Rakotonasolo, Franck
Job TitleKMCC Collection Programme Manager and Systematics Research Coordinator
DepartmentConservation Directorate
SectionKew Madagascar Conservation Centre (KMCC)
Science Teams:
Joined Kew: 2009
Foreign Language(s): Malagasy (mother tongue), French and English
Qualifications & Appointments
BSc, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 1984
MSc, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 1985
DEA, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 1989
PhD, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 2007
Role
KMCC collection programme and systematics research on the Rubiaceae
The main task is to manage the KMCC programme to enhance the collections of Kew, increasing coverage of the flora with high quality herbarium specimens, collection data, photographs, wood samples and DNA samples. The role is partly based at the national herbarium of Madagascar at Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (PBZT). Responsibilities include developing strong collaborative links between KMCC and PBZT, such as developing living collections for palms, orchids, Aloe and yams and improving the herbarium collections and data available to the botanical community in Madagascar. The role also involves improving capacity at KMCC for general identification work, training staff and students, providing expert identifications for botanical inventories, KMCC projects and conservation assessments and support for Kew staff undertaking systematcs research in Madagascar. Research includes the systematics and biogeography of the Rubiaceae family.
Projects
- Baseline Data for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of Coffee Species
- Coffee Phylogeny Project
- Diversity and Conservation of Madagascar Palms
- Ex-situ conservation of Madagascar's endangered orchids
- Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar - COMPLETED 2009
- Grasses of Madagascar
- Itremo Massif Protected Area Project
- Madagascar Orchid Conservation Project
- Madagascar Agroforestry Livelihoods Project
- Madagascar Threatened Plants Project - COMPLETED
- Phylogenetic Diversity of the Malagasy Legumes: New Insights for the Conservation of the Malagasy Flora
- Rubiaceae of Madagascar
- World Checklist and Bibliography of Rubiaceae
- Yams of Madagascar: systematics, conservation and sustainable use
Selected Recent Publications
De Block, P., Rakotonasolo, F., Tosh, T. (2006). Mantalania longipedunculata (Rubiaceae) revisited. Syst. Geogr. 76: 235-240.
Rakotonasolo, F., Davis, A.P. (2006). Six species of Madagascan Genipa transferred to Hyperacanthus (Rubiaceae-Gardenieae) and new data on general morphology, placentation and ovary structure in Hyperacanthus. Taxon 55: 387-396.
Davis, A.P. & Rakotonasolo, F. (2008). A taxonomic revision of the Baracoffea alliance: nine remarkable Coffea species from western Madagascar. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 158: 355-390.
Groeninckx, I., De Block, P., Rakotonasolo, F., Smets, E. & Dessein, S. (2009). Rediscovery of Malagasy Lathraeocarpa allows determination of its taxonomic position within Rubiaceae. Taxon 58: 209-226.
Davis, A.P, Rakotonasolo, F. & De Block, P. (2010). Coffea toshii sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from Madagascar. Nordic Journal of Botany 28: 134-136.
Selected Earlier Publications
Davis, A.P. & Rakotonasolo, F. (2000). Gardenia and related genera (Tribe Gardenieae, Subtribe Gardeniinae). In: Goodman, S.M. & Benstead, J.P. (eds), The Natural History of Madagascar. University of Chicago Press, Chicago & London.
Davis, A.P. & Rakotonasolo, F. (2000). Three new species of Coffea L. (Rubiaceae) from Madagascar. Kew Bulletin 55: 405-416.
Rakotonasolo, F. & Davis, A.P. (2000). Hyperacanthus ambovombensis (Rubiaceae), a new species and a new generic record for Madagascar. Kew Bulletin 56: 945-953.
Davis, A.P. & Rakotonasolo, F. (2001). Two new species of Coffea (Rubiaceae) from northern Madagascar: C. ankaranensis and C. sambavensis. Adansonia sér. 3 23: 337-345.
Davis, A.P. & Rakotonasolo, F. (2001). Three new species of Coffea from northern Madagascar. Adansonia sér. 3 23: 137-146.
Wilkin, P., Rakotonasolo, F., Schols, P. & Furness, C.A. (2002). A new species of Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae) from Western Madagascar and its pollen morphology. Kew Bulletin 57: 901-909.
Rakotonasolo, F. & Davis, A.P (2004). A new and endangered species of Hyperacanthus (Rubiaceae) from Madagascar: Hyperacanthus mandenensis. Novon 14: 327-331.
Davis, A.P, Bridson, D. M. & Rakotonasolo, F. (2005). A re-examination of Coffea subgenus Baracoffea and comments on the morphology and classification of Coffea and Psilanthus (Rubiaceae-Coffeeae). In: R. C. Keating, V. C. Hollowell & T. Croat, A Festschrift for William G. DArcy: The Legacy of a Taxonomist. Monograph in Systematics Botany 104: 398-420.
Weber, O., Wilkin, P. & Rakotonasolo, F. (2005). A new species of edible yam (Dioscorea L.) from Western Madagascar. Kew Bulletin 60: 283-291.
