Coffea kalobinonensis 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: Beramanja, Anketrabe, village le plus procheAntanambaoBelinta, versant nord-ouest du Kalabenono, sommetouest de la grandefalaise, 941 m, 29 Dec. 2007 (fr.), C. Rakotovao et al. 3843 (holotype G [G00192016]!; isotypes MO!, P!, TAN!).

Morphology General Habit

Small tree, 4 – 6 m high, dbh c. 6 cm

Morphology General Bark

Bark brown-grey, mottled, slightly rough

Morphology Branches

Branches 8 – 10 mm in diam., ± smooth, dark brown Branchlets ± terete, 3 – 4 mm in diam., ± smooth, dark brown, puberulous (hairs c. 0.05 mm long) on young shoots

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules caducous, depressed ovate or depressed ovate-truncate, 1.3 – 1.7 × 1.4 – 1.6 mm, subcoriaceous, puberulous like the young shoots; margin ciliate (hairs c. 0.1 mm long); apex broadly acute to very broadly acute

Morphology Leaves

petiole 0.7 – 1.7 cm long, glabrous; lamina elliptic-obovate, or ± obovate, or elliptic to broadly elliptic, (5.5 –) 8 – 10 × (2.2 –) 2.9 – 4.6 cm, subcoriaceous; base narrowly cuneate, decurrent; margins subrevolute to flat; apex obtuse to broadly acute, very abruptly caudate, cauda 0.2 – 0.4 cm long; abaxial surface: secondary veins prominent, 6 – 8 pairs, with prominent intermediates (intersecondaies), ascending at an angle of c. 45°, tertiary venation rather prominent, ± reticulate; higher order venation manifest to obscure, ramified; texture smooth; domatia prominent, located in the axils of the secondary veins, against the midrib, orifice, c. 0.4 mm in diam., surrounding leaf tissue slightly swollen, glabrous or sparsely covered in small hairs (c. 0.05 mm long); adaxial surface: venation prominent; domatia obscure to manifest

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences interfoliar, 1 per leaf axil, each inflorescence 3 to 5-flowered, 8 – 9.8 mm long, shortly branched (1 or 2 orders of branching), mostly exudate free; inflorescence axis (part bearing calyculi) 3.8 – 6.4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Calyculi 3, shortly stalked to stalked (stalks 0.4 – 0.6 mm long); glabrous, margins ciliate (hairs c. 0.mm long); basal (1st) calyculus 1.5 – 2.2 × 2.2 – 2.7 mm, stipular lobes ovate to depressed ovate, 0.9 – 1.2 × 0.2 – 0.4 mm, foliar lobes obovate, 0.2 – 0.4 × 0.1 – 0.3 mm; middle (2nd) calyculus c. 1.4 × 2.1 mm, stipular lobes 0.8 – 1.2 × 0.3, foliar lobes not seen; upper (3rd) calyculus c. 1.4 × 2 mm, stipular lobes c. 0.8 × 0.3, foliar lobes not seen

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unknown

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit (immature) ± ellipsoid, 9.5 – 10.2 × 5 – 5.5 mm, smooth (when dried), minutely pubescent (hairs c. 0.1 mm long)

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 ridges; on (Isalo) sandstone; elevation 550 – 950 m above sea level.

Conservation

Provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (IUCN 2012). CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). B1 — extent of occurrence (EOO) estimated to be less than 100 km2 (0.7 km2 for Coffea kalobinonensis); a — known to exist at only a single location (one location for C. kalobinonensis); and b (iii) — continuing decline projected, in area, extent and/or quality of habitat. B2 area of occupancy (AOO) estimated to be less than 10 km2 (8 km2 for C. kalobinonensis, at a cell width of 2 km; 3 km2 at a cell width of 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. EOO and AOO fall well within the limits for the CR category; even if other subpopulations are found within the known location or surrounding areas, the limits of this category are unlikely to be breached. 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 C. kalobinonensis falls within the Galoko-Kalobinono Protected Area.

Phenology

Imperfectly known — probably flowering from November to December; fruiting from late December, probably until March.

Etymology

Coffea kalobinonensis is named after the Kalobinono Mountain in north-western Madagascar, a location with a high number of endemics and considerable biodiversity.