Coffea callmanderi A.P.Davis & Rakotonas.

Davis, A.P., Rakotonasolo, F. Six new species of coffee (Coffea) from northern Madagascar. Kew Bull 76, 497–511 (2021). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-021-09952-5

Type

Madagascar. Prov. Antsiranana; Region Diana; Distr. Ambanja: commune Beramanja, Kalabenono, bas de crête, 550 m, 25 Nov. 2007, (fl.), Callmander et al. 752 (holotype G [G001165658]!; isotypes K!, MO!, P!, TAN!).

Morphology General Habit

Small tree, c. 3 m high, dbh unknown

Morphology General Bark

Bark not recorded

Morphology Branches

Branches c. 6 mm in diam., ± smooth, dark brown Branchlets ± terete to slightly flattened, c. 4 mm in diam., ± smooth, dark brown, glabrous

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules semi-persistent to caducous, depressed ovate or ± deltate, 2.7 – 4.2 × 6.9 – 9 mm, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, glabrous; margin glabrous; apex acute, shortly apiculate, apiculum c. 1.5 mm long

Morphology Leaves

petiole 1.1 – 2.3 cm long, glabrous; lamina elliptic to obovate, or elliptic-ovate, (9.5 –) 15.8 – 17.2 × (4.8 –) 5.8 – 8.3 cm, subcoriaceous; base cuneate to narrowly cuneate, or attenuate, often decurrent; margins subrevolute to flat; apex obtuse to broadly acute, abruptly caudate, cauda 0.6 – 1.2 cm long; abaxial surface: secondary veins prominent, (8 –) 10 – 12 pairs, with prominent intermediates (intersecondaries), ascending at an angle of 30° – 45°, tertiary venation rather prominent, ± reticulate; higher order venation manifest to obscure, ramified; texture smooth; domatia ?absent, corky swellings with or without openings, axillary, against or on the midrib, orifice, c. 0.5 mm in diam., the margin and body rather corky, glabrous; adaxial surface: venation very prominent (more so than the abaxial surface); domatia invisible

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences interfoliar, 1 or 2 per leaf axil, each inflorescence 1 to 4-flowered, 9.8 – 10.2 mm long, unbranched or fasciculate, moderately covered in exudate; inflorescence axis (part bearing calyculi) 2.3 – 2.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Calyculi 3, nested within each other; glabrous, margins ciliate (hairs 0.l – 0.2 mm long); basal (1st) calyculus c. 1.5 × 2.5 mm, lobes not seen; middle (2nd) calyculus c. 1.4 × 2.2 mm, lobes not seen; upper (3rd) calyculus c. 2.4 × 3.5 mm, lobes not seen

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers poorly known (only calyces seen); pedicel 2 – 2.5 mm long, glabrous, bractlets absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (hypanthium) obconical to turbinate, 3.8 – 4.1 × 4 – 4.2 mm, texture smooth to slightly wrinkled (when dried), glabrous; calyx limb truncate to undulate, margin glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

disc ± discoid-tubular, 5-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla and other flower parts not seen

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit unknown

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds unknown.

Distribution

Endemic to north-western Madagascar, near Ambanja (Prov. Antsiranana; Region Diana; Distr. Ambanja), only known from Kalobinono Mountain of the Galoko mountain range.

Ecology

Humid, evergreen forest within the Sambirano Region; on (Isalo) sandstone; altitude 550 – 630 m.

Conservation

Provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (IUCN 2012). CR B2ab(iii). B2 area of occupancy (AOO) estimated to be less than 10 km2 (8 km2 at a cell width of 2 km; 2 km2, at cell width 1 km); a — known to exist at only a single location; and b (iii) — continuing decline, observed, and projected, in area, extent and/or quality of habitat. The AOO falls well within the limits for the CR category; even if several other subpopulations are found within the location and available forest area (which extends someway to the north), the AOO would still fall within the CR category. We designated a cell width of 1 km on the basis that the forest fragments in which this species occurs are less than 1 km wide. At the only known location for this species, there is an ongoing and drastic reduction of forest cover (which this species requires) due to agricultural expansion and human habitation (new settlements). The known distribution range of Coffea callmanderi falls within the Galoko-Kalobinono Protected Area.

Phenology

Imperfectly known — flowering in November; probably fruiting from December to February, and possibly March.

Etymology

Coffea callmanderi is named after Martin W. Callmander, who discovered this species, co-organised the first collecting mission to the Galoko-Kalobinono mountainous area, and undertook considerable exploratory fieldwork in northern Madagascar.