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

22. Chlorophytum nusbaumeri Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77324060-1 Figs 2G–H, 4F, 19, 37 Diagnosis Chlorophyto nigrogranuloso Bard.-Vauc. & M.Pignal affinis, sed pseudopetiolo breviore (6–8 vs 14 cm), vaginis foliorum clare dilatatis inflatisque (vs paulo dilatatam inflatamque), inflorescentiis tribus (vs unam), bracteis floris longioribus quam pedicellis (vs breviores), filamentis staminum quasi omnino papillosis (vs tantum tertia superiora), antheris 0.5–0.7 × 0.15 mm (vs 1 × 0.2 mm), ovulis 1–2 per loculum (vs 4), fructibus adultis pendulis (vs errectos), brunneolo costatoque (vs nigram subtiliter granulosamque), semine paulo reniformi (vs orbiculare), radicula excentrica (vs centralem), praecipue differt. Etymology We are pleased to dedicate this new species to Louis Nusbaumer, Curator at the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Genève and lecturer for the Plant Systematics and Biodiversity laboratory within the Department of Plant Sciences at the Université de Genève. Type material MADAGASCAR – DIANA Region [Antsiranana Prov.] • Daraina, Loky Manambato, forêt d’Ampondrabe; 12°58′09″ S, 49°42′00″ E; 360 m; 14 Feb. 2005; fl bud, fr; L. Nusbaumer & P. Ranirison 1469; forêt de pente décidue, gros blocs 2–3 m diamètre; holotype: G [G00019494]!; isotypes: K!, MO!, P [P04186576]!, research herbarium of Daraina n.v., TEF n.v. Description Plant herbaceous, 20 cm tall; roots fibrous, fasciculate, slightly thickened for 1 to 2 cm from the base (ca 1 mm in diam.); leaves 7 to 10, borne in a rosette ca 8 cm from the ground, soft green on the adaxial face and glaucous green on the abaxial face, bases expanded, forming a bulbous shape more than 3 cm in height, buried in the substrate at the base, lanceolate, attenuate at both ends, blade base with a short, wide pseudo-petiole, 6–8 × 0.4 cm, 1/4 to 1/5 of the length of the blade, the edge smooth, the pseudo-central vein comprised 15 to 25 of clearly visible and well-spaced veins; typically with 3 to 5 distinctly larger and broader leaves, 15–41 × 2–5 cm, the smaller leaves 7–15 × 1.0– 1.5 cm; inflorescences 1–3 per plant, branched, erect or bending over towards the ground, 22–48 cm long, peduncle 10–13 cm, 1–2 bracts, large, foliaceous, 3.5–4.5 × 0.2–0.5 cm, 8-veined, flowering rachis 21–33 cm long, axis and branches covered with translucent rugosities with a triangular base, more abundant towards the apex, 2–4 basal branches very reduced; 2–4 flowers per node, floral bract purplish, triangular, very tapered, 8 × 1 mm, longer than the pedicel, the latter 4–4.5 mm long, articulation inframedial; perianth 4–5 mm long, tepals elliptical, purplish when dry, equal or subequal, 4 × 0.6 mm, 3 veins clearly visible, anastomosing below the apex; stamens shorter than the tepals, unequal, filament 2–2.5 mm long, fusiform, flattened in its central part, papillose, anther yellow, rectangular, 0.5–0.7 × 0.15 mm, base sometimes slightly divergent, dorsifixed, filament inserted near the base; gynoecium: ovary 0.5 × 0.5 mm, ovule, 1(–2) per locule, style 4 mm long, exceeding the perianth, stigma globose; capsule pendulous at maturity, broader than high, 3.8–4 × 4–4.5 mm, locules flattened, often with 1–2 aborted locules, sutures thickened, and few marked transverse ribs; seeds 1 per locule, shiny black, semi-circular, 2.5 × 2 mm, with a narrow notch, radicle visible to protruding. Phenology The only known collection of C. nusbaumeri sp. nov. was collected in February in fruit, with only one or two flowers remaining, but in addition, a large number of flower buds were present, suggesting that a second flowering phase would soon follow. Distribution and ecology The only gathering of this new species is from Loky-Manambato in northeast Madagascar, where it was collected in Ampondrabe forest at an altitude of 370 m. The collectors, Nusbaumer & Ranirison, noted that the species had not been observed at any other sites in the vicinity, despite the recent extensive surveys and vegetation studies carried out in the area (Nusbaumer, pers. com.). The species occurs in the ground layer of dry deciduous forest on slopes, where the substrate with typical red soil, is composed of granitic and/or metamorphic rocks, with conspicuous large boulders, typically with red soil, and other evidence of ancient volcanic activity. Provisional IUCN Red List assessment Chlorophytum nusbaumeri sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar, where it is known from a single collection that was made in 2005 in Ampondrabe forest, within the Loky Manambato Harmonious Landscape in NE Madagascar that represents a single occurrence, and where it to be a strict endemic. 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 to be rich in highly local endemism. Within Loky Manambato, extensive habitat degradation of many of the forest patches has been observed and this is undoubtedly the major threat to this species in its sole location. It is assessed as CR B2ab(i,ii,iii,v). Morphological and geographical remarks The data concerning the flower were obtained from the most well-developed buds, a single flower, and the floral remains on young fruits. For a map showing the only known locality of C. nusbaumeri sp. nov. see Fig. 19.