Rhodolaena leroyana

Rhodolaena leroyana is a plant in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar. The specific epithet is for the botanist Jean-François Leroy.

Description
Rhodolaena leroyana grows as a shrub or small tree up to 8 m tall. The twigs are hairless. Its subcoriaceous leaves are elliptic to obovate in shape and measure up to 12 cm long. The solitary inflorescences have one or two flowers on a peduncle measuring up to 8 cm long. Individual flowers are large with five sepals and five purple-pink petals, measuring up to 5 cm long. The fruits are large and woody, with a fleshy involucre.

Distribution and habitat
Rhodolaena leroyana is known only from the region of Atsinanana where it is confined to Betampona Reserve. Its habitat is humid evergreen forest from 300 m to 550 m altitude. The conservation status of the species is vulnerable.