast of Madagascar, known only from Sahamalaza area, on the east side of Masoala Peninsula. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Habitat

  • Heath forest developed on white sands associated with river terraces; 40 m. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Discussion

  • This species belongs to the informal Group 5 (Dransfield & Beentje 1995) and keys to Dypsis lutea. It is distinguished by being altogether more robust and by its unusual metallic-hued coriaceous leaves. This species is of high ornamental value. The species epithet refers to the metallic blue green leaves. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Diagnosis

  • D. luteae (Jum.) Beentje & J. Dransf. affinis sed folio metallico coriaceo linea centrali lutescenti differt. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Conservation

  • Vulnerable [VU (D2)], known only from Sahamalaza in the eastern part of the Masoala Peninsula. The population is estimated to occur in an area of 6 km2, within the Masoala National Park. Access is difficult and restricted. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Description

  • Clustering palm. Stem to 5 m tall, 1 - 2 cm diam., dark green, internodes 2.5 - 3 cm long near the crown, with reddish indumentum. Leaves 6 - 10 in the crown; sheaths 12 - 20 cm long, 1.5 - 2 cm diam., closed, forming a well-developed crownshaft, abaxially covered with purplish indumentum mostly in the upper part, with triangular auricles, 1.2 - 2.5 × 0.2 - 0.5 cm; petiole 7 - 11 cm long, 2 - 4 mm wide, adaxially flat or slightly channelled, abaxially rounded, scaly; blade entire bifid, very coriaceous, metallic blue-green with a central pale yellowish line, the entire lamina 39 - 54 cm long, 9.5 - 27 cm wide, midrib 19 - 33 cm long, lobes 17 - 21 × 15 - 16 cm, apices narrowly dentate, adaxial surface of the leaf with minute punctiform scales, abaxially with scales on the midrib and minute punctiform scales along the veins. Inflorescence interfoliar, branching to 2 orders; peduncle 28 - 32 cm long, 3 - 5 mm diam., densely hairy in exposed parts; prophyll 14 - 17 × 0.8 - 1 cm, inserted at 6 - 7.5 cm from the base of peduncle, splitting distally for 1.5 - 2.5 cm, 2-keeled; peduncular bract deciduous; rachis 12.5 - 15 cm long, minutely to densely puberulous, with 6 - 9 branched and 7 - 9 unbranched first order branches; rachillae 5 - 8.5 cm long, 1 - 1.5 mm diam., glabrous, triads inserted at distances of 1.5 - 3 mm. Staminate flowers with sepals 0.8 - 1 × 0.8 - 1.1 mm; petals elliptic, 1.2 - 1.5 × 0.8 - 1 mm, striate; stamens 6, uniseriate, filaments c. 0.2 mm long, anthers 0.6 - 0.8 × 0.2 - 0.5 mm, elongate; pistillode minute, c. 0.2 mm high. Pistillate flowers with sepals 0.9 - 1.1 × 0.8 - 1 mm; petals 0.7 - 0.8 × 0.5 - 0.6 mm, striate, staminodes absent; gynoecium c. 0.6 × 0.4 mm. Fruits not seen. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Materials Examined

  • MADAGASCAR. Antsiranana, Antalaha: Masoala Peninsula, Sahamalaza, Iketra, 15°44 ?S, 50°13 ?E, 16 Nov. 1996, J. Dransfield et al. JD 7636 (holotype K!; isotype TAN!). (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Bibliography

    A. M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303