Publications
Chlorophytum ankarense H. Perrier
Chlorophytum ankarense, a rare herbaceous plant endemic to Madagascar's Andrefana Dry Forests, exhibits a highly disjunct distribution across the Boeny and Atsimo-Andrefana regions, as well as near Ampandrandava in the Androy region. This species thrives in dry forests at elevations of 100–900 meters, often on limestone substrates, but its population is critically limited by a lack of recent collections since 1955 and fragmented occurrences. While provisional IUCN assessment suggests it could be classified as Endangered (EN B2ab(i,iii,iv,v)), the study proposes Data Deficient (DD) due to insufficient recent material, despite suspecting its broader presence. The research highlights the need for targeted searches in known localities to clarify its true distribution and conservation status.
Chlorophytum meridionale subsp. meridionale Pignal, Phillipson & Bardot-Vaucoulon, 2026, sp. nov.
A new subspecies of Chlorophytum, Chlorophytum meridionale subsp. meridionale, has been formally described from the Andrefana Dry Forests of Madagascar. This discovery highlights the species' unique morphological traits, including a rhizomatous basal stem with thickened roots, graminoid leaves, and distinctive floral structures such as white perianths with green or brown tepals and two groups of stamens with varying filament lengths. The subspecies is primarily found in sub-arid bioclimatic zones across southern Madagascar, thriving on diverse substrates like crystalline rocks, limestone, sandy soils, and steep cliffs, often in deciduous dry forests or open shrublands. Phenological observations reveal flowering from December to March, with fruits documented in February and March. The description is based on extensive field collections and morphological analysis, contributing to the understanding of Madagascar's unique flora within UNESCO-listed dry forests.
Chlorophytum meridionale subsp. tulearense Bard. - Vauc. & M. Pignal 2026, subsp. nov.
Scientists have identified a new subspecies of Chlorophytum meridionale, named Chlorophytum meridionale subsp. tulearense, distinguished by its numerous leaves (5–14), larger inflorescence, and nearly equal-length stamens. This discovery was made through morphological analysis of plant specimens collected from the Toliara Province in Madagascar's Andrefana Dry Forests. The subspecies is characterized by its herbaceous nature, reaching up to 80 cm tall, with leaves covered in small white tubercles and robust inflorescences branching from 12–34 cm long rachises. Phenological observations indicate flowering occurs from January to March, with fruiting in March. The research highlights the subspecies' unique traits, such as its scabrous leaf margins and specific floral structures, contributing to the understanding of biodiversity in Madagascar's dry forests.
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