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

5. Chlorophytum basivaginatum Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324061-1 Figs 6K, 14–15 Diagnosis A Madagascariae omnibus aliis speciebus vagina foliorum brevi stramineaque ad basim caulis disposita, duobus foliis brevis complanatisque, apice antherae apiculato baseque paulo auriculata differt. Etymology The specific epithet refers to the basal sheath of the vegetative parts. Type material MADAGASCAR – Amoron’i Mania [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • Fianarantsoa, Amoron’i Mania, Ambatofinandrahana, Itremo, au Nord-ouest de Soatsihotapaka; 20°30′16″ S, 46°34′23″ E; 1652 m; 23 Nov. 2004; fl; T. Andriamihajarivo, B. Rakotonirina & J.N. Rakotonirina 417; holotype: MO [MO-3020298]!; isotypes: P n.v., TAN!, TEF n.v. iNaturalist observation MADAGASCAR – Amoron’i mania [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • (Itremo); 20°33′56.0″ S, 46°34′32.3″ E; 15 Feb. 2018; fr; Ramaro (sederaramarom); iNaturalist 9931965. Description Plant herbaceous, slender, vegetatively with a grass-like appearance; roots few, clustered – less than 10 – thickened and fusiform, 40–100 × 1.5–3 mm in diam.; leaves ≤ 3, the outer consisting of a short, cuspidate, straw-yellow sheath, 7–9 × 0.5 cm, and the two others with sheathing bases 10–13 cm long, the blade rigid, narrow, grass-like, folded, distinctly diverging from the axis opposite the sheath, blades almost parallel glabrous, with a smooth margin, a tapered tip, and 15 prominent veins, 28–36 × 0.4–0.5 cm; inflorescence solitary, large, simple, spicate, 50 cm in length, surpassing the leaves, peduncle smooth, lacking bracts, reddish-tinged (observed in situ), with a short rachis, 6–7 cm long; flowers few, large, isolated, the floral bract 16 × 1.5 mm, triangular, with a tapered apex, much longer than the pedicel; pedicel 3–4.5 mm long, articulated at 1–2 mm from the base; perianth 14 mm long, tepals white, of uniform length with numerous veins, the 3 central veins forming a bundle that anastomoses at the apex; outer tepals 5 mm wide, with 7 veins, inner 4 mm wide with only 5 veins; stamens equal in length, shorter than the tepals, arranged in two groups of 3 on each side of the ovary, filaments flattened, 5 mm long, anthers ca 6 × 1 mm, the apex apiculate, sub-basifixed, attached ca 0.5 mm from the base, heel in the form of a rounded thickening or a short ridge; gynoecium: ovary 3 × 2.5 mm, with 10–12 ovules per locule; style 10 mm long, not surpassing the perianth, curved in its upper part; stigma flattened; capsule young erect (mature not seen), more-or-less pyriform, 10 × 8 mm, with slightly thickened sutures, surface not ornamented (based on iNaturalist 9931965). Phenology The only known collection was in bloom at the end of November, young fruits were observed in February (iNaturalist 9931965). Distribution and ecology The species is known only from the high plateau of the Itremo Massif, growing among metamorphic rocks such as quartzite or cipolin, at an altitude of 1600 metres. It occurs in open habitats, such as sparselywooded meadows, often in stony ground, where it has been noted as frequent. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum basivaginatum sp. nov. is only known from a single collection and an iNaturalist observation, both of which were made from locations in the Itremo Massif Protected Harmonious Landscape only ca 6 km apart from each other. While the species is undoubtedly highly localised, further information about its occurrence within the protected area will be needed to estimate the threats to species and to provide an adequate conservation assessment, and it is therefore assessed as DD (Data Deficient).