Chlorophytum aspidistrifolium Bard. - Vauc. & M. Pignal 2026, sp. nov.

4. Chlorophytum aspidistrifolium Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324056-1 Figs 2A, 5I, 13, 19 Diagnosis Chlorophyto ratovosonii Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal affinis, sed planta paucifoliata (2 foliis vs 7), pseudopetiolo gracili aequante vel longiore laminae (vs latiorem et 1/3 longitudine laminae), inflorescentia simplice (vs ramosam), pedunculo ebracteoso (vs 2- bracteatum), pedicello breviore articulatoque infra medium (vs longiorem supra medium articulatum), loculo fructi uniseminali (2–3 seminales), radicula seminis breviore paulo prominentique (vs latiorem clare prominentemque) praecipue differt. Etymology The specific epithet of this new species refers to the shape of its leaves, which resemble those of Aspidistra elatior Blume (Asparagaceae), the well-known houseplant. Type material MADAGASCAR – SAVA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • Vohemar, Daraina, forêt de Solaniampilana-Maroadabo; 13°05′37″ S, 49°34′31″ E; 133 m; 7 Feb. 2006; fr; L. Nusbaumer & F. Ranirison 2033; holotype: G [G00090381]!; isotype: TEF n.v. Description Plant herbaceous, 20 cm tall; the base of the plant is surrounded by fibres formed from the remains of old leaves; rootstock clustered, a mixture of fibrous and tuberous roots, the tubers forming on fibrous roots at a distance of ca 1 cm from the crown; tubers fusiform, very slender, 12–20 × 1–2 mm, often extending into a distal fibrous-root portion; leaves 2(–3), inclined, 27.0–31.5 × 1.4–2.0 cm, lanceolate, tapering at both ends, the base transitioning to a slender, 14–16 cm long pseudo-petiole, equaling or surpassing the blade in length, leaf-bases nested, protected by two short congruent sheaths measuring 2.5 and 5 cm, the underside appearing blue-green when fresh, the margins finely scabrous, displaying 15–25 conspicuous, well-spaced veins, with a central pseudo-vein and visible transverse veins (at least on dried material) on the underside; inflorescence inadequately known (N.B. complete flowers unknown, but some data for the floral remains were observed and measured and presented here), tepals 5 mm long, with 3 veins; stamens with filaments papillose in their upper part; infructescence 24 cm in height, simple, erect, with a smooth peduncle lacking bracts, rachis 7 cm long in fruit, fruits few, usually 1–2(–3) per node, axillary floral bract, triangular, tapering to a point, 4 × 1.5 mm, with 5 veins, shorter than the fruiting pedicel; fruiting pedicel ca 8 mm long, with an medial articulation, and marked by a swelling, ca 2 mm from the base, the lower part tinged reddish-orange, upper part green (in vivo); capsule blue-green, becoming brown-purple, almost as long as wide, 4–5 × 5 mm; seeds 1 per locule, semi-circular, 2 × 1.5 mm, with a pronounced notch; radicle short, wide barely protruding. Phenology The only known collection of the species was made in early February and bears young fruit, suggesting that flowering took place in December or January. Distribution and ecology The sole population known for the species is in the Solaniampilana forest at approximately 130 m above sea level, in northeastern Madagascar within the Paysage Harmonieux de Loky Manambato (category 5 protected area, see Lowry et al. 2018) in the region known as Daraina (see Fig. 19). It occurs in the understory of a dense, medium-sized sclerophyllous forest, dominated by a few emergent trees, on ferric and humus-rich soil, between numerous granite slabs. This plateau forest is interlaced with areas of more humid riparian forest. For a map showing the only known locality of C. aspidistrifolium sp. nov. see Fig. 19. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum aspidistrifolium sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar, where it is known from a single collection made in 2006 from Loky Manambato in NE Madagascar within the Daraina forest. While little exploration of the forests of Loky Manambato had been undertaken prior to the expeditions carried out recently by staff of CJBG (Gautier et al. 2006; Nusbaumer et al. 2010), data from the site has shown the different forest patches to be rich in highly localised endemism. However, with only a single known fully documented occurrence, in an area that is not well explored, this species is assessed as DD (Data Deficient). While the species is probably highly localised, further information about its occurrence is needed in order to provide a realistic assessment of any treat to the species at its only known location. It is therefore recommended that targeted fieldwork be undertaken to provide adequate data for an assessment. Morphological remark The papillose upper part of the filament confirms that this taxon belongs to Group 1.