Dypsis humilis
A highly threatened new species of stemless palm discovered by Kew botanists on the edge of Madagascar’s newest protected area.
Species Information
- Scientific Name: Dypsis humilis M.S.Trudgen, Rakotoarin. & W.J.Baker
- Common name(s): None known
- Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (provisional IUCNassessment).
- Habitat: Disturbed rain forest on granitic ridge top, 100-200 m.
- Known hazards: None known.
Taxonomy
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Subclass: Magnoliidae
- Superorder: Lilianae
- Order: Arecales
- Family: Arecaceae, Palmae
- Genus: Dypsis
About this Species
Dypsis humilis is an unusual new species of stemless palm discovered during collaborative fieldwork by botanists from Kew and Madagascar in 2007. It was officially named and described in 2009 along with four other new species from the vicinity of Madagascar’s newest protected area, Makira, in the north-east of the island. It is an extremely rare plant; fewer than ten plants were seen by the expedition team in an unprotected locality just outside the park boundary.
Over 20 species of palm from Madagascar have been formally described as new to science by Kew botanists in 2009.
Geography & Distribution
This species occurs in northeast Madagascar, and is known from a single site above the Antainambalana River, west-northwest of Maroantsetra.
Description
Dypsis humilis in situ (Image: William Baker, RBG Kew)
This low-growing, shrub-like palm has no visible stem. Its leaves, around 8 per plant, sprout like a shuttlecock directly from the ground. Each leaf is about 80 cm long and has around 16 leathery leaflets. The flowers develop on insignificant inflorescences that appear among the leaves at the base of the plant. The fruits are sickle-shaped, about 2 cm in length.
Threats & Conservation
Dypsis humilis is known from only one locality where fewer than ten individuals were observed. Unfortunately the site is just outside the boundary of the Makira protected area and the forest is degraded, with much evidence of human activity (for example timber extraction). Unless new localities exist, the future for the species is far from secure. The impacts of climate change on the species and the forests in which it occurs are hard to assess at this time.
Finding this species at Kew
Dried and alcohol-preserved specimens are held in the Herbarium, where they are made available to bona fide researchers by appointment. Details of these can be seen in the online Herbarium Catalogue
Useful Links
Find out more about Dypsis humilis and the work being done in Madagascar at the following sites:
Madagascar Threatened Plants Project
World Checklist of Monocotyledons
Search Kew's science databases for more information on this species
References & Credits
Rakotoarinivo, M., Trudgen, M.S. & Baker, W.J. (2009). The Palms of the Makira Protected Area, Madagascar. Palms. 53: 125-146.
Kew Science Editor: William Baker
Kew contributors: Mijoro Rakotoarinivo, Melinda Trudgen
Copy editing: Emma Tredwell
Kew would like to thank the following contributors: Christopher Holmes and Rina Ralison of the Wildlife Conservation Society
While every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in these pages is reliable and complete, the notes on hazards, edibility and suchlike included here are recorded information and do not constitute recommendations. No responsibility will be taken for readers’ own actions. Full website terms and conditions.
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Fact Box
Rondeletia buxifolia
pribby
Several populations of Rondeletia buxifolia were discovered in 2006 by Kew botanists using data from specimens rescued from Montserrat’s volcano-damaged herbarium.
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