The genus Polygala (Polygalaceae) contains ca. 600 species that are distributed worldwide. A recent taxonomic evaluation of Polygala in Madagascar recognized 19 species in the island, as well as two new species from Toliara Province. The first new species from the area around Saint Augustin, Polygala labatii, is only known from two collections and belongs to the endemic P. sect. Madecassa. The second new species, Polygala mandrarensis, is distributed in the region of the Mandrare River basin and belongs to P. sect. Tetrasepalae. In this work, we describe and illustrate these two new species of Polygala. We also provide a key to the infrageneric taxa of Polygala in Madagascar, as well as keys to P. sect. Madecassa and the Malagasy species of P. sect. Tetrasepalae, and present a distribution map and make preliminary conservation assessments using IUCN Red List categories and criteria.
How to translate text using browser tools
25 August 2017
Two New Species of Polygala from Toliara Province in Southern Madagascar
Gregory A. Wahlert,
George E. Schatz,
Peter B. Phillipson
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Systematic Botany
Vol. 42 • No. 3
Jul-Sep 2017
Vol. 42 • No. 3
Jul-Sep 2017
conservation
Polygala sect. Madecassa
Polygala sect. Tetrasepalae
Polygalaceae