Chlorophytum graniticum subsp. ambrense Bard. - Vauc. & M. Pignal 2026, subsp. nov.

14b. C. graniticum subsp. ambrense Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal subsp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324051-1 Fig. 24 Diagnosis A typo differt radicibus carnosis, aliquando incrassatis (vs tenues, fibrosas tuberculatasque), pseudopetiolis foliorum longioribus (1/3–1/2 longitudine laminae vs 1/4– 1/5), margine laminae laevi (vs apicem scabrum), laminis 17–18-nervatis (vs 25–31), inflorescentiis robustioribus, pedunculo unibracteato (vs 1–3- bracteatum). Etymology The subspecies is named for the type locality, the Amber Mountain or Montagne d’Ambre. Type material Type MADAGASCAR – DIANA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • Forêt d’Ambre; [12°31′ S, 49°11′ E]; 1000 m; 18 Jan. 1960; fl, fr; H. Humbert 32096; holotype: P [P02158253]!; isotypes: K n.v., MO [MO-3020333] image!, TAN!, WAG [WAG.1151827] image!. Paratype MADAGASCAR – DIANA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • PN montagne d’Ambre, SW Ambohitra; [12°33S, 49°08′ E]; 20 Oct. 1988; fl, fr; G. Schatz, J.S. Miller, A. Rakotozafy, F. Badré, J. Randrianasolo 2395; BR [BR0000021754982]!, MO [MO-3020323] image!, P [P02071668]!, TAN n.v., WAG [WAG.1151037] image!. Description Underground parts with fleshy roots, 1.5–2.0 mm in diam., some of which thicken to 12 × 2–3 mm pseudo-tubers; leaves arranged in a rosette (fide Schatz), 11–27 × 1.2–1.8 cm, with a pseudo-petiole 5.0– 12.5 cm long, 1/3 to 1/2 of the length of the leaf, dilated at the base into a very marked sheath, the sheaths all nested in a pseudobulb, blade margin undulate, with a smooth, very clearly-marked, hyaline margin, and 17 or 18 veins, the lower surface of the blade glaucous-green; inflorescence 30–52 cm long, branched, with a robust axis, the rachis 17–28 cm long, covered with transparent, triangular-based scabrae, that are well aligned, and more abundant towards the apex, scabrae sometimes also occur on the young peduncles, with a solitary bract at the level of the first branch, 12–20 × 0.3 mm, the bract well tapered and 5-veined; tepals (observed persisting around young fruits) purple-brown when dry, 4.0– 4.5 mm long; stamens, anther hastate, green, 1 × 0.15–2.00 mm, dorsifixed, filament inserted towards the lower 1/3; gynoecium with a filiform style, 4–5 mm long; capsules, 3.2–4.0 × 6 mm, seed, 2.5–3.0 × 3–4 mm. Phenology This subspecies flowers as early as October and bears its first fruits in the same month. Fruiting has been recorded until the end of December. Distribution and ecology This subspecies has only been collected in the Parc national de la Montagne d’Ambre, on deep clay soil derived from the degradation of predominantly basaltic volcanic rocks, at an altitude of approximately 1000 m. It can form dense colonies in the understorey of the ombrophilous forest. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment With only two known records from collection records from sites only circa 6 km apart, Chlorophytum graniticum subsp. ambrense subsp. nov. has a known AOO of only 8 km ². The subspecies appears to be highly localised, with a known range that is over 450 km distant from the known range of the typical subspecies, and both records are from within the Montagne d’Ambre National Park where it is not considered to be threatened. The two records date from 1960 and 1988 respectively, and represent a single location. It is likely that the subspecies still exists at the site, which remains largely intact. It is therefore considered to be Least Concern (LC), even though it is poorly known, and apparently rare. Morphological and taxonomic remarks 1) The flowers of subsp. ambrense subsp. nov. are very similar to the typical subspecies, but a little larger, as well as the fruits and seeds, 3–4 mm high against 2.1–2.8 for the typical subspecies. 2) This taxon may merit recognition as a separate species, but we consider the material inadequate to justify that choice.