Dr Franck Rakotonasolo
KMCC Biodiversity Team Leader & Botanist
Department
Team
Specialism
Systematic speciality on Rubiaceae family
My passion is nature, and I focus on work with other researchers and local people in different areas in Madagascar, where the biodiversity and a certain number of species disappear before being known because of the rapid loss of their habitat.
I've worked for more than 25 years on botany. More than 60 field trips in Madagascar, in which I've completed >4000 plant specimen collections, has provided me with strong experience in plant taxonomy and identification.
From 2000 until now, I am the head of garden at Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (PBZT), Antananarivo, working with 18 gardeners to curate the living collection that contain many rare, endemic and threatened Malagasy species, which are an important Conservation Collection across eight hectares.
I joined Kew Madagascar in 2010 by leading the biodiversity team who study the Malagasy flora.
- BSc, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 1984
- MSc, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 1985
- DEA, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 1989
- PhD, Univ. of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 2007
Davis, AP & Rakotonasolo, F (2021)
Six new species of coffee (Coffea) from northern Madagascar.
Kew bulletin 76, pages 497–511.
De Block, P., F. Rakotonasolo, S. G. Razafimandimbison, A. P. Davis & S.B. Janssens. (2021)
Tarennella, a new Pavetteae (Rubiaceae) genus from eastern Madagascar.
Pl. Ecol. Evol. 154(1): 87–110.
Franck Rakotonasolo, L. R. Rajaovelona, D. Rabehevitra, M.T. Rajaonah and H. Ralimanana. (2021)
New Localities of Dypsis leptocheilos in the Western Region of Madagascar.
PALMS 64(3): 141–148
Rakotonasolo, F. 2020.
955. Dichaetanthera cordifolia.
Curtus’s Botanical Magazine, volume 37(3), p 332 – 340.
De Block, P., F. Rakotonasolo, S. Ntore, S. G. Razafimandimbison & S.B. Janssens. 2018.
Four new endemic genera of Rubiaceae (Pavetteae) from Madagascar represent multiple radiations into drylands.
PhytoKeys 99: 1–66.
Rakotonasolo, F. & Davis, A.P. (2006).
Six species of Madagascan Genipatransferred to Hyperacanthus (Rubiaceae-Gardenieae) and new data on general morphology, placentation and ovary structure in Hyperacanthus.
Taxon 55: 387-396.
