60. Physena sessiliflora Tul.

Caryophyllales > Physenaceae > Physena

Publication: Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique, série 4, 8: 55.1857.

Local names: Fandriandambo, Mangily, Rasaonjy.

IUCN Red List: LC ver 3.1

Year published: 2018

EDGE Score

3.4730

ED Score

31.2350

GE Score

Carte de distribution Physena sessiliflora

Shrub 1-2 m tall, very branched, dioecious, glabrous. Leavesalternate, simple, deciduous, leathery.

Flowers sessile or subsessile,solitary or fasciculated by 2-3. Fruit and seed ovoid.

Differs from P. madagascariensis in its infloresence and sessileor subsessile flowers. A saponoside with cytotoxic activity called Physenoside was isolated from the plant (Inoue & al., 2009). Crushed roots are used to relieve dental pain. Leaves and fruits are consumed by Lemur catta (Simmen & al., 2006).

Flowering time: August-February

Population: 8 subpopulations

Lower elevation limit: 0 metres

Fruiting time: September-June

Trends:

Upper elevation limit: 350 metres

Distribution

P. sessiliflora is endemic to the western and southern parts of Madagascar. It is present in Antsiranana (DIANA and SAVA Regions), Mahajanga (Melaky and Sofia Regions) and Toliara (Androy, Anosy and Atsimo-Andrefana Regions) Provinces.

Number of locations:

EOO: 427,962 km²

AOO: 378 km²

Habitat and Ecology

Dry and subarid thickets and forests, bush, disturbed areas on sand or limestone.

Threats

Selective logging and nomadic grazing.

Conservation

This species occurs in Amoron’i Onilahy (Cat. V), Andohahela (Cat. II), Andrafiamena Andavakoera (Cat. V), Behara Tranomaro, Bemaraha (Cat. II), Beza Mahafaly (Cat. IV), Kirindy Mitea (Cat. II), Loky Manambato (Cat. V), Mahavavy Kinkony (Cat. V), Nosy Hara (Cat. II), Ranobe PK 32, Tsimembo (Cat. V) and Tsinjoriake (Cat. V) Protected Areas.

It is reported in ex situ collections (BGCI 2022).