Chlorophytum dianellifolium H. Perrier

11. Chlorophytum dianellifolium (Baker) H.Perrier Figs 3N–O, 6G, 7D, 22 Chlorophytum dianellifolium (Baker) H.Perrier (as dianellaefolium) (Perrier de la Bâthie 1935: 54–55) – Anthericum dianellifolium Baker (Baker 1887: 149). Chlorophytum dianellifolium var. transiens H.Perrier syn. nov. (Perrier de la Bâthie 1935: 55–56). – Type: MADAGASCAR – Haute Matsiatra [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • Environs d’Ambalavao; [21°49′ S, 46°55′ E]; Mar. 1912; fl; lectotype: H. Perrier de la Bâthie 10942; rocailles dénudées (gneiss); P [P01046110]!, here designated. – Paralectotypes: MADAGASCAR • Central Madagascar; fl; R. Baron 4121, K [K000432396] image!. – Vakinankaratra [Antananarivo Prov.] • Ambatomena Lona; [19°51′ S, 47°15′ E]; 1876; fl; A. Grandidier s.n.; P [P01046111]!. – Amoron’i mania [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • Sur des cipolins, aux environs d’Ambatofinandrano; [20°33′ S, 46°48′ E]; ca 1000 m; fl, fr; H. Perrier de la Bâthie 12443; P [P01046109]!. Etymology The specific epithet refers to the shape of the leaves of this species that resemble those of species of the genus Dianella Lam. ex Juss., a member of the Asphodelaceae Juss., that occurs in Madagascar, East Africa, Australasia and Southeast Asia. Type material Type MADAGASCAR • Central Madagascar; s.d.; fl; R. Baron 659; lectotype: K [K000432395] image!, here designated; isolectotype: P [P01046116]!. Paralectotype MADAGASCAR • Central Madagascar; s.d.; fl; R. Baron 4121; K [K000432396] image!. Other material examined MADAGASCAR – Amoron’i mania [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • Itremo, Col de l’Itremo, bare hillside covered with pebbles and larger rocks; [20°34′ S, 46°37′ E]; 1500–1685 m; 5 Nov. 2011; fl, fr; T. Croat 29863; MO [MO-3020270] image!, TAN! • Environs d’Ambatofinandrahana (Betsileo); [20°33′ S, 46°48′ E]; 16 Jan. 1955; fl, fr; H. Humbert & R. Capuron 28079 ter p.p.; P [P06169848, P06169857]! • A l’ouest d’Itremo (ouest Betsileo); [20°36′ S, 46°38′ E]; 17 Jan. 1955 – 22 Apr. 1955; fl; H. Humbert 28180; P [P06169897]! • Ambatofinandrahana; [20°33′ S, 46°48′ E]; Mar. 1960; fr; M. Keraudren 197; P [P06169871]! • same data as for preceding; fl; M. Keraudren 217; P [P06169894]! • Fianarantsoa, Ambatofinandrahana. Itremo. Ankevo. Savannah on rockery; [20°39′36″ S, 46°34′46″ E]; 12 Mar. 2012; fr; F. Rakotonasolo, M. Vorotsova & G. Ratovonirina RNF 1906; K n.v., P [P01018907]!, TAN n.v. – Androy [Toliara Prov.] • Environs d’Isoanala; [23°50′ S, 45°43′ E]; Jun. 1963; fl; J. Bosser 17384; K!, P [P06169914]!, WAG!. – Betsiboka [Mahajanga Prov.] • N-O Ankazobe, vallée de l’Ikopa; [16°58′ S, 46°43′ E]; 15 Mar. 1930; fl; R. Decary 7571; P [P02071678]!, TAN! (2 parts). – Haute Matsiatra [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • Andriainjato, Andranovorivato, Km 10 N d’Ambalavao; [21°41′14″ S, 46°53′54″ E]; 1298 m; 14 Mar. 2010; fl, fr; C. Frasier, A. Ramahefaharivelo, B. Ramandimbisoa, H. Razafindraibe & S. Porembski 110; G!, MO [MO-3020316] image!, P [P06836541]!, TAN n.v. • Sandrisoa. Ambalavao; [22°01′ S, 46°57′ E]; 25 Feb. 1961; fl; J. Peltier & M. Peltier 3098; K!, P [P06169860]! • Ambalavao, Sandrisoa; [22°01′ S, 46°57′ E]; ca 1100 m; 12 Feb. 1953; fl; J. Rakodo RN 5547 (Rakodo); P [P06169829]! • Haute Matsiatra, Iarintsena, Tananomby, inselberg Ambalalova; [21°50′ S, 46°50′ E]; 1127 m; 15 Mar. 2010; fl; N. Rakotoarivelo, M. Rabarimanarivo, F.A. Rajaonary, N. Ravalimanarivo, J. Andriantiana & A. Raonizafitionimalaza 234; MO [MO-3020315] image!, P [P06836540]!, TAN n.v. • Ambalavao, Vohitsoaka; [22°03′ S, 46°43′ E]; ca 1100 m; 21 Feb. 1962; fl; Rakotoson RN 11997; P [P06169896]! • Ambalavao, Sandrisoa; [21°54′ S, 46°57′ E]; ca 1100 m; 6 Feb. 1955; fl; RN 7309 (Rakotovao); P [P06169892, P06169828]! • Ambalavao, Iarintsena, Anja, Mahavelo, Inselberg Tangorika; [21°52′ S, 46°49′ E]; 1056 m; 17 Mar. 2010; fl, fr; A. Ramahefaharivelo, M. Rabarimanarivo, F.A. Rajaonary, N. Rakotoarivelo, B. Ramandimbisoa, H. Razafindraibe, N. Ravalimanarivo, L. Ratsimabazafy 53; Tapis de monocotylédones et prairie marécageuse; MO [MO-3020314] image!, P [P06836725]!, TAN n.v. • Haute Matsiatra, Langela, Andromivato, Soaindrana, PK 420; [21°31′53″ S, 47°01′32″ E]; 1216 m; 14 Mar. 2010; fl, fr; B. Ramandimbisoa, A. Ramahefaharivelo, C.L. Frasier, F.A. Rajaonary, M. Rabarimanarivo, H. Razafindraibe, J. Andriatiana, N. Rakotoarivelo, J. Rakotomalala, J.C. Riandrianantenaina 13; MO [MO-3020317] image!, P [P06234101]!, TAN n.v., TEF n.v. • Ambalavao, Iarintsena, Anja; [21°50′35S, 46°50′10″ E]; 1105 m; 16 Mar. 2010; fl; H. Razafindraibe, C.L. Frasier, S. Porembski, A. Ramahefaharivelo, B. Ramandimbisoa 257; MO [MO-3020318] image!, P [P06836542]!, TAN! • Ambalavao, Vohitsoaka; [22°03′ S, 46°43′ E]; ca 1100 m; 19 Mar. 1949; fl; RN 1832 (A. Razafindrakoto); P [P06169853, P06169854]! • Ambalavao, Ivohitsoaka; [22°02′ S, 46°43′ E]; ca 1100 m; 22 Mar. 1960; fl, fr; s.coll. RN 11193; P [P06169843]!. – Ihorombe [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • Entre Ambohimana-Androtra et Tsiazomborona (Prov. d’Ivohibe); [22°31′30″ S, 46°59′00″ E]; 9 Apr. 1970; fl; P. Boiteau 2063; P [P02071677]!. iNaturalist observation MADAGASCAR – Amoron’i mania [Fianarantsoa Prov.] • 20°37′14.6″ S, 46°50′16.2″ E; 5 Dec. 2021; fl; Landy Rita Rajaovelona (landyrita1); iNaturalist 103085397. Description Plant herbaceous, 20–60 cm tall; rhizomatous; roots fasciculate, 2–2.5(–3.5) mm in diam., bearing a few oblong tubers of 20–30 × 6 mm; leaves 5–10, linear, varying in length from (8–) 17 to 60 cm, sheathing at the base, narrow, 0.3–0.7 cm wide, sheath variable in length, often yellowish, the zone of transition from the sheath to the blade not constricted, but with 2 lateral undulations along the margin, the blade margin scabrous, veins 12–23, visible, apex tapered; inflorescence 22–65 cm long, unbranched or with a single short branch at the base of the rachis, peduncle 19–61 cm long, with a single bract, 1.8–10.5 × 0.2–0.4 cm, located very high up, margin and surface of the bract mostly smooth, rarely scabrous, rachis 4–12(–17) cm in length; flowers solitary or in groups of 2–3 at each node, floral bracts slightly scabrous or smooth, 10–20 × 4 mm, longer than the pedicel, pedicel 5–7 mm long, with a submedial articulation; perianth 12–18 mm long, white; outer tepals oblong and obtuse, 3.5 mm wide with (5–)6–7 veins, with a brown spot in vivo; inner, 5 mm wide, 5-veined; stamens with the filaments 3.5–6.5 mm long, flattened at the base for half of their height and then sharply narrowed, anthers 5–7 × 1.5 mm, sub-basifixed, the connective usually with a short triangular heel (lacking in Baron 639 [659]); gynoecium: ovary 2 × 1.2 mm, ovules ca 12–16 per locule, style slender, 10–16 mm long, stigma thickened; capsule, taller than wide, 10–13 × 8–9 mm, with parallel thickened veins; seeds disciform, 3 mm in diam., shiny, very finely granulate; with a broad notch, the radicle thick and barely protruding. Phenology Flowering has mostly been recorded from January to March, and fruiting typically begins in February, but with some individuals fruiting in January, suggesting earlier flowering may occur, likely in December. Distribution and ecology This species is found on the high central plateau area of Madagascar at altitudes above 1000 m, mainly in the vicinity of Ambatofinandrahana and Ambalavao, but with one collection further to the north in the Ikopa valley, and another one to the south near Isoanala. It occurs on granite or metamorphic substrates, on rocky outcrops or in rocky grasslands. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum dianellifolium is endemic to Madagascar, where it is known from a total of 24 collections representing 17 occurences, and a single iNaturalist observation. It has a disjunct distribution, with most records from the central highlands at elevations of at least 1000 m a.s.l., but with an outlying record from the Betsiboka Region to the NW (at ca 1000 m a.s.l.) and another from the Anosy Region in the S (at ca 700 m a.s.l.). The species has another nine known subpopulations in the central highlands of Madagascar, where it ranges from near Ambalavao in the S to Antsirabe to the N, all of which occur at elevations of over 1000 m a.s.l. However, none of the known subpopulations occur within a formal protected area (although one is adjacent to the Itremo Massif Protected Landscape, and the species is likely to occur within that site). The species has an EOO of over 45 000 km 2 but an AOO of just 72 km 2. It is therefore assessed as Near Threatened (NT), as it meets the necessary values for a threatened category for the EOO, but it meets only one sub-criterion of B2 (b,iii). Illustrations Perrier de la Bâthie 1937 [1938]: fig. IX 1–3. Nomenclatural and morphological remarks 1) The label on a specimen at P [P01046116] bears the number 639, and was cited in Perrier's revision. However, this number is not in Perrier de la Bâthie's handwriting, and it is evidently a transcription error for Baron 659. Furthermore, no specimen labelled “ Baron 639 ” has been found at K among the specimens of Chlorophytum, nor was it mentioned in the original protologue. 2) In his revision, H. Perrier de la Bâthie cited material of Baron 659 as the type of A. dianellifolium, but without formally designating a specimen. We here designate the specimen at K, with the barcode K000432395 as the lectotype of this species, since it is more complete than the duplicate specimen at Kew (barcode K000432396). Similarly, we have chosen P01046110 as the lectotype of C. dianellifolium var. transiens, which is more complete than other syntypes of this collection deposited at K and P. 3) Leaf variability: The margins are more or less scabrous, ranging from a very slight roughness, for example Grandidier s.n., Decary 7571, to clearly marked teeth, as for Boiteau 2063, Perrier de la Bâthie 10942, Ramahefaharivelo et al. 53, RN 11193. Some specimens are scabrous across the entire lower leaf surface, resulting in a more or less pronounced rough appearance (Perrier de la Bâthie 10942, Ramahefaharivelo 5