46. Noronhia louvelii H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 296. 1949 (Fig. 31A).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Centre E, forêt d’Analamazoatra, [18°56’S 48°26’E], s.d., Louvel 79 (holo-: P [P00573411]!) .

Description

Trees to 30 m tall, trunk to 45 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.8-2.1 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium gray, slightly rugose. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades dark green above, lighter below, elliptic, 3-12 3 1.5-5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia rare, base acute to attenuate, margin flat to slightly revolute, apex acute to acuminate, the acumen 1-11 mm long, midrib slightly sunken above, slightly raised below, secondary veins conspicuous, 6-11 per side, 3-17 mm apart, looping 1-5 mm from the margin; petiole medium gray, 2.5-10 3 0.8-2.4 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Thyrses fasciculate, pauciflorous, compact; peduncle 2.5-10 mm long, moderately pubescent; pedicel 3-13 mm long, moderately pubescent; calyx moderately to sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes oblong, 1-2.5 3 1-2.5 mm; corolla red, cupuliform, 2-7 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1.5-4.5 mm long, lobes widely ovate, apex cucullate; corona present, (0-) 1-2 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.2-2.8 mm long, anthers widely obovate, 1-1.3 mm long; pistil 1.5-3 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 2-21 3 0.7-2.4 mm; young fruits green, dark red when mature, subglobose, 14-23 3 11-20.5 mm, surface smooth, apex flat to bluntly pointed, style persistent; dry pericarp 0.6-1.4 mm thick; endocarp crustaceous; seed 7-14 3 6-16 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia louvelii occurs in low- to high-elevation humid forests in the east, from Daraina to Vatomandry and in the Centre-West near Tsiroanomandidy (Fig. 27). It produces flowers and fruits throughout the year except in March.

Conservation status

Known from 61 collections representing 57 localities, Noronhia louvelii is quite widespread. With an EOO of 141,234 km 2, an AOO of 192 km 2, and 39 subpopulations representing 26 locations, of which 10 occur within protected areas (Analamazaotra, Anjanaharibe-Sud, Anjozorobe-Angavo, Betampona, Loky-Manambato, Makira, Marojejy, Masoala, Tsaratanana-Ambohimirahavavy-Corridor Marojejy, and Zahamena), it is assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”.

Notes

Noronhia louvelii can be recognized by its coriaceous, elliptic leaf blades, cupuliform, red flowers, and crustaceous, subglobose fruits subtended by short pedicels. It differs from N. luteola by its woody (vs. non-woody) petiole, elliptic (vs. oblong to ovate) leaf blades, cupuliform (vs. subrotate), red (vs. white) flowers, and crustaceous (vs. woody) endocarp. The collection Morat 4627 from humid forest around Tsiroanomandidy in the Bongolava region extends the range of this species to the west. A collection of another species bears the same number as the type specimen of N. louvelii: viz. Dalbergia maritima R. Vig. (holo-: Louvel 79 [P00060529], from eastern Madagascar).

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antananarivo: Anjozorobe, 18°24’30”S 47°56’15”E, 1320 m, 9.IV.1993, Harder 1544 (MO, P, TAN) ; Tsiroanomandidy, [18°11’S 45°16’E], 1300 m, VII.1974, Morat 4627 (MO, P, TAN) ; c. 7 km E of Anjozorobe, 18°22’S 48°00’E, 1300 m, 11.V.1987, Schatz 1387 (K, MO, P, TAN) . Prov. Antsiranana: Marojejy PN, 14°26’S 49°37’E, 1080 m, 23.X.2001, Gautier 3905 (G, MO) ; Daraina, Ankijabe, forêt de Binara, 13°15’S 49°37’E, 1050 m, 3.XI.2001, Gautier & Ravelonarivo 3986 (Daraina, G, MO, P, TEF) ; Andapa, Ambodisatrana, 14°32’S 49°26’E, 1100-1200 m, 3.VIII.1997, McPherson 17204 (K, MO, TAN) ; Anjanaharibe-Sud RS, 14°48’15”S 49°26’45”E, 1000-1100 m, 6.VIII.1997, McPherson 17252 (K, MO, TAN) ; Andapa, Ambodiangezoka, Antanambe, forêt de Betaolana, 14°32’18”S 49°26’18”E, 875 m, 9.X.1999, Rakotomalaza & Ravelonarivo 1911 (G, MO, P) ; Antalaha, Marofinaritra, Ampokafo, 15°16’49”S, 50°01’27”E, 610 m, 1-15.XII.1997, Ranaivojaona et al. 198 (G, MO, P, TAN) ; Bealampona, Anjanaharibe-Sud RS, 14°44’45”S 49°29’40”E, 890-1041 m, 14.IX.1994, Ravelonarivo et al. 378 (G, K, MO, P, TAN) ; Anjialavabe, Ankiakabe, Andohan’Anjialava, 14°10’47”S 49°22’01”E, 1567 m, 20.II.2007, Ravelonarivo et al. 2198 (G, MO, P, TAN) ; Sambava, Andratamarina, Bemanasy, 14°23’54”S 49°50’55”E, 892 m, 23.X.2010, Ravelonarivo & Raharivelo 3562 (MO, P, TAN) ; Sambava, [14°16’S 50°10’E], 21.IV.1956, Réserves Naturelles 7954 (G, P, TAN) . Prov. Mahajanga: Befandriana-Nord, Matsoandakana, Andranomena, forêt d’Anjiabe, 15°07’35”S 49°21’09”E, 1418-1446 m, 9.II.2008, Ravelonarivo et al. 2704 (G, MO, P, TAN) . Prov. Toamasina: Zahamena PN, 17°32’47”S 48°44’21”E, 1240- 1400 m, 28.IX.2001, Andrianjafy et al. 148 (CNARP, MO, P, TEF) ; Ambatovola, 18°55’13”S 48°30’49”E, 29.I.2005, Andriatsiferana et al. 2584 (G, MO, P, TAN) ; Maroantsetra, Anjahana, Hiaraka, 15°28’42”S 49°54’32”E, 300 m, 1.IX.2002, Antilahimena et al. 1287 (G, MO) ; Morafeno, Amboditavolo, 15°50’14”S 49°30’32”E, 326 m, 28.X.2003, Antilahimena et al. 2207 (MO, P) ; Vinanibe, Andongona, Makira, 15°27’40”S 49°17’46”E, 1153 m, 27.XI.2003, Antilahimena 2402 (MO) ; Ambinanitelo, Marovovonana, 15°18’57”S 49°25’04”E, 981 m, 1.IX.2004, Antilahimena 2700 (G, MO) ; Ambatovy, 18°48’29”S 48°18’50”E, 1060 m, 16.XII.2004, Antilahimena et al. 3012 (G, MO, P, TAN) ; ibid. loc., 18°51’34”S 48°18’00”E, 1115 m, 8.VIII.2008, Antilahimena et al. 6426 (G, MO, P, TAN); Andasibe, forêt d’Analamay, 18°51’16”S 048°19’35”E, 1130 m, 8.VI.2007, Bernard 549 (G, MO, P, TAN) ; Ambatovy 18°50’27”S 48°18’11”E, 1117 m, 17.V.2010, Bernard et al. 1574 (MO, P, TAN) ; Analamazaotra RS, 18°56’12”S 48°25’09”E, 953 m, 2.V.2010, Hong-Wa & Ortiz 642 (MO, P, TAN) ; Betampona RNI, 17°54’46”S 49°12’20”E, 427 m, 20.XI.2001, Rabehevitra et al. 14 (G, MO, P) ; Moramanga, Ambatovy-Beroy, 18°49’44”S 48°19’59”E, 6.V.2011, Rajaonary 121 (MO, P, TAN) ; Zahamena PN, Antanandava, Ankosy, 17°28’58”S 48°44’10”E, 997 m, 12.VII.2000, Rakotonan-drasana et al. 417 (G, MO, P); Vavatenina, Savaharina, Zahamena PN, 17°41’08”S 48°59’43”E, 650 m, 12.VI.2001, Rakotonandrasana et al. 489 (G, MO, P); Manakambahiny Est, Sahamalaza, Zahamena RNI, 17°43’30”S 48°44’35”E, 800-900 m, 20.VII.2003, Rakotonandrasana et al. 695 (MO, P); Vavatenina, Ambodimangavalo, Antevibe-Sahandrazana, 17°32’S 48°48’E, 800-900 m, 30.VII.2003, Rakotonandrasana et al. 717 (G, MO, P); Lakato, Anivorano, Agnalatsara, 19°07’29”S 48°23’32”E, 815 m, 1.VI.2007, Ranaivojaona et al. 1723 (MO, P, TAN); Vatomandry, Ambalabe, 19°09’33”S 48°34’40”E, 21.XI.2004, A. Randrianasolo et al. 904 (G, MO, P); Lakato, 19°03’43”S 48°22’16”E, 1062-1100 m, 2.VI.2007, A. Randrianasolo et al. 1132 (MO, P); Zahamena PN, 17°28’28”S 48°44’12”E, 880 m, 16.VII.2000, Randrianjanaka et al. 562 (G, MO, P); Manakambahiny, Zahamena PN, 17°39’20”S 48°54’22”E, 750 m, 6.X.2001, Randrianjanaka et al. 649 (CNARP, G, MO, P, TEF); Analamay, 18°48’38”S 48°20’30”E, 1100 m, 9.XI.2008, Ratolojanahary et al. 155 (MO, P, TAN); Ambodimangavalo, Moango, 17°33’57”S 48°53’58”E, 740-1200 m, 25.X.2000, Ratovoson et al. 333 (CNARP, MO, P, TEF); Ambatovy, Menalamba, 18°48’28”S 48°20’57”E, 1000 m, 7.VI.2007, Ravelonarivo 2511 (G, MO, P, TAN); Ankeniheny, 19°07’50”S 48°32’10”E, 922 m, 3.VIII.2007, Razanatsima et al. 296 (G, MO, P, TAN); Ambalabe, Ambinanindrano II, forêt de Vohibe, 19°09’31”S 48°34’40”E, 536 m, 19.II.2009, Razanatsima et al. 664 (MO, TAN); Moramanga, Ampitambe, Sahaevo, 18°50’00”S 48°17’45”E, 1139 m, 11.XII.2006, J. Razanatsoa & Marcellin 285 (G, MO, P, TAN); Périnet, Beravina, [18°58’S 48°16’E], 8.VI.1951, Service Forestier 3779 (TEF); Moramanga, Ampasimazava, 10.VI.1954, Service Forestier 12224 (MO, P); Sandrangato, [19°06’30”S 48°14’30”E], 900 m, 18.XI.1965, Service Forestier 25491 (MO, P, TEF) .