Noronhia schatzii Hong-Wa, 2016

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 : 241-243

75. Noronhia schatzii Hong-Wa , spec. nova ( Fig. 60 ).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Analanjirofo, Masoala Peninsula , Ambanizana , “ S Trail” ( S of Androka River ) climbing into hills SE of Ambanizana, 15°38’S 49°59’E, 500 m, 29.X.1992, Schatz 3354 (holo-: MO-4670844!; iso-: G [ G00341576 ], K, P [ P03532856 ]!, TAN) .

Diagnosis

Noronhia schatzii Hong-Wa can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its whitish bark, its lanceolate somewhat discolor leaf blades, and its white to light yellow tinged pink flowers.

Description

Trees to 14 m tall, trunk to 15 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.7-1.4 mm diameter, glabrous; bark light gray to whitish, smooth, with scattered lenticels. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales rarely persistent; blades medium green above, lighter below, lanceolate, 7-11.5 3 2-5 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin flat, apex acuminate, the acumen 7-16 mm long, midrib slightly sunken above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins conspicuous only below, 7-11 per side, 8-15 mm apart, looping 2-5 mm from the margin; petiole light gray to whitish, 5-10 3 1-2 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Thyrses geminate to fasciculate, multiflorous, compact; peduncle 3-8 mm long, glabrescent to glabrous; pedicel 3-6 mm long, glabrescent to glabrous; calyx sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 0.5-1 3 0.8-1.5 mm; corolla white to light yellow tinged pink to mauve, cupuliform, 3-4.5 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1-2 mm long, lobes oblong to obovate; corona present, 1-1.5 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.3-1.7 mm long, anthers oblong, 0.7-1 mm long; pistil 1.3-1.8 mm long, capitate. Fruiting pedicel 4-20 3 0.7-1.7 mm; young fruits green, brownish when mature, ovoid, 14.5-19.5 3 8-13 mm, surface smooth, apex flat; dry pericarp 0.3-1 mm thick; endocarp subcrustaceous; seed 10.5-12 3 5-6 mm.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to George E. Schatz, Curator at the Missouri Botanical Garden, who collected the type specimen and who has tremendously advanced the knowledge of the Malagasy flora through various projects, including the “Generic Tree Flora of Madagascar ” (SCHATZ, 2001), a rich source of botanical information.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia schatzii occurs in low- to mid-elevation humid forests on basement rocks along the east coast from the Masoala peninsula to Fort-Dauphin ( Fig. 49 ). It produces flowers and fruits from October to June.

242 Boissiera 70

Conservation status

Noronhia schatzii is known from eight collections representing eight localities, and exhibits an EOO of 33,332 km 2, an AOO of 28 km 2, and five subpopulations representing five locations, of which four occur within protected areas (Makira, Masoala, and Tsitongambarika). It is very likely that the actual AOO is much larger than 2,000 km 2. Thus, N. schatzii is assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”.

Notes

Noronhia schatzii is similar to N. stevensiana Hong-Wa, but can be distinguished by its entirely (vs. partially) woody petioles, multiflorous (vs. pauciflorous), compact (vs. compact to diffuse) thyrses, glabrescent to glabrous (vs. pubescent) peduncles and pedicels, and ovoid (vs. subglobose to ovoid) fruits. The whitish bark, lanceolate somewhat discolor leaf blades, and white to light yellow tinged pink flowers characterize this species.

Paratypi

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Maroantsetra , Antsirabe Sahatany , Anjiahely , 15°24’03”S 49°27’14”E, 725 m, 12.VI.2004, Antilahimena 2493 ( MO, P); Masoala PN, near Andranobe, 15°40’54”S 49°57’28”E, 0 m, 6.X.1997, Malcomber 2811 ( K, MO); Masoala , 1-2 km E of Ambanizana, 15°36S 49°57’E, 340 m, 9.V.1989, Schatz et al. 2709 ( MO, P, TAN). Prov. Toliara: Fort-Dauphin , Iaboko , Antsontso , Ivohibe forest, 24°34’13”S 47°12’01”E, 286 m, 23.V.2006, Antilahimena et al. 4820 ( G, MO, P, TAN, TEF); Bemangidy Forest , 24°35’02”S 47°12’44”E, 100-250 m, 7.II.2006, Lowry et al. 6685 ( G, MO, P, TAN); Iabakoho, Antsotso , 24°34’S 47°11’E, 9.XII.2007, Rabenantoandro et al. 1870 ( G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 24°34’16”S 47°12’06”E, 271 m, 8.XII.2007, Razakamalala et al. 3810 ( MO, P, TAN) .

Figures

Fig. 60. Noronhia schatzii Hong-Wa . A. Fruiting branch; B. AbaxiaL side of Leaf bLade; C. FLower; D. Corona; E. PistiL F. Stamen; G. Fruiting pediceL.

Fig. 49. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm.ex Thouars. N. pervilleana (KnobL.) H. Perrier to N. seyrigii H. Perrier.