A New Species of the Malagasy Genus Apodocephala (Compositae)

Abstract

A new species of the Malagasy endemic genus Apodocephala Baker is described and illustrated. Apodocephala odora J. Calvo & Callm. is thus far known only from the type collection and comes from the Loky Manambato (Daraina) area in northeastern Madagascar. It belongs to the species group displaying geniculate-rostrate achenes but differs, among other characters, in having involucres obscurely biseriate with bracts of similar length and glandular leaves. It grows in medium-elevation, moist evergreen forest. The new species' risk of extinction is preliminarily assessed as “Vulnerable” in accordance with the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.