Noronhia luteola 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 : 163-164

48. Noronhia luteola H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 298. 1949 ( Fig. 33A ).

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toliara: Ampandrandava , entre Bekily et Tsivory, [24°05’S 45°52’E], 700 m, I.1944, Seyrig 642b ( P [ P0071219 ]!, isolecto-: P [ P03558932 , P03558933 ]!) . Syntypi: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Fianarantsoa: Vallées de l’Isalo, Fanjahira , [23°29’S 44°44’E], 300 m, 9.X.1924, Humbert 2760 ( K [ K000233187 ], P [ P00701221 , P00701273 ]!) . Prov. Toliara: Mont Amboahangy près d’Esira, [24°15’S 46°39’E], 1000-1150 m, 25.XI.1928, Humbert 6825 ( G [00188779] image seen, P [ P00701222 ]!) ; Mont Vohipolaka au N de Betroka (Centre-Sud), [23°08’S 46°05’E], 1100-1200 m, 1.XI.1933, Humbert 11641 ( P [ P00701220 , P03558930 , P03558931 ]!) ; Mont Vohitrosy, Anadabolava, [24°15’S 46°43’E], 800 m, XII.1933, Humbert 12656 ( P [ P03558938 ]!) ; Vallée de la Sakamalio, bassin du Mandrare [24°32’S 46°41’E], 900-1100 m, XII.1933, Humbert 13370 ( P [ P03558934 ]!) ; Ampandrandava, entre Bekily et Tsivory , [24°05’S 45°52’E], 700 m, IV.1943, Seyrig 642 ( P [ P03558935 ]!) .

Description

Trees to 13 m tall, trunk to 25 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.7-1.6 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium gray, rugose. Leaves opposite, deciduous; bud scales persistent; blades medium green glossy above, lighter below, oblong to obovate, 3-12.5 3 1-3 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin slightly revolute, apex rounded to acute or slightly acuminate, the acumen 1-9 mm long, midrib slightly sunken above, slightly raised below, secondary veins barely visible, 7-16 per side, 4-13 mm apart, looping 0.8-3.5 mm from the margin; petiole yellow to reddish, 3-10 3 0.7-1.7 mm, not woody, glabrous. Thyrses geminate, pauciflorous, compact to somewhat diffuse; peduncle 2 mm long, glabrescent; pedicel 1.5-18 mm long, glabrescent; calyx sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 0.7-1.3 3 1-1.5 mm; corolla white, subrotate, 3-4 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1-3 mm long, lobes widely ovate, apex rounded; corona present, 1-1.7 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.5-2.6 mm long, anthers transversely oblong, 1.1-1.8 mm long; pistil 1.5-2.2 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 3-7 3 0.9-1.1 mm; young fruits green, brown when mature, ovoid, 11-19 3 8-12.5 mm, surface smooth, apex flat to rostellate, the rostellum flattened, with the persistent style; dry pericarp 0.6-1.2 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 7-13 3 5.5-8.5 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia luteola occurs in littoral and low- to high-elevation dry forests and thickets in the south, from Fanjahira to Fort-Dauphin ( Fig. 27 ). It produces flowers and fruits from October to June.

164 Boissiera 70

Conservation status

The assessment included 23 collections representing 13 localities and resulted in an EOO of 21,499 km 2, an AOO of 44 km 2, and eight subpopulations representing seven locations, of which two occur within the newly established protected areas of Mandena and Petriky. Some of the subpopulations occur in an area that is frequently burned for grazing while others are currently affected by industrial mining in southern Madagascar. Because of observed and projected continuing decline in habitat quality as well as habitat loss, coupled with an actual AOO that is probably less than 2,000 km 2, N. luteola is assigned a preliminary status of “Vulnerable” [VU B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v)], although the EOO is not expected to decline in the near future.

Notes

Noronhia luteola can be recognized by its coriaceous, oblong to obovate leaf blades, short-peduncles, and subrotate, white flowers. The following syntypes were cited in the protologue: Humbert 2760, 6825, 11641, 12656 and 13370, Seyrig 642 and 642b. Of these, Seyrig 642b is the only one with flowers and several duplicates, and one of the sheets at P has therefore been chosen as the lectotype.

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toliara: Forêt de Petriky , 25°05’S 46°52’E, 0-10 m, 5.XII.1989, Dumetz & McPershon 1121 ( MO, TAN) ; Ampasy Nampoana, forêt de Mandena , 24°57’10’’S 47°00’10’’E, 9 m, 12. II.2009, Hong-Wa 594 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Mandena forest , 24°57’S 47°00’E, 25 m, 25.X.1989, McPherson et al. 14230 ( MO, P, TAN, TEF) ; Manambaro, Ambovo, forêt de Petriky , 25°03’03’’S 46°53’44’’E, 6 m, 24. VI.2004, Rabenantoandro et al. 1606 ( G, MO, P, TEF) ; Manafiafy , 24°46’S 47°12’E, 12.XI.1990, Rabevohitra 2434 ( K, MO, P, TAN, TEF) ; Mahatalaky, Belavenoka , 24°50’S 47°04’E, 15.XI.2007, Ramison & Rabevohitra 400 ( G, MO, P, TAN) .

Figures

Fig.33.Photographs of Noronhia Stadtm.ex Thouars

Fig. 27. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars. N. intermedia Hong-Wa to N. macrocarpa Hong-Wa.