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

6. Chlorophytum candelabrum Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324059-1 Figs 5H, 16, 19 Diagnosis Chlorophyto aspidistrifolio Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal affinis, sed foliis majoribus (32–50 × 4–5.9 vs 27–31.5 × 1.4–2 cm), pseudopetiolis longioribus (18–23 vs 14–16 cm), nervis laminae numerosioribus (25–36 vs 19–25), pseudopetiolo nervisque utrinque pubescentibus (vs glabros), inflorescentiis majoribus (36.5 cm vs 24 cm), candelabriformibus (vs eramosam), rhachidibus inflorescentiae flexuosis (vs rectam), capsula latiore quam alta (vs altiorem quam latam), laevi (vs ornatam), pariete tenui (vs crassum), praecipue differt. Etymology The specific epithet of this new species refers to the shape of its inflorescence, which is likened to a candelabra. Type material MADAGASCAR – SAVA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • Daraina, forêt de Bekaroaka, partie nord; 13°06′42.6″ S, 49°42′18.0″ E; 200 m; 12 Jan. 2005; fr; P. Ranirison & L. Nusbaumer 875; holotype: G [G00019617]!; isotypes: K!, MO!, P [P04186575]!, research herbarium of Daraina, TEF n.v. Description Plant herbaceous, 30–50 cm tall; roots clustered, fibrous, each bearing a slender fusiform tuber, 10–13 × 2–3 mm, often extending into the system of fine, often branched, fibrous roots; base of the plant bearing the remains of old leaves; leaves 2(–3), lanceolate, and tapering at both ends, with an acuminate apex, 32–50 × 4.5–9.0 cm, the leaf-base transitions into an elongated pseudo-petiole, 18–23 × 0.6 cm, ca half the length of the blade, the leaves somewhat variable, with the upper typically lanceolate, and the lower sub-elliptical; the margins rough with numerous small, tightly-packed, short, irregular teeth, the pseudo-petiole and leaf veins with translucent hairs, 0.5–1.0 mm long, which are more abundant on the lower leaf surface and towards the base; central pseudo-vein yellow when dry, veins 25–36, well-spaced, conspicuous, leaf-base surrounded by one or two sheaths, 3.0– 4.5 cm and 6.0– 9.5 cm, respectively, pedicels (1–)2–4 per node; flowers known only from observations of floral remains on a fruit; tepals 4.5 × 0.8 mm, veins 3, well-spaced, brown; stamens shorter than the perianth, the filaments flattened, ca 3 mm long, widened in the upper 1/3 and slightly papillose on the upper 2/3, anthers 1.0 × 0.2 mm, dorsifixed (point of attachment towards the lower 1/3); gynoecium: ovary and style not observed; infructescence 1 per plant, upright, 22.0– 36.5 cm in height, peduncle smooth, 16–20 cm long, bract translucent, situated at basal branch, 9 × 2 mm, with a triangular base and a very acute, long-tapered apex, veins 8, dark, with a scabrous margin near the tip, rachis (6–) 13–15 cm long in fruit, branches of the ramifications curved, in candelabra shape; capsules 3–5 per node, wider than tall 2.5 × 3.5–4.0 mm, fruiting bract translucent with a triangular base, 3.5 × 1.0 mm, 3-veined, shorter than the pedicel; pedicel slender; 8–9 mm long in fruit, articulated below the middle at ca 3 mm from the base; walls thin, lacking ornamentation except for the veins; seeds 1(–2) per locule, shiny, black, finely granulate, suborbicular, 2.0 × 1.8 mm, with one side slightly convex and the other side with a tiny hollow behind the radicle, the radicle visible and protruding when the locule contains two compressed seeds. Phenology The only known collection was in fruit in December, which suggests that it flowered just before that month. Distribution and ecology The only known population of this species was found in the vicinity of Loky-Manambato in northeast Madagascar, within Bekaroaka forest, at an altitude of 200 metres. It grows in the understory of a dense dry forest, alongside tall emergent trees. It is present at the bottom of the slope on a poorly developed soil consisting of fine rubble derived from the underlying granite. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum candelabrum sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar, where it is known from a single collection made in 2005 in Bekaroaka forest, within the Loky Manambato Harmonious Landscape in NE Madagascar, representing a single known occurence. 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 are often rich in highly localised endemism. Within Loky Manambato, extensive habitat degradation of many of the forest patches has been observed during recent expeditions, and this is undoubtedly the major threat to this species. Based on this information, we assess the species as CR B1B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v). For a map showing the only known locality of C. candelabrum sp. nov. see Fig. 19. Morphological remarks 1) One of the specimens whose leaves have been grazed by herbivores, has only the scabrous edge of the blade remaining, and the abundant hairiness of the blades and the pseudo-petioles is not apparent. 2) In two specimens, the axis forms a zig-zag pattern.