Hackel Jan, Razafimanantsoa Andriantsilavo H I, Porcher Vincent, Pirie Michael D
Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden.
Department of Biology, Philipp University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany Philipp University of Marburg Marburg Germany.
PhytoKeys. 2025 May 20;256:91-118. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.256.141375. eCollection 2025.
The plant genus L. (heathers; in Malagasy) has 35 recognised species in Madagascar, but there has not been a taxonomic revision since 1927 and there are few identification resources. We review available data for Malagasy (previously treated as ), summarise diagnostic species descriptions and incorporate them into the Identification Aid. There is clearly variation in current species concepts that requires further study. Malagasy most likely represent a single clade also encompassing species from the Mascarenes, but resolution is poor and most species remain unsequenced. is found in several of Madagascar's ecosystems, including the high-altitude "ericoid thickets" where diversity is highest, but it is absent from the extensive dry western areas. Habitats include the ericoid thickets, shrubland-grassland mosaics in the central highlands and on the eastern coast, and (tapia) savanna. Many species are likely to be part of dynamic ecosystems with infrequent fire regimes. The palaeorecord indicates a more widespread ericoid shrub vegetation during the last glacial period. There may be both wind- and insect-pollinated species. is mainly used as fuelwood in Madagascar, but local uses as tools and medicine have also been reported. Estimates suggest at least one-fifth of the species may be threatened, but formal assessments are lacking. Taxonomic revision of the group, coupled with phylogenomic, ecological and ethnobotanic studies, is an urgent priority.
L.属植物（石南科植物；在马达加斯加语中）在马达加斯加有35个已被认可的物种，但自1927年以来尚未进行过分类修订，且鉴定资源稀少。我们回顾了马达加斯加L.属植物（以前被视为……）的现有数据，总结了诊断性物种描述并将其纳入鉴定辅助工具中。目前的物种概念显然存在差异，需要进一步研究。马达加斯加的L.属植物很可能代表一个单系分支，其中还包括马斯克林群岛的物种，但分辨率很差，大多数物种仍未测序。L.属植物在马达加斯加的几个生态系统中都有发现，包括多样性最高的高海拔“石南科灌丛”，但在广阔的西部干旱地区没有。栖息地包括石南科灌丛、中部高地和东海岸的灌丛 - 草原镶嵌地以及（塔皮亚）稀树草原。许多L.属植物物种可能是火灾发生频率低的动态生态系统的一部分。古记录表明在上一个冰川期存在更广泛的石南科灌木植被。可能既有风媒传粉的物种，也有虫媒传粉的物种。L.属植物在马达加斯加主要用作薪柴，但也有作为工具和药物的当地用途的报道。估计表明至少五分之一的物种可能受到威胁，但缺乏正式评估。对该类群进行分类修订，同时开展系统发育基因组学、生态学和民族植物学研究是当务之急。
