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| Tahina spectabilis J.Dransf. & Rakotoarinivo Figure 3. A, The ‘tsingy’ at Antsingilava, Analalava, with crowns of Tahina spectabilis. B, Individual of T. spectabilis just after anthesis. C, Abaxial surface of lamina base showing folds. D, Detail of transverse veinlets. E, Inflorescence. F, Infructescence. |
ABSTRACT
Tahina J.Dransf. & Rakotoarinivo, gen. nov. (Arecaceae) is described as a new genus from north-western Madagascar, with a single species T. spectabilis J.Dransf. & Rakotoarinivo, sp. nov. Tahina is included within tribe Chuniophoeniceae of subfamily Coryphoideae, based on the strictly tubular imbricate rachilla bracts, the flowers grouped in cincinni with tubular bracteoles, and the stalk-like base to the corolla. This position is corroborated by evidence from plastid DNA. Lamina anatomy is discussed in detail, and similarities with and differences from the other members of Chuniophoeniceae are discussed. Based on the ecological characteristics of the single locality, predictions are made on where else it may occur in Madagascar.
Keywords: Arecaceae; matK; palm; palmate; rbcL; rps16 intron; trnL-trnF
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| Tahina spectabilis J.Dransf. & Rakotoarinivo Figure 3. A, The ‘tsingy’ at Antsingilava, Analalava, with crowns of Tahina spectabilis. B, Individual of T. spectabilis just after anthesis. C, Abaxial surface of lamina base showing folds. D, Detail of transverse veinlets. E, Inflorescence. F, Infructescence. |
TAHINA SPECTABILIS J.DRANSF. & RAKOTOARINIVO, GEN. et SP. NOV.
Etymology: Tahina– Malagasy for ‘blessed’ or ‘to beprotected’; also one of the given names of Anne-Tahina Metz, the daughter of the discoverer of the palm
Distribution: Tahina spectabilisis known only fromone locality in Analalava district, in the north-west of Madagascar. In the gently rolling hills and flatlands of the region, now dominated by anthropogenic grasslands, there is a small outcrop of ‘tsingy’, karst Tertiary limestone, running approximately north–south and about 250 m long, carrying a semi-natural vegetation (Fig. 3A). The outcrop is visible in satellite imagery at Google Earth and the grey crowns of the palm are even visible, although blurred.
J. Dransfield, M. Rakotoarinivo, W. J. Baker, R. P. Bayton, J. B. Fisher, J. W. Horn, B. Leroy and X. Metz. 2008. A New Coryphoid Palm Genus from Madagascar. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 156:79-91. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2007.00742.x
The 9 rarest plants in the world
