Abstract
SummaryThis paper is the fourth part of the taxonomic revision of the genus Phyllanthus in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Here we treat Pseudogomphidium Ralim. & Cable sect. nov. consisting of nine species that we misplaced in the subgenus Gomphidium (Baill.) G.L.Webster in our previous paper. Two species are new to science: Phyllanthus razakamalalae Ralim. & Cable, sp. nov. and P. ankirindrensis Ralim. & Cable, sp. nov. We also treat three unplaced species: P. analamerae Leandri, P. coluteoides Müll.Arg. and P. vergens Baill. An identification key, descriptions, distribution maps and IUCN Red List assessments are provided.
Highlights
Phyllanthus is one of the largest genera of plants known from Madagascar with 52 native species
The first gave a general synopsis of the genus in the region and treated four subgenera in detail: Isocladus G.L.Webster, Betsileani (Jean F.Brunel) Ralim. & Petra Hoffm., Kirganelia (A.Juss.) G.L.Webster and Tenellanthus Jean F.Brunel (Ralimanana & Hoffmann 2011)
Within the investigation of the origin of Phyllantheae - Epicephala mutualism, they reconstructed phylogeny for 46 species of Phyllanthaceae among them 22 Epicephala-pollinated including Phyllanthus marojejiensis (Leandri) Petra Hoffm. & McPherson and P. humbertii (Leandri) Petra Hoffm. & McPherson. This recent molecular analysis brought new updated information on the phylogenetic position of Madagascar Phyllanthus in respect to the species from New Caledonia, the centre of distribution of the subgenus Gomphidium. It showed that species pollinated by Epicephala were not monophyletic, the species from Madagascar are divergent from the clade containing the New Caledonian species and fall into a separate clade
Summary
Phyllanthus is one of the largest genera of plants known from Madagascar with 52 native species. & Petra Hoffm., Kirganelia (A.Juss.) G.L.Webster and Tenellanthus Jean F.Brunel (Ralimanana & Hoffmann 2011). In the Flore de Madagascar et des Comores, Leandri (1958) recognised seven species: Glochidion ankaratrae Leandri, G. humbertii Leandri, G. lichenisilvae Leandri, G. marojejiensis Leandri, G. oreichtitum Leandri, G. perrieri Leandri, and G. sambiranensis Leandri. In his treatment of Phyllanthus of intertropical Africa, Brunel (1987) indicated the need to create a new section to accommodate the Malagasy Glochidion species sensu Leandri (1958), based on their pollen characters and floral morphology. Molecular research by Kathriarachchi et al (2006) demonstrated that Glochidion is nested within Phyllanthus
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