81. Noronhia tetrandra H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 282. 1949 (Fig. 67A).

Typus: M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Toliara: Est: Bassin de Mananara, SE, [24°54’S 46°32’E], 700 m, VI.1919, Perrier de la Bâthie 12642 (holo-: P [P00413241]!; iso-: P [P00413242]!) .

Description

Trees to 18 m tall, trunk to 25 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.8-3.6 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium gray, smooth. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades medium green above, lighter below, elliptic to obovate, 4-13 3 2-4.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin revolute, apex retuse to slightly acuminate, the acumen 1-2 mm long, midrib sunken above, raised below, secondary veins conspicuous mostly below, 6-11 per side, 6-23 mm apart, looping 1-5 mm from the margin; petiole yellow to reddish, 4-17 3 1.5-4.5 mm, not woody, glabrous. Thyrses geminate, multiflorous, compact to somewhat diffuse; peduncle 2-15 mm long, moderately pubescent; pedicel 2-7 mm long, moderately pubescent; calyx moderately pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 0.8-1.7 3 1-2 mm; corolla white tinged greenish, urceolate to subrotate, 3.5-6.5 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1-3 mm long, lobes oblong, apex obtuse; corona present, 1.3-2.2 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.8-3 mm long, anthers oblong, 1.3-1.9 mm long; pistil 1.6-3.5 mm long, stigma bilobed. Fruiting pedicel 2.5-12 3 0.7-2.4 mm; young fruits greenish, brownish when mature, ovoid, 10-24 3 7-18.5 mm, surface smooth, apex rostellate, with the persistent style; dry pericarp 0.6-1.6 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 8.5-17.5 3 6-12 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia tetrandra occurs in littoral to mid-elevation humid forests from Sambava in the north to Fort-Dauphin in the south (Fig. 62). It produces flowers and fruits throughout the year except in May.

Conservation status

With 30 collections representing 25 localities, the assessment indicated an EOO of 72,134 km 2, an AOO of 72 km 2, and 14 subpopulations representing 12 locations, of which six occur within protected areas (Behara-Tranomaro, Manombo, Ste Luce, Tampolo, Tsitongambarika, and Vohibola). Given the large EOO, an actual AOO that likely well exceeds 2,000 km 2, and the number of locations, N. tetrandra is assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”.

Notes

Noronhia tetrandra can be recognized by its non-woody petioles, elliptic to obovate leaf blades, revolute margins, compact inflorescences with white flowers, and ovoid, rostellate fruits. Although four stamens have occasionally been found within this species, they only represent a rare character state that appears to be a teratology. This species differs from N. martiniana by its elliptic to obovate (vs. oblanceolate to obovate) leaf blades, its urceolate to subrotate (vs. campanulate) flowers, the presence (vs. absence) of a corona, and its rounded (vs. truncate) rostellum.

262 Boissiera 70

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Antsirabe-Nord, forêt d’Analamateza, [13°58’S 49°58’E], 25-27.III.1967, Service Forestier 27570 (MO, P, TEF) . Prov. Fianarantsoa: Mahabo Mananivo, Nosiala, forêt d’Agnalazaha, 23°11’08”S 47°42’48”E, 50 m, 5.III.2009, Hong-Wa et al. 616 (G, MO, P, TAN) ; ibid. loc., Baboaka, 23°10’40”S 47°42’41”E, 23 m, 19.IV.2004, Ludovic & Soazafy 725 (MO) ; ibid. loc., forêt d’Ampitavananima, 23°11’10”S 47°43’02”E, 30 m, 5.VIII.2004, Ludovic et al. 855 (G, MO, P, TAN) ; ibid. loc., 23°10’51”S 47°42’29”E, 30 m, 5.XI.2001, McPherson & Rabenantoandro 18339 (G, MO, P, TEF); ibid. loc., 23°10’20”S 47°42’23”E, 29 m, 23.IX.2002, Rabenantoandro 968 (MO, P, TEF); Farafangana, Ankarana, Manombo RS, 23°03’46”S 47°46’15”E, 14 m, 24.IX.2005, Rakotonirina et al. 452 (MO, TAN) ; Anosiala-Analamena, 23°11’07”S 47°42’06”E, 23 m, 19. VI.2004, A. Randrianasolo et al. 874 (G, MO, P) ; Analazaha, [22°51’S 47°38’E], 0-200 m, 30.VIII.1955, Service Forestier 15382 (P, TEF) ; Tohakandra, [23°02’10”S 47°44’50”E], 0-10 m, 8.IX.1955, Service Forestier 15408 (MO, P, TEF) . Prov. Toamasina: Brickaville, Ambinaninony, forêt de Vohibola, 18°33’55”S 49°15’22”E, 3-10 m, 29.X.2002, Ludovic et al. 202 (G, MO, P, TAN, TEF) ; Fénérive-Est, Tampolo STF, 17°16’52”S 49°24’44”E, 0-10 m, 23.XI.1994, Raholivelo & Schatz 30 (MO) ; Antananala, Ambila-Lemaitso, [18°49’S 49°08’E], 30 m, 10. II.1954, Service Forestier 8315 (P, TEF) ; Maroantsetra, Vohilava, [15°38’30”S 49°34’00”E], 600 m, 9.III.1954, Service Forestier 9135 (P, TEF) ; Tampolo STF, [17°17’00”S 49°23’30”E], 10 m, 4. I.1955, Service Forestier 15328 (P, TEF) ; Andasin’Onibe, Andranotsara, Mahatsara STF, 17°38’18”S 49°29’04”E, 5 m, 23. VI.1993, Service Forestier 33903 (TEF) . Prov. Toliara: Fort-Dauphin, Mahatalaky, forêt de Sainte Luce (SD17), 24°50’34’’S 47°08’12’’E, 5 m, 14. II.2009, Hong-Wa 604 (MO, P, TAN) ; Massif du Vohitsiandriana, au N du Cap Andrahomana, [25°10’S 46°38’E], 400 m, III.1955, Service Forestier 11840 (MO) .