Dypsis pervillei (Baill.) Beentje & J.Dransf., Palms Madagascar : 269 (1995)

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Introduction

  • Another of those rare palms with unbranched inflorescences, not seen for many years. The name refers to the collector of the type, Auguste Pervillé, who collected in Madagascar between 1837 and 1841. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Distribution

The only certain site is Betampona. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Discussion

  • On the type sheet labels (underneath the "Madagascar N. O. 1841" in ink) there is a note in pencil "plus probable Ste. Marie". In a little pocket on one of the type sheets there is some anther material (with some loose staminate petals 2-2.4 x 1.2 mm) with uniseriate filaments c. 1 mm long and thin, and anthers 1.4-1.5 x 0.7-0.8 mm, dorsifixed with parallel locules. Though difficult to key out from D. heterophylla (except for the rachilla), we feel this is nevertheless a distinct species, related to D. curtisii and D. soanieranae. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Forest. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • Presumably extinct. Not seen for seventy years. (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

  • No data about habit. LEAVES: sheath 8-9 cm long, distally redpubescent or with scattered scales, with auricles 3-15 mm high and triangular; petiole 2-9 cm long, 2-3.5 mm diam., with scattered reddish scales; rachis 19-35 cm long, in mid-leaf 1.5-2 mm wide, with scattered scales; leaflets 9-12 on each side of the rachis, in groups of 2-5, interval within the groups 0.5-0.7 cm, interval between the groups 4-9 cm, proximal leaflets 8-16 x 0.4-1.3 cm, median 11-23 x 0.8-1.5 cm, sigmoid, main vein 1, long acuminate, with scattered scales on minor veins on the abaxial side but glabrescent, with scattered scales on margins, distal pair 9-15 x 1-2 cm, connate for 2-2.5 cm, apices 5-10 mm wide and truncate and dentate, with 2-3 main veins. INFLORESCENCE unbranched, 25-60 cm; peduncle 12-31 cm long, 2-4 mm diam., densely red-scaly; prophyll 8-14 cm long, 6-7 mm wide, borne at 1-4 cm above the base of the peduncle, with dense white or reddish scales, glabrescent, opening at the very apex; peduncular bract inserted at 4-11 cm from the base of the peduncle, 6-18 cm long, open in the distal 1-3.5 cm, with scattered scales; rachilla 14-24 cm long, 2-3 mm diam., densely puberulous; triads in slight pits. STAMINATE FLOWERS with sepals 1-1.6 x 0.9-1.7 mm; petals 2.6-2.8 x 1.3-1.5 mm; stamens 6, not seen, described by Baillon and Beccari as: filaments slender, biseriate according to Baillon but ± equal according to Beccari, anthers dorsifixed, versatile, oblong, obtuse, the locules parallel or slightly divergent at the base. PISTILLATE BUDS with sepals 1.2-1.4 x 1.3-1.9 mm; petals c. 3 x < 1 mm; staminodes at least four, 0.2-0.5 mm; gynoecium 2-2.5 x 1-1.7 mm. FRUIT unknown. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Materials Examined

  • NW Madagascar, without further locality, 1841 (fl.), Pervillé s.n. (P, type). Toamasina: Betampona, Dec. 1925 (bud), Perrier 17470 (P). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Bibliography

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