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

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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
MADAGASCAR. Antsiranana, Antalaha, Sahamalaza, Iketra, Tanany Rabepierre, 15°44 'S, 50°13 'E, 17 Nov. 1996, J. Dransfield et al. JD 7640 (holotype K!; isotype TAN!). (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Habitat

  • Lowland forest, on gentle slopes; 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 group 5 of Dypsis, as defined by Dransfield & Beentje (1995). It is similar to D. caudata but differs in the inflorescence being branched to two orders and in having a zigzag rachis. The species epithet refers to the reflexed inflorescence branches. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Diagnosis

  • D. caudatae Beentje affinis sed ramis inflorescentiae plurimis valde reflexis 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)], restricted to Sahamalaza, in the eastern part of the Masoala Peninsula. The population of this species occurs in an area estimated to be 6 km2, within the boundary of Masoala National Park. (M. Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield, J. 2010: New species of Dypsis and Ravenea (Arecaceae) from Madagascar. – Kew Bulletin 65: 279-303)A

Description

  • Clustering palm with c. 8 stems. Stems to 3 m tall, c. 1 cm diam.; internodes 2.5 - 4 cm long, blackish, slightly scaly. Leaves 6 - 8 in the crown, pinnate; sheaths 9 -10.5 cm long, 1.2 - 1.5 cm wide, forming a well-defined crownshaft, auricles c. 1 mm long, splitting for 4 - 4.5 cm distally, pale green with brown scales; petiole 8 - 9 cm long, 4 - 5 mm wide, densely covered with reddish scales, adaxially channelled; rachis 45 - 55 cm long, in mid-leaf 2 - 3 mm wide, densely scaly; leaflets c. 20 on each side of the rachis, arranged in groups of 2 - 4, at intervals of 2 - 3.5 cm, abaxial surface glabrous, apices 1.8 - 3.2 cm, proximal leaflets 6 - 6.5 × 0.8 - 1.2 cm, median leaflets 9 - 9.8 × 1.2 - 1.7 cm, distal leaflets 7.2 - 8 × 0.7 - 1.1 cm, with 2 - 5 main veins. Inflorescence interfoliar, branched to 2 orders, arching to pendulous; peduncle c. 28 cm long, c. 3 mm diam. distally, densely covered with rusty brown hairs; prophyll 23 cm long, c. 7 mm wide, dark brown, 2-keeled, with scattered scales on the adaxial surface, ± glabrous on the abaxial surface, splitting distally for 2.6 cm; peduncular bract deciduous, not seen; non-tubular peduncular bract occasionally present; rachis c. 34 cm long, 2 - 4 mm diam., with 7 branched and 17 unbranched first order branches, minutely puberulous; rachillae divaricate and reflexed, zigzag, orange, 2.6 - 4.2 cmlong, 1 -2mm diam., minutely scaly at the base but soon glabrescent, triads inserted at distances of 1.4 - 2.2 mm. Staminate flowers with imbricate sepals 1.2 - 1.7 × 1.6 - 2.3 cm, minutely scaly; petals 2 - 2.2 × 1.6 - 1.7 cm, valvate, striate; stamens 6, equal, filaments 0.4 - 0.6 mm, anthers c. 1.1 mm long, elongate, basifixed; pistillode 1.2 mm high. Pistillate flowers not developed. (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