Noronhia obtusifolia (Lam.)

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 : 191-192

58. Noronhia obtusifolia (Lam.) Hong-Wa & Besnard in Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 67: 376. 2013 ( Fig. 42 ).

≡ Olea obtusifolia Lam., Tabl. Encycl. Méthod. 1: 28. 1791.

≡ Linociera obtusifolia (Lam.) H. Perrier in Mém.Inst.Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B,Biol. Vég. 2:

279. 1949.

≡ Chionanthus obtusifolius (Lam.) Stearn in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 80: 203. 1980.

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR: sine loc., s.d., Commerson s.n. (P-JU n° 4900 [ P00657336 ] image seen; isolecto-: G [ G00007660 ] image seen, P [ P00413214 ]!, P-LA [ P00356887 ] image seen) .

– Linociera obtusifolia var. thouarsii H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 279. 1949 [nom. inval.]

≡ Noronhia obtusifolia var. thouarsii (H. Perrier) Hong-Wa & Besnard in Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 67: 376. 2013 [nom. inval.].

Description

Trees to 20 m tall, trunk to 25 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 1-2.5 mm diameter, glabrous; bark dark to medium gray, smooth to slightly rugose. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales rarely persistent; blades dark green above, lighter below, obovate, 3.5-10.5 3 1.5-4 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin slightly revolute, apex obtuse to rounded or obcordate, midrib slightly sunken above, raised below, secondary veins distinct to barely visible, 7-13 per side, 5-10 mm apart, looping 1-2 mm from the margin; petiole yellow to brownish, 6-20 3 0.5-2.3 mm, not woody, sometimes only partially, glabrous. Thyrses geminate, multiflorous, compact; peduncle 8-14 mm long, glabrous; pedicel 1.5-4 mm long, glabrous; calyx glabrous on both sides, lobes triangular, 1-1.3 3 0.8- 1.2 mm; corolla white, campanulate, petals almost free, 5-7 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1-4 mm long, lobes ovate, apex obtuse; corona absent; stamens 2-2.8 mm long, anthers ovate, apiculate, 1.5-1.8 mm long; pistil 1.5-2.5 mm long, stigma bilobed. Fruiting pedicel 1-1.7 3 1.3-1.6 mm; young fruits green, reddish black when mature, ovoid to subglobose, 16-21 3 6-16.5 mm, smooth to ribbed, apex flat to rostellate, with the persistent style; dry pericarp 0.2-1.2 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 14-15 3 5-12 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia obtusifolia occurs in low- to high-elevation humid forests in eastern Madagascar, from around Anjanaharibe-Sud in the north to around Fort-Dauphin in the south ( Fig. 36 ). It produces flowers and fruits all year.

Conservation status

Based on 52 collections representing 43 localities, the analyses indicated an EOO of 97,820 km 2, an AOO of 132 km 2, and 26 subpopulations representing 26 locations, of which 12 occur within protected areas (Agnalazaha, Ambohidena, Andohahela, Anjanaharibe-Sud, Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena, Makira, Mandena, Marojejy, Ste Luce, Tampolo, Tsitongambarika, and Vohibola). With a large EOO and an actual AOO likely exceeding 2,000 km 2, N. obtusifolia is assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”.

192 Boissiera 70

Notes

Noronhia obtusifolia can be recognized by its elliptic to narrowly or very widely obovate leaf blades terminated by an obtuse to obcordate apex, compact inflorescences, white flowers with barely connate petals, and ovoid, almost elongate, smooth to ribbed fruits. The variation in the shape of the leaf blades and fruits as well as fruit ornamentation may be sufficient to distinguish different entities within this species. Indeed, PER-RIER DE LA BâTHIE (1949, 1952) recognized three varieties, of which two were, however, invalidly published due to a lack of Latin diagnosis (Art. 39.1; MCNEILL et al., 2012). Consequently, the combinations N. obtusifolia var. minoriflora (H. Perrier) Hong-Wa & Besnard and N. obtusifolia var. thouarsii (H. Perrier) Hong-Wa & Besnard are also invalid as they were based on these names. The taxon referred to as N. obtusifolia var. minoriflora is here recognized as distinct at the species level and described as new (see p. 179) using the name N. martiniana . By contrast, N. obtusifolia var. thouarsii , based on a very poor material, is better treated as N. obtusifolia (without recognition at an infraspecific level) until additional specimens become available. The collection in P-JUS is here designated as lectotype as it is more complete than the material in P-LAM. Furthermore, the latter collection bears the indication “ex-Juss” meaning that Lamarck had received the collection from Jussieu. LAMARCK (1791) indicated Mauritius as the origin of the type by error; it is in fact a Commerson collection from Madagascar.

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Ambatosoratra , [14°34’S 49°44’E], 400 m, 5. I.1949, Cours 3292 ( MO, P) ; Mt Ambatosoratra , [14°25’48”S 49°43’48”E], 1500-1540 m, 4-8. I.1949, Humbert & Cours 22941 ( P) ; Anjanaharibe-Sud RS, 14°48’15”S 49°26’45”E, 1000-1100 m, 6.VIII.1997, McPherson 17254 ( K, MO) . Prov. Fianarantsoa: Nosy Varika, Ambahy , 20°48’07”S 48°28’56”E, 22 m, 13.XI.2003, Rabehevitra et al. 741 ( K, MO, P, TEF) . Prov. Mahajanga: Befandriana-Nord, Matsoandakana , Andranomena , forêt d’Anjiabe , 15°08’10”S 49°21’08”E, 1085 m, 11. II.2008, Ravelonarivo et al. 2775 ( G, MO, P, TAN) . Prov. Toamasina: Maroantsetra, Ambinanitelo , Marovovonana , Ankirindro forest , 15°17’34”S 49°32’46”E, 690 m, 13. I.2003, Antilahimena 1711 ( G, MO, P) ; Antsirabe Sahatany, Anjiahely , 15°24’45”S 49°22’29”E, 1201 m, 19. VI.2004, Antilahimena 2529 ( MO) ; Ambinanitelo, Marovovonana , 15°19’03”S 49°24’06”E, 800 m, 4.IX.2004, Antilahimena 2767 ( MO) ; Mananara, Vanono, Lohan’i Ambitsy forest , 15°53’27”S 49°28’57”E, 846 m, 26.VII.2007, Antilahimena 5706 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Mahanoro, Ambodibonara, Ambalavontaka , forêt de Nankinana, 20°22’21”S 48°33’15”E, 16 m, 12. II.2004, Rabehevitra 801 ( MO, P, TEF) ; Brickaville, Ambila-Lemaitso , 18°49’S 49°08’E, 0-5 m, 11.XI.1999, A. Randrianasolo & Ranaivojaona 650 ( G, MO, P) ; Brickaville, Maroseranana, Ambodilendemy , 18°24’49”S 48°47’32”E, 1175 m, 24.III.2011, Ravelonarivo et al. 3848 ( G, MO, P, TAN) ; Sainte Marie, Lokintsy, Sahasifotra , forêt d’Ambohidena , 16°50’25”S 49°57’09”E, 10 m, 19. II.2004, Razakamalala 943 ( K, MO, P, TEF) ; Ambila-Lemaitso , [18°49’S 49°08’E], 30 m, 8-10.VIII.1957, Service Forestier 18067 ( MO) . Prov. Toliara: Fort-Dauphin, Mt Vohimavo , 24°19’32”S 47°08’11”E, 836-837 m, 4.XII.2001, Hong-Wa 29 ( G, MO, P, TAN) ; Ampasy Nampoana , forêt de Mandena, 24°57’10”S 47°00’10”E, 9 m, 12. II.2009, Hong-Wa 599 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Ambatoabo, forêt d’Ankoba , 24°46’44”S 46°43’17”E, 660 m, 19.VII.2011, Randrianaivo et al. 1888 ( G, MO, P, TAN) ; Iabakoho, Antsotso , forêt de Bemangidy, 24°35’33”S 47°12’52”E, 22. V.2006, Randriatafika et al. 655 ( G, MO, P, TEF) ; ibid. loc., 24°34’10”S 47°12’01”E, 651 m, 2008, Randriatafika 903 ( G, MO, P, TEF) ; Ampasy Nampoana , forêt de Mandena, 24°57’26”S 47°01’34”E, 90 m, 13-15. VI.1999, Ratovoson et al. 106 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Iaboko, Antsotso Avaratra , 24°33’42”S 47°12’02”E, 662 m, 11.XII.2007, Razakamalala et al. 3989 ( G, MO, P, TAN) ; Fort-Dauphin, Manafiafy , 24°47’S 47°10’E, 15 m, 13.XI.1990, Schatz et al. 3009 ( G, MO, TAN) ; Vataza , au SE d’Imonty, [24°36’S 46°42’E], 16. I.1963, Service Forestier 22458 ( G, MO) . Sine loc.: s.d., du Petit-Thouars s.n. ( P) .

Figures

Fig.42.Noronhia obtusifolia (Lam.) Hong-Wa & Besnard [Schatz 3009].

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