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

8. Chlorophytum darainense Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324058-1 Figs 2I, 4J, 18–19 Diagnosis Chlorophyto ranirisonii Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal affinis, sed foliis juvenibus integris (vs scabra), laminis 24–26-nervis (vs 16–21), inflorescentiis simplicibus (vs 1–2 ramosas), pedunculo inflorescentiae scabro, eglanduloso (vs scabrum glandulosumque), pedicello glabro (vs scabrum), tepalis albo-viridis (vs alba), filamento complanato paulo papilloso (vs inflatum papillosissimumque), antheris 1.5 × 0.4 mm (vs 1 × 0.2 mm), praecipue differt. Etymology The specific epithet of this new species refers to the rural town of Daraina in northern Madagascar. Type material MADAGASCAR – SAVA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • Diego-Suarez / Antsiranana, Daraina, forêt de Binara; 13°15′43.2″ S, 49°36′38.4″ E; 630 m; 2 Dec. 2006; fl, fr; L. Gautier & C. Chatelain 5005; forêt dense semi-décidue +/- sclérophylle; holotype: G [G00096120]!. Description Plant herbaceous, 30 cm tall, underground parts unknown; leaves 4–5, (detached from the specimen, but arranged in situ in the drawing), 12–21 × 2.4–3.5 cm, lanceolate, base tapered with a very short pseudo-petiole, 2 cm long, corresponding to the sheathing base of the leaves, blade with a wavy hyaline margin, apex acuminate, acumen 1–1.5 cm long, veins 24–26, conspicuous, well-spaced; inflorescence solitary, erect, 20–27 cm long and unbranched, peduncle 10–14 cm long – the upper part of the peduncle and the rachis covered with short hyaline excrescences with a conical base; bracts narrow, triangular, 6.5 × 1.0 mm; rachis 7.5–12.5 cm long, floral bract, triangular, longer than the pedicel, the base clasping, 6 × 2 mm, transparent, 3 conspicuous veins, tip acuminate, pedicel 3.5 mm, articulation submedial; flowers 2–4(–6), erect; perianth pale green, 5.5 mm long; tepals unequal, recurved at anthesis, outer elliptic, 5 × 1.2 mm, inner oblanceolate, 5 × 0.8 mm, with 3 central veins that anastomose (fuse) before reaching the tip; stamens equal in length, the filaments 3.5 mm long, white, flattened in their upper half, slightly papillose, the papillae limited to their upper half, anthers 1.5 × 0.4 mm, yellow, dorsifixed, filament inserted at the lower 1/4; gynoecium: ovary 1.1 × 0.8 mm, the ovules 4–5 per locule, white when fresh; style 4.5 mm long, filiform, barely extending beyond the perianth; immature capsule 5 × 6 mm wide, pendulous. Phenology The collection, made in early December, includes flowers and two young fruits, suggesting that flowering likely occurs as early as November, and fruiting starts in December. Distribution and ecology This species has only been found in the north-eastern Madagascar, near the town of Daraina, in Binara forest, which forms part of the Loky-Manambato protected area, at an altitude of 630 m on a secondary ridge covered with dense, semi-deciduous, and somewhat sclerophyllous forest, near the edge of the secondary grassland. The substrate consists of compact or fragmented granites, resulting in poorly developed soils. We note here that the forests near Daraina are exceptionally rich in Chlorophytum, many of which are strictly endemic to the area, as far as is currently known. These include five new species described in this treatment, which are only known from Daraina, as well a new subspecies of C. sofiense – a poorly-known species, known otherwise from a single collection made over 100 years ago from a site further to the south. Daraina also harbours the typical form of the widespread C. chloranthum (see Fig. 19). This species richness can perhaps be explained by the intensity of the botanical inventories carried out over the last 5 years as part of the programmes conducted at Loky-Manambato, that have generated more than 54 000 records of plant occurrences in the 10 main forest areas of the region (Nusbaumer, pers. com.). Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum darainense sp. nov. is endemic to NE Madagascar, where it is known from a single collection made within the Loky Manambato Harmonious Landscape in 2005 in the forest at Daraina that represents just one known occurence at one known location where the species is presumed to be a strict endemic. While little exploration of the forests of Loky Manambato had been undertaken prior to the expeditions carried-out recently by staff of CJBG (see Gautier et al. 2006 and Nusbaumer et al. 2010), data from the site has shown the different forest patches to be rich in highly local plant species endemism. Within Loky Manambato, extensive habitat degradation of many of the forest patches has been observed and this is undoubtedly the major threat to this species. Chlorophytum darainense is assessed as CR B2ab(i,ii,iii,v). Remark Only one collection of this species has been seen, and these were limited to just leaves and inflorescences in order to leave the living plants alive in situ.