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Mendoravia dumaziana Capuron

Protologue
Adansonia, sér. 2, 8(2): 208 (1968).
Family
Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae)
Origin and geographic distribution
Mendoravia dumaziana is endemic to south-eastern Madagascar, where it is restricted to a small area.
Uses
The wood is used for construction and carpentry.
Properties
The wood is very hard and durable, but reportedly easy to work.
Botany
Small to medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall; bole up to 30 cm and more in diameter; bark surface smooth and pale grey, with numerous lenticels; twigs glabrous, with lenticels. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules triangular, 2–3 mm long, caducous; petiole 3–6 mm long, grooved above, wrinkled; blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 5–13 cm × 1.5–5 cm, obtuse at base, tapering but finally obtuse at apex, margins slightly wavy, thinly leathery, glabrous, pinnately veined with numerous lateral veins. Inflorescence an axillary raceme 1–4 cm long, few-flowered. Flowers bisexual, regular, (5–)6-merous; pedicel 1–2.5 cm long; sepals nearly free, narrowly triangular-ovate, 2.5–3 mm long, spreading, slightly hairy; petals free, elliptical, 1–1.5 cm long, glabrous, yellow; stamens (11–)12, filaments c. 4 mm long, anthers c. 3 mm long, orange; ovary superior, oblong-sigmoid, 6–7 mm long, minutely hairy, style c. 1.5 mm long, with head-shaped stigma. Fruit an oblong, flat pod 5–9 cm long, with beak at apex and thickened upper margin, glabrous, reticulately veined, dehiscent with 2 spiralling valves, 1–2-seeded. Seeds disk-shaped, 8–10 mm long, red-brown.
Mendoravia comprises a single species. It belongs to the tribe Cassieae subtribe Dialiinae, and it has been suggested that it is related to the genera Baudouinia and Eligmocarpus from Madagascar and Poeppigia from tropical America.
Ecology
Mendoravia dumaziana occurs in lowland evergreen forest, up to 100 m altitude. It is found on lateritic soils.
Genetic resources and breeding
Mendoravia dumaziana is restricted to a small area of lowland evergreen forest in valleys and on hillsides, and is certainly liable to genetic erosion.
Prospects
Research should focus on protection of Mendoravia dumaziana and exploitation of its timber should be discouraged.
Major references
• du Puy, D.J., Labat, J.N., Rabevohitra, R., Villiers, J.-F., Bosser, J. & Moat, J., 2002. The Leguminosae of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 750 pp.
• Schatz, G.E., 2001. Generic tree flora of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 477 pp.
Other references
• Lewis, G., Schrire, B., MacKinder, B. & Lock, M., 2005. Legumes of the world. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 577 pp.
Author(s)
• R.H.M.J. Lemmens
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands


Editors
• R.H.M.J. Lemmens
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
• D. Louppe
CIRAD, Département Environnements et Sociétés, Cirad es-dir, Campus international de Baillarguet, TA C-DIR / B (Bât. C, Bur. 113), 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
• A.A. Oteng-Amoako
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
Associate editors
• E.A. Obeng
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Correct citation of this article:
Lemmens, R.H.M.J., 2010. Mendoravia dumaziana Capuron. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Louppe, D. & Oteng-Amoako, A.A. (Editors). Prota 7(2): Timbers/Bois d’œuvre 2. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.