Noronhia boinensis 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 : 49-50

5. Noronhia boinensis H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 303. 1949.

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Ankaladina , sur la Betsiboka (Boiny), [16°22’S 46°32’E], XII.1901, Perrier de la Bâthie 1379 ( P [ P00418075 ]!; isolecto-: K [ K000233199 ] image seen, P [ P00418076 , P00418077 ]!) . Syntypi: Tsingy de Namoroka (Ambongo), [16°34’S 45°34’E], I.1905, Perrier de la Bâthie 1802 ( K [ K000233200 ] image seen, P [ P00701250 , P04046996 ]!) ; Baie de Mahajamba (Boina), VII.1907, Perrier de la Bâthie 4495 ( P [ P00701252 ]!) ; Tsingy de Namoroka (Ambongo), [16°34’S 45°34’E], XII.1926, Perrier de la Bâthie 17817 ( P [ P04046994 ]!) .

Description

Small trees to 7 m tall, trunk to 20 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.7- 1.3 mm diameter, glabrous; bark dark to medium gray, smooth to slightly rugose. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades dark green above, lighter below, widely elliptic, 5-8 3 2-3.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base acute to attenuate, margin slightly revolute and undulate, apex slightly acuminate, the acumen 1-7 mm long, midrib flat to slightly sunken above, flat to raised below, secondary veins barely visible, 7-11 per side, 6-12 mm apart, looping 1-3 mm from the margin; petiole dark to medium gray, 4-8 3 1-1.6 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Flowers solitary to geminate; pedicel 7-10 mm long, moderately pubescent; calyx moderately pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes deltate, 1-1.2 3 0.9-1 mm; corolla reddish outside, yellowish inside, urceolate, 4-5 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 3-4 mm long, lobes deltate, apex acute; corona present, 1-1.5 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.5-1.8 mm long, anthers slightly obovate, 1.4 mm long; pistil 1.5-2.8 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 7-20 3 0.6-0.9 mm; young fruits green, dark red when mature, subglobose, 11-15 3 9-11.5 mm, surface smooth, sometimes covered with a white pellicle, apex apiculate to flat with the persistent style; dry pericarp 0.6-1.1 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 8-11 3 5-7 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia boinensis occurs in low-elevation dry forests in the west, from Ankarafantsika to Antsalova ( Fig. 3 ). It produces flowers and fruits throughout the year, with a peak between October and March.

Conservation status

Based on 12 collections representing 12 localities, the assessment provided an EOO of 39,885 km 2, an AOO of 48 km 2, and 10 subpopulations representing nine locations, of which two occur within the network of protected areas (Beanka and Tsimembo). Although the AOO is very likely larger than 48 km 2, it is nonetheless probably less than 2,000 km 2. Moreover, most of the suitable habitats will experience continuing decline in area as well as in quality due to deforestation, wildfire, and wood harvesting, all of which can result in the reduction of the number of mature individuals. Noronhia boinensis is therefore assigned a preliminary status of “Vulnerable” [VU B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2a b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)].

50 Boissiera 70

Notes

Noronhia boinensis can be recognized by its coriaceous, elliptic leaf blades and its solitary to geminate red-yellow flowers. It differs from N. tubulosa H. Perrier by its barely visible (vs. conspicuous) venation, urceolate (vs. tubular) flowers, and red-yellow (vs. yellow) corolla. It was described based on the following syntypes: Perrier de la Bâthie 1379, 1802, 4495 and 17817. A specimen of Perrier de la Bâthie 1379 is chosen as the lectotype because of the completeness and overall quality of the material and the number of duplicates available.

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Beanka, Anadabomanambaditsingilo , 18°02’15’’S 44°28’36’’E, 224 m, 10.III.2012, Hanitrarivo et al. 309 ( G, MO) ; Bongolava ( Boina ), [15°40’S 47°16’E], X.1907, Perrier de la Bâthie 8830 ( P) ; Antsalova, between Ambereny and Lac Masama , 18°51’S 44°27’E, 50 m, 26.VIII.1987, Phillipson 2277 ( K, MO, P, TAN) ; Ambondromamy, forêt de Befotaka , 16°22’39”S 47°10’28’’E, 17.IV.2007, Razakamalala et al. 3364 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Maintirano, Ambinda , 18°04’S 44°30’E, 203 m, 19.X.2009, Razakamalala et al. 4423 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Berivotra , [15°54’00’’S 46°34’30’’E], 100 m, 22.XI.1957, Service Forestier 18460 ( P, TEF) ; Antsalova, Masoarivo, forêt de Tsimembo , [18°52’S 44°25’E], 50-100 m, 17.III.1961, Service Forestier 19865 ( TEF) ; ibid. loc., Tsimembo-Ambereny , [18°53’S 44°23’E], 0-50 m, 22.VIII.1962, Service Forestier 21054 ( TEF) ; Beanka, Ambinda-Nord , 17°56’41’’S 44°28’29’’E, 246 m, 11.XI.2011, Tahinarivony & Bolliger 582 ( G, MO) .

Figures

Fig. 3. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars: N. alleizettei Dubard to N. capuronii Bosser.