72. Noronhia rollandii Hong-Wa, spec. nova (Fig. 58).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Alaotra-Mangoro, Moramanga, Ambatovy, Ampitabe, piste direction S du campement Dynatec, 18°51’34”S 48°17’13”E, 1080 m, 18. I .2005, Ranaivojaona et al. 1151 (holo-: MO-6615552!; iso-: G [G00341615]!, K!, P!, TAN!) .

Diagnosis

Noronhia rollandii Hong-Wa can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its non-woody petioles, its opposite to verticillate, oblong leaf blades, its urceolate, yellow flowers, and its ovoid, punctate fruits.

Description

Trees to 15 m tall, trunk to 24 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical to somewhat flattened, 1.1-2.3 mm diameter, glabrous; bark dark gray, smooth, with scattered lenticels. Leaves opposite, verticillate at the tips of the branches, persistent; bud scales deciduous; blades light green above, darker below, oblong, 4-10 3 1.5-3 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin flat, apex retuse, midrib slightly sunken above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins inconspicuous, 7-12 per side, 5-15 mm apart, looping 1-3.5 mm from the margin; petiole brown, 4-10 3 1-3 mm, not woody or only up to mid-length, glabrous. Thyrses geminate, multiflorous, compact; peduncle 5-10 mm long, moderately pubescent; pedicel 2-8 mm long, moderately pubescent; calyx moderately pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 0.8-1.5 3 1-1.8 mm; corolla yellow tinged pinkish outside, yellow inside, urceolate, 3-4.5 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1-2 mm long, lobes widely ovate, apex acute; corona present, 1.7-2.3 mm long, undivided; stamens 2-2.5 mm long, anthers oblong to obovate, 1.5-1.8 mm long; pistil 2-2.7 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 2-8 3 1-2.5 mm; young fruits green, brownish to blackish when mature, ovoid, 12-24 3 8-17 mm, covered with white dots, apex bluntly pointed to apiculate; dry pericarp 0.3-1.4 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 9-15.5 3 7-11.5 mm.

Etymology

This name honors the late Rolland Ranaivojaona, a botanist at the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (TAN), for collecting the type specimen and for sharing his knowledge of the Malagasy flora.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia rollandii occurs in mid- to high-elevation humid forests in the east, from Anjanaharibe-Sud to Mangoro (Fig. 49). It produces flowers year-round except in December.

Conservation status

The assessment included 29 collections representing 28 localities and yielded an EOO of 38,636 km 2, an AOO of 84 km 2, and 13 subpopulations representing 11 locations, of which seven occur within protected areas (Anjanaharibe-Sud, Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena, Makira, Mantadia, Masoala, Torotorofotsy, and Zahamena). Although the estimated AOO is rather small, the actual AOO is likely much larger and may well exceed 2,000 km 2. That, along with a large EOO, a high number of locations, and good representation within the network of protected areas, indicates a preliminary status of “Least Concern” for N. rollandii .

234 Boissiera 70

A. FLowering branch; B. AbaxiaL side of Leaf bLade; C. AdaxiaL side of Leaf bLade; D. Inflorescence; E. FLower; F. CaLyx; G. Inner side of coroLLa; H. Stamen; I. PistiL

.

[Ranaivojaona 1151, MO] Drawings: R.L. Andriamiarisoa

Notes

Noronhia rollandii is similar to N. obtusifolia, but can be distinguished by its opposite to verticillate (vs. entirely opposite), oblong (vs. obovate) leaves, urceolate (vs. campanulate), yellow tinged pinkish (vs. white) flowers, the presence (vs. absence) of a corona, and its punctate (vs. smooth to ribbed) fruits. The new species can be recognized by its non-woody petioles, opposite to verticillate, oblong leaf blades, urceolate, yellow flowers, and ovoid, punctate fruits.

Paratypi

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Andapa, Anjanaharibe-Sud RS, 14°46’15”S 49°28’E, 1161-1424 m, 21.III-7.IV.1994, Ravelonarivo et al. 91 (K, MO, TAN); ibid. loc., 14°44’42”S 49°27’42”E, 1185-1335 m, 3.XI.1994, Ravelonarivo & Rabesonina 484 (G, K, MO, P, TAN). Prov. Fianarantsoa: Ivohibe RS, 22°25’18”S 46°53’54”E, 1200 m, 10.XI.1997, Rakotomalaza 1526 (G, MO). Prov. Mahajanga: Befandriana-Nord, Matsoandakana, Ambotaharanana, Andranomena, 15°08’16”S 49°20’55”E, 1077 m, 12.II.2008, Bernard 770 (G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., Andasinanantsomanga, Amparihy, 14°55’34”S 49°24’59”E, 25.II.2008, Bernard 938 (G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., Ambotaharanana, Andranomena, forêt d’Anjiabe, 15°08’19”S 49°21’50”E, 1208 m, 14.II.2008, Ravelonarivo et al. 2831 (MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 15.II.2008, Ravelonarivo et al. 2865 (MO, P, TAN); Tsaravilona, Amparihy, Androva, 14°55’36”S 49°25’40”E, 1154-1178 m, 22.II.2008, Ravelonarivo 2893 (MO, P, TAN). Prov. Toamasina: Antanandava, Zahamena PN, 17°29’47”S 48°45’35”E, 1000-1912 m, 2.II.2002, Andrianjafy et al. 289 (CNARP, K, MO, P, TEF); Maroantsetra, Mahalevona, Masoala PN, 15°25’47”S 49°57’33”E, 1198 m, 8.X.2003, Antilahimena et al. 2152 (MO, P); Ambinanitelo, Ambalamahogo, Maimborondro, 15°18’39”S 49°22’43”E, 1100 m, 6.IX.2004, Antilahimena 2835 (MO, P); Moramanga, Ambatovy, 18°49’19”S 48°20’08”E, 1094 m, 3.II.2005, Antilahimena et al. 3299 (MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 18°48’24”S 48°19’51”E, 1102 m, 10.XI.2005, Antilahimena & Edmond 4182 (G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 18°51’34”S 48°18’00”E, 1129 m, 8.VIII.2008, Antilahimena et al. 6425 (MO, P, TAN); Brickaville, Maroseranana, Ambodilendemy, Ankerana, 18°25’56”S 48°47’11”E, 854 m, 18.III.2011, Antilahimena & Randrimitantsoa 7637 (G, MO, P, TAN); Ambatovy, 18°50’30”S 48°18’11”E, 1111 m, 19.V.2010, Bernard et al. 1573 (MO, P, TAN); Analamazaotra RS, 18°49’32”S 48°26’04”E, 941 m, 3.V.2010, Hong-Wa & Ortiz 663 (MO, P, TAN); Ambatovy, 18°51’17”S 48°19’02”E, 1117 m, 8.IX.2008, Miandrimanana et al. 320 (G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 18°51’48”S 48°18’26”E, 1022 m, 27.I.2008, Phillipson & Antilahimena 6094 (G, MO); Moramanga, Antanambao, Analamay, 18°49’26”S 48°20’16”E, 1000 m, 26.I.1997, Rakotomalaza et al. 998 (MO, P); ibid. loc., 18°51’22”S 48°19’34”E, 1080 m, 29.VI.1997, Rakotomalaza et al. 1364 (G, MO, TAN); Ambatovy, 18°51’08”S 48°17’48”E, 1127 m, 16.II.2005, Rakotovao et al. 1191 (G, MO, P, TAN); Zahamena RNI, à 1 km au S du village d’Antenina, 17°30’30”S 48°46’15”E, 900 m, 13.VIII.1994, Randrianjanaka & Zafy 190A (G, K, MO, P, TAN); Manakambahiny-Est, Zahamena RNI, 17°40’17”S 48°45’13”E, 1350 m, 16.IX.2002, S. Randrianasolo et al. 304 (G, MO, P, TEF); ibid. loc., 17°40’17”S 48°45’13”E, 1350 m, 16.IX.2002, S. Randrianasolo et al. 307 (G, MO, P, TEF); Brickaville, Maroseranana, Ambodilendemy, 18°25’57”S 48°46’52”E, 727 m, 14.III.2011, Ravelonarivo & Edmond 3645 (G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 18°25’24”S 48°47’06”E, 896 m, 22.III.2011, Ravelonarivo et al. 3787 (G, MO, P, TAN); Analamay, 18°50’49”S 48°18’30”E, 1124 m, 10.II.2005, Razafindraibe & Antilahimena 76 (MO, P, TAN) .