''Xyloolaena'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

within

Sarcolaenaceae The Sarcolaenaceae are a family of flowering plants endemic to Madagascar. The family includes 79 species of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs in ten genera. Recent DNA studies indicate that the Sarcolaenaceae are a sibling taxon to the family ...

family. Within Sarcolaenaceae, ''Xyloolaena'' appears to be most closely related to ''

Sarcolaena ''Sarcolaena'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Sarcolaenaceae. This family is endemism, endemic to Madagascar. There are about 8 species in the genus.Randrianasolo, A., & Miller, J. S. (1999)Taxonomic revision of the genus ''Sarcolae ...

'' and '' Leptolaena''.

Species

The genus has five species of shrubs and trees, all

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

. *'' Xyloolaena humbertii'' Cavaco 1950 is a small tree, 6–8 m tall, known from only a single collection found in transitional vegetation between sclerophyllous forest and dry bush (800–900 m elevation). It was collected from the locality where now

Andohahela National Park The Andohahela National Park is situated in Anosy in the south-east of Madagascar. It is remarkable for the extremes of habitats that are represented within it. The park covers of the Anosy mountain range, the southernmost spur of the Malagasy H ...

exists (Toliara province). *''

Xyloolaena perrieri ''Xyloolaena'' is a genus within Sarcolaenaceae family. Within Sarcolaenaceae, ''Xyloolaena'' appears to be most closely related to ''Sarcolaena'' and ''Leptolaena''. Species The genus has five species of shrubs and trees, all endemic (ecology) ...

'' F.Gérard 1919 is a tree c. 4–10 m tall that has been recorded at scattered localities from near Morondava,

Ankarafantsika National Park Ankarafantsika National Park is a national park near Andranofasika in the Boeny Region of Madagascar. The closest city is Majunga north of the park. Ankarafantsika is mostly tropical in climate type. The Sakalava people are the predominant ethn ...

and the Lokia River basin east of Ambilobe within Madagascar's dry bioclimatic region (Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toliara provinces). Vernacular name – ''Zahana''. *'' Xyloolaena richardii'' ( Baill.) Baill. (1872) 1884 is a tree c. 4–20 m tall, ranging from sea level to over 1,500 m elevation in areas with a humid bioclimate in northeastern Madagascar, with one population recorded in the far southeast (Antsiranana, Toamasina and Toliara provinces). Vernacular names – ''Fakody, Fombaotoafo, Pesoala, Takodibe, Tamboro, Tsikody zahana, Vahitoambody, Voakoropetaka, Voantiambody, Voantsatroka''. *'' Xyloolaena sambiranensis'' Lowry & G.E.Schatz 2002 is a shrub to tree 3–12 m tall distributed in the Sambirano region (subhumid bioclimate) from south of Maromandia north to the Ambanja area (Antsiranana and Mahajanga provinces). Vernacular names – ''Sofiakomba, Sofiankomba, Sofikomba, Sofinakomba, Sofinkomba''. *'' Xyloolaena speciosa'' Lowry & G.E.Schatz 2002 is a large shrub or tree to 20 m tall. It is narrowly distributed in an area with a dry to subhumid bioclimate extending from the Ambato Peninsula and the lower Ifasy River valley north to near Ambilobe (Antsiranana province). Vernacular name – ''Marabanty''.

References

* Lowry II P.P., Schatz G.E. & Wolf A.-E.. 2000. Endemic families of Madagascar. VIII. A synoptic revision of Xyloolaena Baill. (Sarcolaenaceae). ''Adansonia'', sér. 3 (2002), 24 (1): 7–19

Sarcolaenaceae Malvales genera Endemic flora of Madagascar Taxa described in 1879 Taxa named by Henri Ernest Baillon {{Sarcolaenaceae-stub