SEED Madagascar

In Search of Madagascar's Elusive River Palm, Ravenea musicalis

Hogg, F., Henshall, J..

A record of two new populations of Madagascar’s Critically Endangered water palm, Ravenea musicalis, augments the species population size and distribution range, and updates the palm’s conservation status.

Ravenea musicalis is a Critically Endangered aquatic palm, endemic to the southeast of Madagascar (Fig. 1; Beentje 1993, Rakotoarinivo & Dransfield 2012). Since its discovery (to science) some 20 years ago (Beentje 1993), R. musicalis has only ever been recorded from one location, the Belavenoka River, situated about 30 km north of Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin). Rakotoarinivo and Dransfield (2012) estimated the population size at 450 mature individuals and declining from ongoing habitat loss and over-harvesting.

Key topics:

Environment

Year of publication:

2014

Published in:

Palms, vol. 58(3)