Dypsis occidentalis (Jum.) Beentje & J.Dransf., Palms Madagascar : 301 (1995)

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Content

Introduction

  • A clustering undergrowth palm with pinnate leaves and a long, unbranched inflorescence. Occidentalis is Latin for 'western', a name which probably comes from the type locality in the protologue - which we believe is faulty. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Madagascar present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Tsaratanana, Anjanaharibe and Marojejy massifs. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Discussion

  • The protologue of N. occidentalis declares that the type specimen comes from the W slopes of Tsaratanana; we read Perriers handwriting on the label of the type as N, as it does not remotely resemble an O (for Ouest). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Montane or submontane forest; 450-1400 m. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • Uncertain. These mountains are not well known botanically. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Common Name

  • None recorded. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Uses

  • None recorded. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Description

  • Clustering palm in tufts of 6-8. STEMS 0.5-2 m high and 7-8 mm diam. LEAVES 5-8 in the crown, pinnate; sheath 8-14 cm long, with scattered scales to densely pubescent, and 5 mm long triangular auricles; petiole absent or to 5 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, with scattered scales; rachis 29-40 cm long, in mid-leaf to 3 mm wide, with scattered scales; leaflets 4-13 on each side of the rachis, ± regular (with few leaflets) to grouped (when more leaflets are present), sigmoid, the proximal 9-27 x 0.2-1 cm, median 15-30 x 1-5 cm, distal 13-21 x 1.9-3.5 cm, the distal pair joined for 2-5 cm, main veins 1, rarely a 2-4-fold leaflet with 3-4 veins, with scattered scales on the minor veins, apices acuminate, the terminal pair dentate over a width of 1-2 cm. INFLORESCENCE unbranched, erect; peduncle 22-40 cm long, 1-3.5 mm diam., ?glabrous or minutely puberulous; prophyll 12-23 cm long, 3-9 mm wide, open for 1-7 cm, with scattered scales; peduncular bract inserted at 10-15 cm from the base of the peduncle, 9-31 cm long, open in the distal part and tattering, with a beak of up to 6 mm; rachilla 15-31 cm long, 1-2.5 mm diam., glabrous or minutely puberulous, the triads distant. STAMINATE FLOWERS (in bud) with sepals 0.7-0.9 x 0.6-1 mm; petals 1.1-1.4 x 0.6 mm; stamens 6, ?1-seriate, the filaments 0.4-0.7 mm and thin, anthers 0.5-0.7 x 0.2-0.3 mm; pistillode not seen. PISTILLATE FLOWERS with sepals 0.6-1.3 x 0.6-1 mm; petals 1.3-1.8 x 0.8-1 mm; staminodes 0.3-0.4 mm high; gynoecium 0.8-1 x 0.3-0.6 mm. FRUIT reddish-orange, ellipsoid, 9-10 x 4-5 mm. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Materials Examined

  • Ambilobe/Iharana: between Iharana (Vohemar) and Ambilobe, July 1939 (fr.), Decary 14709 (P). ?Ambanja, Tsaratanana Mt. area, N side, Nov. 1912 (bud), Perrier 12040 (Holotype P). Andapa: NE Marojejy, E of Ambalamanasy II, Nov./Dec. 1948 (bud), Humbert & Capuron 22173 (P); Ambatoharanana Valley to upper Antsahaberoka R., Nov./Dec. 1959 (fl.), Humbert & Saboureau 31703b (P); Anjanaharibe W of Beamalona, June 1992 (bud), Beentje & Andriampaniry 4684 (K). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae