Noronhia marinae

Hong-Wa, Cynthia, 2016, A taxonomic revision of the genus Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars (Oleaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, Boissiera 70, pp. 1-292 : 174-176

52. Noronhia marinae Hong-Wa, spec. nova ( Fig. 37).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Fianarantsoa: Atsimo-Atsinanana, Manombo RS, parcelle I, circuit Reharatra, 23°00’39”S 47°44’08”E, 12 m, 15.IX.2005, Rabarimanarivo et al. 118 (holo-: MO-6615562!; iso-: G [ G00341623 ]!, P [ P03559025 ]!, TAN!) .

Diagnosis

Noronhia marinae Hong-Wa can be distinguished from other congeneric species by its narrow leaves, its purplish pink flowers borne into compact inflorescences clustered around the nodes.

Description

Trees to 16 m tall, trunk to 24 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.5-2.5 mm diameter, glabrous; bark brownish, somewhat rugose, with slight exfoliations. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales deciduous; blades dark green above, lighter below, linear to lanceolate, 4-10.5 3 1-3 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base acute to attenuate, margin flat to slightly revolute, apex acuminate, the acumen 3-13 mm long, midrib sunken above, raised below, secondary veins barely visible, 7-13 per side, 5-10 mm apart, looping 1-3.5 mm from the margin; petiole brownish, 1.5-10 3 0.7-2.2 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Thyrses geminate to fasciculate, pauciflorous, compact; peduncle 2-5 mm long, moderately pubescent; pedicel 2-7 mm long, moderately pubescent; calyx moderately pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 0.7-1.3 3 0.8-1.5 mm; corolla purplish pink, cupuliform, 3-5 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1-2 mm long, lobes ovate, apex rounded; corona present, 1-1.7 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.3-2 mm long, anthers oblong, 0.8-1 mm long; pistil 1.5-2.2 mm long, stigma slightly bilobed. Fruiting pedicel 5-7 3 1-1.3 mm; young fruits green, blackish when mature, ovoid, 12.5-13 3 9.5-10 mm, surface smooth, sometimes covered with white dots, apex flat to bluntly pointed, style persistent; dry pericarp 0.5-0.8 mm thick; endocarp woody.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to Marina Rabarimanarivo , a botanist at the Missouri Botanical Garden in Madagascar, for collecting the type specimen and for adding to the ranks of (the still too few) female Malagasy botanists.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia marinae occurs in littoral to mid-elevation humid forests along the east coast in two distinct areas: from Antsirabe Nord to Antalaha in the north and from Farafangana to Fort-Dauphin in the south ( Fig. 36 ). It produces flowers and fruits from September to January.

Conservation status

Based on nine collections representing nine localities, an EOO of 50,885 km 2, an AOO of 32 km 2, and eight subpopulations representing eight locations were obtained. Five of the locations occur within protected areas (Andohahela, Ankarabolava-Agnakatrika, Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby complex, Manombo, and Tsitongambarika). With an EOO exceeding 20,000 km 2 and an actual AOO likely larger than 2,000 km 2, N. marinae is assigned a preliminary status of “Near Threatened” [NT].

176 Boissiera 70

Notes

Noronhia marinae is similar to N. linocerioides , but can be distinguished by its woody (vs. non-woody) petioles, linear to lanceolate (vs. elliptic) leaf blades, cupuliform (vs. subrotate), purplish pink (vs. pale yellow) flowers, and apiculate (vs. rostellate) fruits. It can be recognized by its narrow leaves and purplish pink flowers borne in compact inflorescences clustered around the nodes.

Paratypi

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Vohémar, Antsirabe Nord , Andravinambo , forêt de Tsihomanaomby , 14°06’S 50°02’E, 19.XI.2013, Rakotonirina et al. 273 ( DOV, MO, P, TAN) ; Antalaha, Ambanitazana, près d’Andrapengy , [14°40’S 50°12’E], 22.X.1966, Service Forestier 24956 ( G, MO, P, TEF) . Prov. Fianarantsoa: Manombo RS, 23°00’39”S 47°44’07”E, 16 m, 12.IX.2005, Rabarimanarivo et al. 60 ( G, MO, P, TAN) ; Vangaindrano, Sianofana, Ambatomalama , forêt de Vohipaho , 23°26’34”S 47°31’04”E, 40 m, 20.IX.2009, Razanatsima & Zafindrafeno 723 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Farafangana, Morarano , [22°48’00”S 47°41’30”E], 0-50 m, 10.X.1953, Service Forestier 10161 ( P, TEF) . Prov. Toliara: Mahatalaky, Farafara Vatanibe , 24°51’02”S 47°00’20”E, 135 m, 14-18.XI.2009, Rakotovao et al. 4531 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Enaniliha, forêt d’Andohahela-Trafonaomby , 24°35’40”S 46°44’18”E, 808 m, 28.X.2009, Randrianaivo & Andriantiana 1771 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Fort-Dauphin, Ifarantsa , [24°54’S 46°52’E], 24.X.1956, Réserves Naturelles 8183 ( P) .

Figures

Fig. 36. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars.N. maculata Hong-Wa to N. perrieriana Hong-Wa.