|
Notes:
CMT: This species is characterized by its relatively large stipules, 8-20 mm long, that are more or less persistent; its often rather large, somewhat narrowly elliptic leaves; its pedunculate broadly pyramidal inflorescences; its calyx limbs with a well developed tube; and its habitat in evergreen vegetation. This species is similar to Chassalia magnifolia and Chassalia grandistipula, which share relatively large stipules and elliptic leaves. These are separated somewhat arbitrarily here: Chassalia grandistipula includes plants from northern Madagascar with large, generally persistent stipules 8-20 mm long and subglobose fruits with broadly angled to rounded pyrenes, vs. Chassalia magnifolia, also found in northern Madagascar but with shorter, usually deciduous stipules 5-8 mm long and ovoid fruits with the pyrenes flattened and costate when young, and Chassalia eurybotrya, which has large stipules, a well developed calyx tube, and subglobose fruits and is found in east-central Madagascar. A set of specimens from east-central Madagascar has similar large stipules but corymbiform inflorescences and rather reduced calyx limbs (e.g., Cours 4949, Ravelonarivo et al. 2601, DAvis 1161); these have been confused with Chassalia eurybotrya and Chassalia grandistipula, but seem to represent a distinct, undescribed species.
|