Noronhia ovalifolia H. Perrier

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 : 200-201

61. Noronhia ovalifolia H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 301. 1949 ( Fig. 45A ).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toliara: bassin de réception de la Mananara , affluent du Mandrare , pentes occidentales des montagnes entre l’Andohahela et l’Elakelaka , Mont Apiky au-dessus de Mahamavo, 800-900 m, I-II.1934, Humbert 13822 (holo-: P [ P00418097 ]!; iso-: K [ K000233183 ] image seen, P [ P00418095 , P00418096 ]!, WAG [ WAG0002495 ] image seen) .

Description

Shrubs to 3 m tall, trunk to 3 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.8-1.6 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium to light gray, smooth. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades dark green above, yellowish below, ovate, 3.5-9.5 3 2-4.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base rounded, margin slightly revolute, apex acuminate, the acumen 1-9 mm long, midrib flat to slightly raised above, flat below, secondary veins conspicuous mostly below, 7-10 per side, 4-13 mm apart, looping 2-5.5 mm from the margin; petiole medium to light gray, 3-7 3 1-2 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Flowers solitary; pedicel 3-12 mm long, glabrous; calyx glabrous on both sides, lobes deltate to obovate, 1.5-2 3 2.1-2.6 mm; corolla pink, sometimes tinged white outside, cupuliform, 6.5-10 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 4.5-8.5 mm long, lobes widely ovate, apex obtuse; corona present, 2.5-3 mm long, slightly lobed; stamens 2.8-3 mm long, anthers obovate, 1.8-2.2 mm long; pistil 2.5-2.8 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 12-16 3 1-1.5 mm; young fruits green, reddish black when mature, subglobose to ovoid, 19-19.5 3 15-17.5 mm, surface smooth, apex flat to apiculate; dry pericarp 0.6-0.9 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 16 3 10.5 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia ovalifolia occurs in low- to mid-elevation transitional forests on basement rocks and alluvial deposits in and around Andohahela PN in the south ( Fig. 36 ). It produces flowers and fruits from October to March.

Conservation status

The assessment included eight collections representing eight localities and resulted in an EOO of 93 km 2, an AOO of 20 km 2, and three subpopulations representing three locations, of which two occur within a protected area (Andohahela). The subpopulation outside of the protected area occurs in an area that is now heavily degraded and has been converted into agriculture fields and pastureland, and will therefore likely experience continuing decline, potentially leading to extirpation. Therefore, N. ovalifolia is assigned a preliminary status of “Endangered” [EN B1ab(i, ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)].

Notes

Noronhia ovalifolia can be recognized by its short petioles, ovate leaf blades with light-colored venation, and solitary flowers with a pink to orangish corolla. It differs from N. boivinii and N. mangorensis by its ovate (vs. oblong to elliptic in N. boivinii and oblong to ovate in N. mangorensis ), acuminate (vs. cuspidate to mucronate and cuspidate, respectively) leaf blades, solitary (vs. fasciculate) flowers, and subglobose (vs. ovoid) fruits.

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toliara: Fort-Dauphin , Ambatoabo , Evasia , Andohahela PN, parcelle 1, 24°47’10”S 46°43’33”E, 681 m, 16.I.2007, Andriamihajarivo et al. 1097 ( MO, P, TAN); Ankoba, near E edge of Andohahela PN Park, 24°46’46”S 46°43’11”E, 600 m, 22.I.2008, Lowry et al. 6955 ( MO, P); ibid. loc., 24°47’34”S 46°41’55”E, 200 m, 24.I.2008, Lowry et al. 6977 ( MO, P); Fort-Dauphin, Ambatoabo , forêt d’Ankoba, 24°46’56”S 46°42’14”E, 228 m, 1.III.2008, Randrianaivo et al. 1548 ( G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 24°47’12”S 46°42’25”E, 300 m, 25.II.2009, Randrianaivo et al. 1760 ( MO, P, TAN); Amboasary, Behara , [24°36’S 46°42’E], 11.X.1958, Réserves Naturelles 10060 ( P, TEF); Italy (baie de Ranofotsy ), [25°09’00”S 46°45’30”E], 0-25 m, 10.I.1963, Service Forestier 22371 ( G, P, TEF) .

Figures

Fig.45.Photographs of Noronhia Stadtm.ex Thouars.

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