''Schizolaena isaloensis'' is a tree in the family

Sarcolaenaceae The Sarcolaenaceae are a family of flowering plants endemic to Madagascar. The family includes 79 species of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs in ten genera. Recent DNA studies indicate that the Sarcolaenaceae are a sibling taxon to the family ...

. It is endemic to Madagascar. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

refers to Isalo National Park, near where the species was identified.

Description

''Schizolaena isaloensis'' grows as a tree up to tall. The bark is thick and spongy. Its subcoriaceous leaves are elliptic to ovate or obovate in shape and coloured dark green above and pale green below. They measure up to long. The inflorescences of one to three axes each bear one or two flowers each with three

sepals A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

and five white petals. A light green involucre hides the young fruit. Specimen notes found "young growth or coppicing plants somewhat glabrous; mature plants tomentose".

Distribution and habitat

''Schizolaena isaloensis'' is known only from the south central regions of

Ihorombe Ihorombe is a region in Madagascar. It borders Haute Matsiatra region in north, Atsimo-Atsinanana in east, Anosy in south and Atsimo-Andrefana in west. The capital is Ihosy and the population was 418,520 in 2018. The area of Ihorombe is and ...

and

Atsimo-Andrefana Atsimo-Andrefana is a region of Madagascar. It borders Menabe in north, Amoron'i Mania and Haute Matsiatra in northeast, Ihorombe and Anosy in east and Androy in southeast. The capital is Toliara and the population was 1,799,088 in 2018. Atsimo ...

, specifically withinGoodman, S. M., Raherilalao, M. J. & Wohlhauser, S. (eds.). 2018. Les aires protégées terrestres de Madagascar : Leur histoire, description et biote / The terrestrial protected areas of Madagascar: Their history, description, and biota. Association Vahatra, Antananarivo. and just beyond the southern limit of Isalo National Park and near the RN7 road. Its habitat is the central region's Tapia woodlands which are often severely degraded; the recorded specimens occurred in open grassland.

Threats

''Schizolaena isaloensis'' has been found in very low numbers – at most 50 mature individuals. The recorded specimens are outside any protected area. Fires have been the main threat, which mature trees can withstand but younger trees cannot.

References

isaloensis Endemic flora of Madagascar Trees of Madagascar Plants described in 2009 {{Sarcolaenaceae-stub