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

21. Chlorophytum nigrogranulosum Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324052-1 Figs 4E, 35–36 Diagnosis Chlorophyto disticho H.Perrier affinis, sed foliis spiralibus (vs disticha), nervis plus numerosis (26 vs 11– 13), floribus minoribus, (tepalis 4.2 mm longis (vs 6.5–7), fructibus latioribus quam longis (vs longiores quam latos), nigris granulosisque (vs brunneos costatosque), praecipue differt. Etymology The specific epithet refers to the appearance of the capsules, which are black and have a finely granulate indument. Type material MADAGASCAR – DIANA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • Antsiranana, Montagne des Français, partie nord-est, montée en direction de la falaise; 12°19′28″ S, 49°20′52″ E; 4 Apr. 2007; fl, fr; M. Bardot-Vaucoulon, G. Véné & G. Razafindrabelahasy 1662; holotype: P [P00643195]!; isotypes: K!, MO [MO-3020338]!, TAN!. Description Plant herbaceous, 40 cm tall; roots fasciculate, rigid, white, slightly thickened, 0.8–1.0 in diam., and up to ca 4–5 cm long, and covered with long white hairs; some bearing a small fusiform tuber, 8 × 3 mm, also bearing hairs; leaves 7, lanceolate, 30–42 × 2.2–3.7 cm, base attenuate, pseudo-petiole 14 cm long, about 1/3 of the length of the lamina, leaf-base sheathing, margins smooth, veins ca 26, well-spaced and conspicuous, apex tapered; inflorescence solitary per plant, erect, weakly-branched, 25–60 cm in height, peduncle 34–42 cm long, covered with white triangular rugosities, the density of which decreases from the base to the apex, bracts 1–2 (only broken bracts seen), 4–5 mm wide at the base, with 11 veins; rachis 12–25 cm long, flowers (2–)4(–6) per node, floral bracts triangular, 1.8 × 1.2 mm, shorter than the pedicel, veins only faintly visible, pedicel 4–8 mm long, articulation inframedial; flowers: perianth pale-green, 4.2 mm long, tepals elliptic, 4.2 × 1 mm, 3-veined, the outer end of the outer tepals papillose, with some hairs; stamens slightly shorter than the tepals, filaments 2.5 mm long, flattened and papillose on the upper part, anthers 1.0 × 0.2 mm, rectangular, yellow, dorsifixed, filament inserted in the lower quarter; gynoecium: ovary 0.8 × 0.6 mm, ovules 4 per locule, style filiform, 3.2 mm long, stigma with a slightly thickened tip; capsule wider than high, 4 × 6 mm, black with a finely granulated surface overlapping fine transverse veins, seeds black, granulate, disciform, ca 2 mm in diam., with a convex surface on one side and with a circular central depression on the other surface, with a narrow notch in which the radicle is visible and sometimes protruding. Phenology The only known collection flowered in March–April and the fruit begin to develop in April. Distribution and ecology Chlorophytum nigrogranulosum sp. nov. was collected in the north of Madagascar, on the slopes of Montagne des Français overlooking the bay of Antsiranana. It occurs in undergrowth of the deciduous dry forest in the herbaceous layer on limestone. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum nigrogranulosum sp. nov. is known only from the type collection, a single occurrence that was collected only a few years ago. The type locality is situated at the extreme north of the protected area, which is a IUCN category 5 harmonious landscape, near its boundary, and the adjacent zone outside of the protected area is partially degraded, and used for grazing and is in some places being developed for tourism. On the basis of its highly restricted known range, a single known location, and the proximity of major impacts to the area, the species is assessed as CR B1B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v).