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

15. Chlorophytum helvillae Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324062-1 Figs 6I, 25–26 Diagnosis Chlorophyto meridionali inflorescentiae pedunculo scabro (vs glabrum), rhachidi obtecta pilis numerosis brevisque (vs glabram), antheris angustatis viridisque, 6.3 × 1 mm longis (vs largiores flaveasque, 3.8–5 × 1–1.2 mm), antheris basi hastata (vs rotundatam vel obtusam) apice capitato (vs attenuatum), praecipue differt. Etymology The specific epithet of this new species refers to the town of Hell-Ville on Nosy Be Island in northwestern Madagascar. Type material MADAGASCAR – DIANA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • Antsiranana: Nossi-Bé, environs de Helville [Hell-Ville]; [13°25′ S 48°19′ E]; Mar. 1905; fl; C. d’Alleizette 46; holotype: P [P06169865]!. Description Plant herbaceous, up to 31 cm tall, underground parts unknown; leaves 8, 17–30.5 × 1.4–1.6 cm, with a sheathing base and wavy margins, lamina conduplicate, margins smooth in appearance, but distally bristly with very small teeth, visible only at high magnification (×40), apex tapering, veins 23–27, well-spaced, visible on the upper surface of the blade, somewhat obscure on the lower surface; inflorescence solitary, unbranched, incompletely developed, stiff, 28.5 cm in height, dense; peduncle 21 cm long, finely scabrous, covered with hairs in its upper half; rachis 7 cm long, covered with short, abundant hairs, ca 0.05–0.1 mm long, with a solitary bract at the base of the rachis, 12 × 3 mm, triangular, with a tapered tip, the floral bracts similar, but decreasing in size from 7.5 × 1 mm at the base to the top, longer than the pedicel (1.6–3.2 mm long), pedicel with an articulation at 0.2–1.5 mm from the base; flowers solitary at each node, campanulate, 11–12 mm long, pedicel short, 2–2.5 mm long, glabrous, articulated at the base; tepals narrowly lanceolate, 15 × 2.5–2.7 mm, with 4–5 conspicuous veins converging at the apex; stamens 9–9.5 mm long, shorter than the perianth, filaments flattened, 3.3 mm long, tapering towards the apex, anthers green, long and straight, 6.3 × 1 mm, apex rounded, base hastate, spurred, shortly rounded at the base of the connective; gynoecium: ovary 3.5 × 2.2 mm; ovules ca 10 per locule; style 6 mm long, barely equaling the perianth; fruit not seen. Phenology The only known specimen was in flower in March. Distribution and ecology Known only from the northwest of Madagascar, more precisely from the southeast of Nosy Be Island, on substrates formed from old or recent volcanic rocks, that give rise to deep soils, and the vegetation type in which the plant occurs is unknown. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum helvillae sp. nov. is known from a single specimen collected over a hundred years ago. Its precise locality on Nosy Be is unknown, and although much of the island is highly degraded, Lokobe National Park is well-maintained and contains a significant portion of the island’s flora. It’s possible that the C. helvillae is extant, and most likely within the park. The species must be considered as Data Deficient (DD), although it may be extinct. A targeted search for the species in the park and in any remaining fragments of natural vegetation on the island and on the neighbouring island of Nosy Ambariovato (also known as Nosy Komba), is recommended.