Noronhia tubulosa 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 : 267-268

83. Noronhia tubulosa H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 295. 1949 ( Fig. 67C ).

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: env. de Majunga, [15°43’S 46°19’E], XII.1918, Perrier de la Bâthie 12325 ( P [ P00418102 ]!; isolecto-: K [ K000233180 , K000233181 ] images seen, P [ P00573407 , P00573408 ]!) . Syntypus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: env. de Majunga, s.d., Alleizette s.n. ( P, not found) .

Description

Small trees to 8 m tall, trunk to 19 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.6-1.4 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium gray to brownish, slightly rugose. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades light green above, yellowish below, elliptic, 3.5-7 3 1-2.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin flat to slightly revolute, apex retuse to slightly acuminate, the acumen 1-6 mm long, midrib slightly sunken above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins conspicuous mostly below, 5-12 per side, 4.5-11 mm apart, looping 1-2 mm from the margin; petiole medium gray, 3.5-6 3 0.7-1.5 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Flowers fasciculate; pedicel 4-12 mm long, very sparsely pubescent; calyx very sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 1-1.2 3 0.6-1.5 mm; corolla yellow tinged reddish, tubular, somewhat campanulate, 5-10 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 4-8 mm long, lobes deltate, apex acute; corona present, 1.2-2 mm long, slightly lobed; stamens 1.7-2.5 mm long, anthers obovate, 1.3- 1.7 mm long; pistil 1.8-2 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 3-14 3 0.6-1 mm; young fruits green, dark red when mature, subglobose, 9-17 3 7-12 mm, surface smooth, apex apiculate; dry pericarp 0.3-0.8 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 5-13 3 4-7.5 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia tubulosa occurs in low-elevation dry forests in the Boina and Melaky regions in the west ( Fig. 62 ). It produces flowers and fruits from November to May.

Conservation status

There were seven collections representing six localities available for analysis, which yielded an EOO of 20,371 km 2, an AOO of 20 km 2, and four subpopulations representing four locations, of which two occur within protected areas (Ankarafantsika and Mahavavy-Kinkony). The actual AOO, although surely larger than the estimated value given above, is likely less than 2,000 km 2. Moreover, due to wildfire, forest exploitation, grazing, and land conversion, subpopulations of N. tubulosa are projected to experience continuing decline in habitat quality as well as habitat loss. Therefore, it is assigned a preliminary status of “Vulnerable” [VU B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)].

Notes

Noronhia tubulosa can be recognized by its coriaceous, elliptic leaf blades, fasciculate, yellow tinged red flowers with a tubular to somewhat campanulate corolla, and small, subglobose fruits. It differs from N. boinensis , as previously discussed, by the conspicuousness of its leaf venation and the color and shape of its flowers. This species was based on two syntypes (Perrier de la Bâthie 12325 and Alleizette s.n.). However, PERRIER DE LA BâTHIE (1949, 1952) mentioned that Alleizette s.n. is in fact just a part of his own collection (Perrier de la Bâthie 12325), writing “même localité, simple part probable du précédent [i.e. Perrier de la Bâthie 12325]” in 1949 and “même localité, exemplaire qui n’est évidemment qu’une simple part du précédent [i.e. Perrier de la Bâthie 12325]” in 1952, which seems odd. In any case, Alleizette s.n. could not be located in the Paris herbarium, therefore a specimen of Perrier de la Bâthie 12325 has been chosen as the lectotype and Alleizette s.n. has not been listed as an isolectotype.

268 Boissiera 70

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Ankarafantsika PN, 16°19’S 46°49’E, 60-200 m, 8.IV.1988, Gentry & Schatz 62153 ( MO, P, TAN) ; ibid. loc., 16°17’45”S 46°49’20”E, 116 m, 14.III.2009, Hong-Wa 629 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Maintirano, Ampasimandroro , [18°04’E 44°01’S], s.d., Service Forestier 16313 ( TEF) ; près de Benetsy, [15°56’S 45°47’E], 21.XI.1965, Service Forestier 24268 ( MO, P, TEF) ; Marovoay, Ampijoroa STF, 16°18’S 46°49’E, 200 m, 14-15.XII.1991, Service Forestier 34329 ( MO, TEF) .

Figures

Fig.67. Photographs of Noronhia Stadtm.ex Thouars.A. Noronhia tetrandra H.Perrier [Hong-Wa 616];

Fig. 62. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars.N. similis Hong-Wa to N. tubulosa H. Perrier.