Dypsis andrianatonga Beentje, Palms Madagascar : 203 (1995)

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Content

Introduction

  • A rather small branching palm which is restricted to the high mountain massifs of northern Madagascar. All individuals we have seen displayed branching. The species seems closest to D. baronii. The epithet means 'the nobleman has arrived' and comes from the local name of the species. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Distribution

Manongarivo and Marojejy Massif. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Diagnosis

  • D. baronii et D. serpentinae similis, a D. baronii habitu ramificanti foliolis paucioribus inflorescentia minore grana majore et a D. serpentina petiolo breviore foliolis regulariter dispositis inflorescentia majore rachillis pluribus differt. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Open moist montane forest or heath vegetation, occasionally on rocks in denser forest; 700-1800 m. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • Rare. The distribution of this species is limited. In Manongarivo it is not uncommon in a rather narrow vegetation belt on Bekolosi Mountain. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Common Name

  • Tsiriki andrianatonga (Tsimihety, tsiriki being a general palm name). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Uses

  • Leaf decoction used in drink for convalescence, highly prized. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Description

  • Clustering palm in tufts of 8 -14. STEMS 2-9 m tall, 1.5-2.5 cm diam., snaking and procumbent but with the distal part erect, proximally and/or distally branching at the nodes, often rooting at the branching points; internodes proximally 11-18 cm, distally 1-2.5 cm, dark green, glabrous, nodal scars 0.3-0.7 cm, grey-brown, slightly stepped. LEAVES c. 5 per crown, spiral to almost tristichous, arching-porrect, 80-190 cm; sheath 20-39 cm, closed but occasionally split proximally, without obvious auricles or with minute ones to 5 mm high, green, slightly waxy, proximally glabrous or with laciniate reddish scales, distally with some scattered scales; petiole 6-32 cm, proximally 5.5-10 x 3-5 mm diam. and with a triangular fleshy extension of the sheath lining, channelled proximally, distally 3-6 x 3-5 mm diam., densely pubescent or with scattered scales; rachis 42-128 cm, in mid-leaf to 7 mm wide, keeled, densely pubescent or with few scattered scales; leaflets regular, attenuate, 12-35 on each side of the rachis, the proximal 21-43 x 0.6-1.8 cm, median 16-35 x 2-3.2 cm (interval 3-5.3 cm), distal 3-20 x 0.3-1.9 cm, the distal pair joined for up to 0.5 cm, main veins 1-3, and with thickened margins, with occasional ramenta to 6 mm, with scattered scales on the veins and margins. INFLORESCENCE infrafoliar, branched to 1-2 orders, erect proximally, curved in the distal part of the peduncle through some 140°; peduncle 7-40 cm, proximally 4-12 x 3-3.5 mm diam., distally 4-6 x 2.5-4 mm diam., waxy; prophyll 12-59 cm, borne at 1.5-24 cm above the base of the peduncle, pale brown with scattered scales; peduncular bract persistent or deciduous, inserted at 4-28 cm from the base of the peduncle, 20-29 cm long, hooded, open all the way except the distal 4.5 cm, with a minute beak, with scattered scales; non-tubu-lar peduncular bract 0.2-2 x 1 cm; rachis 4-14 cm, with 9-17 first order branches, sometimes a few (up to 5) of these with a secondary rachis of up to 1.2 cm and 2-3 (-4) rachillae; rachillae 2-10 cm long, 2-3.5 mm diam., glabrous or minutely puberulous, zigzag; triads dense to distant, sunken, with acuminate rachilla bract to 2 mm. STAMINATE FLOWERS with sepals 2.2-x 2.3-2.6 mm, red-spotted on keel and apex; petals connate for 1.2-1.6 mm, free parts 3-3.4 x 2.4-3.2 mm; stamens 6, uniseriate, the filaments connate for c. 0.6 mm, free for 2.8-3 mm, flattened in their proximal half and cylindrical distally, anthers 1.4-1.7 x 0.5-0.8 mm, versatile, obtuse; pistillode 2.5-2.6 x 1.2-1.3 mm. PISTILLATE FLOWERS with sepals 2-3 x 2.8-3.6 mm; petals in young bud 2.5-3.3 x 2.4-mm, concave, striate, (in fruit) 3-4 x 3.3-5.2 mm, ciliolate; staminodes 6, flat, 0.3-0.8 mm high; ovary 1.5-3.7 x 0.9-2 mm. FRUIT green, colour unknown when ripe, (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Materials Examined

  • Ambanja: Manongarivo, Bekolosi, Jan. 1992 (old infl.), Beentje & Quansah 4559 (Holotype K; isotypi MO, P, TAN); idem, Feb. 1992 (fr.), Beentjeet al. 4571 (K, MO, TAN); Antsatrotro, Sept. 1991 (fl.), Malcomber & Razafimandimbison 885 (K, P). Sambava: Betsomanga massif, Nov. 1950 (y.fr.), Humbert & Capuron 24305 (K, P); Mt Beondroka, March 1949 (fr.), Humbert 23559 (K, P). Andapa: Marojejy, W slopes, Nov./Dec. 1948 (dead infl.), Humbert & Capuron 22287 (K, P); Ambatoharanana valley to upper Antsahaberoka, Nov. 1959 (ster.), Humbert & Saboureau 31883 (K, P); Marojejy, E peak area, Oct. 1988 (y.fr.), Miller et al. 3512 (MO, TAN); Marojejy, Dec. 1972 (fl., y.fr.), Guillaumet 4108 (TAN). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: Palms of Madagascar)A

Bibliography

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