Notes
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This species is characterized by medium-sized to rather small papery leaves; triangular stipules; cymose, terminal, lax inflorescences with several flowers borne on well developed pedicels; the calyx limb with 5 usually well developed lobes; medium-sized corollas with 5 lobes and the anthers mostly to completely exserted and often becoming twisted (i.e., spiralled) during or after anthesis; and medim-sized to rather small fruits. De Block (2005) distinguished this species in part by its calyx limb that is lobed for nearly or more than half its length, but she had included in Tarenna spiranthera several specimens from Antsiranana with only very shortly lobed to subtruncate calyx limbs. Tarenna spiranthera is similar to Tarenna alleizettei, their distinctions are outlined in the key to species on the Tarenna page. Most of the specimens here were collected at 800-1300 m along the eastern escarpment. The lowest elevation of this range was documented on Ile Ste. Marie, De Block et al. 1836, The highest collection is Razafitsalama et al. 239, which is also the only collection from Mahajunga; this specimen is included here only provisionally. It agree in all the determining characters with Tarenna spiranthera so it is difficult at present to exclude this specimen from this species, however this specimen is from a disjunct elevation and perhaps a disjunct locality and has unusually well developed leaf domatia.
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