Open AccessMelanophylla dianeae (Torricelliaceae), a New, Critically Endangered Species from a Remnant Forest Fragment in East-central Madagascar
Author(s) -
Porter P. Lowry,
Chris Birkinshaw,
George E. Schatz,
Patrice Antilahimena
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
novon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.341
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1945-6174
pISSN - 1055-3177
DOI - 10.3417/2019490
Subject(s) - iucn red list , critically endangered , threatened species , endangered species , geography , agroforestry , extinction (optical mineralogy) , forestry , ex situ conservation , ecology , biology , habitat , paleontology
Melanophylla dianeae Lowry & G. E. Schatz (Torricelliaceae) is described as a new species from a remnant fragment of highly threatened humid forest in east-central Madagascar. Collected for the first time in 2016, just five adult trees are known from an area that has been heavily impacted by forest clearing for slash-and-burn agriculture. Mature fruits have been collected in an attempt to grow seedlings, and air-layering is being trialed on an adult tree to produce vegetative material for propagation, as part of an effort to ensure ex situ conservation of this rare species. An IUCN Red List risk of extinction assessment reveals that M. dianeae is Critically Endangered.