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| Dombeya scorpioides Jourdain Fievet & Applequist, in Jourdain Fievet, Le Prchon, Dubuisson et Applequist, 2025. Illustration by Ludivine Lougou. |
Abstract
Dombeya scorpioides, a new endemic species of Dombeya (Malvaceae) from southeastern Madagascar, is described. Morphological analysis places this species within Dombeya section Xeropetalum as defined by Arènes. The species is distinguished by its unique biparous cyme, unusually elongated with mostly scorpioid terminal units. It is further differentiated from other species with similar narrow leaves by its hispid ovary with well-developed stellate hairs. Due to its restricted geographic distribution and past and future threats to its habitat, this species should be classified as Endangered according to IUCN Red List Criteria.
conservation status, endemism, scorpioid cyme, Eudicots
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| Morphological features of Dombeya scorpioides. A. Habit. B, C. Flower. D. Flower bud. e. Gynoecium. F. Part of theandroecium. g. Petal. H. Sepal, adaxial face. I. Sepal, abaxial face, with zoom on the hairs on the left. Drawn from Rabevohitra et al.4121bis (P). Illustration by Ludivine Lougou, January 2025. |
Dombeya scorpioides Jourdain Fievet & Applequist, sp. nov.
Diagnosis:—Dombeya scorpioides Jourdain Fievet & Applequist differs from D. oblongipetala Arènes (1958: 438) in its longerinflorescences with often scorpioid branches, broader petals, a stellate-hispid ovary, and a longer style.
Lucile JOURDAIN FIEVET, Timothee LE PECHON, Jean-Yves DUBUISSON and Wendy APPLEQUIST. 2025. Dombeya scorpioides (Malvaceae: Dombeyoideae), A New Species from southeastern Madagascar. Phytotaxa. 704(3); 232-238. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.704.3.2 [2025-06-10]