Monday, January 23, 2023

[Botany • 2022] Kalanchoe apiifolia (Crassulaceae) • A particular New Species from northern Madagascar [Novelties from the Northern Mountains Complex of Madagascar VI]


Kalanchoe apiifolia D.-P. Klein, Shtein & Callm., 

in Klein, Shtein, Janssen & Callmander, 2022. 

A new species of medium-sized and upright-flowered Kalanchoe Adans. (Crassulaceae) from medium altitude moist evergreen forests in northern Madagascar is described and illustrated: Kalanchoe apiifolia D.-P. Klein, Shtein & Callm. By its herbaceous habit, forming erect flowers with a short and indistinct calyx tube, ligulate nectary scales, and not possessing bulbils of any kind, it represents a member of Kalanchoe subg. Kalanchoe. Morphologically, K. apiifolia is most similar to K. briquetii Raym.-Hamet but differs from it by being glabrous throughout, by having bi- to tripinnate leaves that are particularly long petiolate, and by the seed-bearing part of the carpels being about as long as the stylar part. The new species is preliminary assessed as “Endangered” [EN] using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Keywords: CRASSULACEAE – Kalanchoe – Madagascar – Ambohimiravavy – New species

Kalanchoe apiifolia D.-P. Klein, Shtein & Callm.
Close-up of flowers [Rakotovao et al. 2321]
[Photo: C. Rakotovao]

Kalanchoe apiifolia D.-P. Klein, Shtein & Callm.
A. Flower; B. Dissection of corolla, showing androecium; C. Gynoecium; D. Habit; E. Seed; F. Leaflet of lowermost leaves; G. Detail of an inflorescence.
[Rakotovao et al. 2321, G] [Drawings: R.L. Andriamiarisoa]

Kalanchoe apiifolia D.-P. Klein, Shtein & Callm., sp. nov.

Kalanchoe apiifolia D.-P. Klein, Shtein & Callm. differs from K. briquetii Raym.-Hamet by being glabrous throughout, by having more strongly dissected leaves that are bi- to tripinnate, particularly long petiolate and have ovate to obovate leaflets, filaments that are not papillose, and the seed-bearing part of the carpels being about as long as the stylar part. It differs from all other known members of Kalanchoe subg. Kalanchoe by a combination of characters including the above and additionally: compound thyrsoid inflorescences, bearing up to 180 erect, whitish green flowers, tinged with bright purplish red spots, indistinct calyx tube, widely spreading sepals, and mucronate petals.

Etymology. – The species epithet refers to the leaves of this new species, which strongly resemble the foliage of some members of Apiaceae, such as Apium graveolens L.


David-Paul Klein, Ronen Shtein, Thomas Janssen and Martin W. Callmander. 2022. Novelties from the Northern Mountains Complex of Madagascar VI: Kalanchoe apiifolia (Crassulaceae), A particular New Species. Candollea77(2); 193-198. DOI: 10.15553/c2022v772a6