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

1. Chlorophytum albociliatum Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324185-1 Figs 6L, 9–10 Diagnosis A C. madagascariense affinis est, sed inflorescentia simplici (vs ramosam), laminae foliorum bractearumque margine pilis albis erectisque (vs scabram), foliorum margine revoluta (vs planam), tepalis quinque-nervosis (vs tri-nervosa). Etymology The specific epithet refers to the thick, white and rough hairs present on the margin of the leaves and bracts. Type material MADAGASCAR – Amoron’i Mania [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • Betsileo, West of Ambatofinandrahana; [20°33′ S, 46°48′ E]; 16 Jan. 1955; fl bud, fr; H. Humbert 28077; holotype: P [P06169851]!; isotype: P [P06169856]!. Description Plant herbaceous, 20–30 cm tall; rhizome short, roots numerous, clustered, thickened, 1.2–1.5 mm in diam., some becoming tuberous, 2.5–3 mm thick; the remnants of old leaves in the form of fibres at the base; leaves filiform, 7–10, erect, thick, curled, 11–26 × 0.3–0.4 cm, outer leaves shorter than the inner ones on the shoot, the margins bordered by fine white hairs 0.1–0.4 (–1.2) mm long, perpendicular to the margin, veins 16–20, thick, closely spaced, raised on the lower surface, not visible on the upper surface; inflorescence barely longer than the leaves, 20–33 cm tall, unbranched, sparsely flowered, with a naked peduncle, 15–28 cm long; rachis short, 2.5–3.5 cm, with a single flower per node; floral bracts at the base, triangular, long-acuminate, 13 × 2.5 mm, much longer than the pedicel, veins 5, margin carrying hairs similar to those on the leaf margin; bracts transitioning gradually towards the apex to deltoid-based bracts, with a short pedicel, 2–2.5 mm long, articulated at 0.5 mm from the base; immature flowers with elliptical tepals, 8 × 4 mm, slightly laciniate at the upper margin, veins 5, the 3 central ones fused at the top; stamens shorter than the perianth; filaments 2.5 mm long; anthers 5 mm long, with a short triangular heel; gynoecium: ovary 1.3 mm long, ovules 12 per locule, style 5.5 mm long, stigma with a slightly spatulate tip; floral parts (observed on a young fruit): tepals ca 14 mm long; stamens shorter than the perianth, filaments flattened, 5.5–6 mm long, anthers 7 × 1 mm long, conical, with a short triangular margin that does not reach the base of the anther, and a filiform style 9 mm long; capsule higher than wide, 7 × 6 mm, with thickened sutures; young seed brown, ovate, 2.5 × 2 mm, with a granulate surface, not notched, and with a prominent radicle. Phenology The only known specimens, collected in January, bear immature inflorescences and young fruits, suggesting that the plant flowers as early as December and bears fruit in January and likely also in February. Distribution and ecology Chlorophytum albociliatum sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar, and known only from the Amoron’i Mania Region near the town of Ambatofinandrahana in central Madagascar (approximate post facto georeference, 20°33′ S, 46°48′ E). The precise location for this single known occurrence of the species is not known, but it was described as occurring on western slopes in woodland on gneiss, at an altitude of 1400–1500 m. However, the eastern edge of the Itremo Massif protected area (status: Harmonious Protected Landscape, designated in April 2015) lies only 23 km to the west of Ambatofinandrahana and it is likely that the species was collected in this area. Nevertheless, a moderate level of botanical exploration has been undertaken in this vicinity, and the species is not known to have been collected again – it is clearly rare, or possibly even extinct. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum albociliatum sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar. It is known from a single collection made in January 1955 and is therefore known from a single occurrence at a single location. The area in which it was recorded is not well-explored, and a targeted search for the species is recommended to determine whether the species is extant, and if so, to obtain data to re-evaluate its conservation status and update this assessment. The species is therefore assessed as Data Deficient (DD). Remark A young fruit surrounded by the remains of a flower enabled us to obtain measurements of the tepals, anthers and style.