Taxonomic Studies of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) from the Malagasy Region. XII. Diospyros schatzii, a New Species from Northeastern Madagascar Honoring George E. Schatz (1953–2024)

Porter P. Lowry II; Alexander G. Linan; Hasina N. Rakouth

doi:10.3417/2025986

Porter P. Lowry II Missouri Botanical Garden and Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8047-5019
Alexander G. Linan Missouri Botanical Garden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8281-1346
Hasina N. Rakouth Missouri Botanical Garden, Madagascar Research and Conservation Program https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8279-5245

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3417/2025986

Keywords: Diospyros, Ebenaceae, Madagascar, new species

Abstract

Diospyros schatzii Lowry, A. G. Linan & H. N. Rakouth (Ebenaceae), a new species from northeastern Madagascar, is described in honor of George E. Schatz (1953–2024), a renowned expert on the Malagasy flora and a passionate student of the genus Diospyros L. The new species occurs in low- and mid-elevation humid forest at 0–700 m. A preliminary risk of extinction assessment using the IUCN Red List criteria reveals that D. schatzii is Near Threatened (NT).