9. Noronhia buxifolia H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 302. 1949.

Typus: M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Toliara: Forêt d’Analavelona (bassin du Fiherenana), [22°41’S 44°08’E], 1000-1200 m, 15-19.XII.1946, Humbert 19719 (holo-: P [P00418069]!; iso-: LISC [LISC002881] image seen, P [P00418070]!, S [S09- 36002] image seen, WAG [WAG0002490] image seen) .

= Noronhia buxifolia var. quadriloba H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 302. 1949 . Typus: M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Toliara: E d’Ampandrandava, [24°05’S 45°42’E], 1200 m, XI.1943, Seyrig 373 (= Herb. Jard. Bot. 5390) (holo-: P [P04046973]!; iso-: [P00701282]!) .

Description

Trees to 15 m tall, trunk to 15 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.7-1.5 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium gray to yellowish, smooth to slightly rugose. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades dark green above, lighter below, ovate, 4-8.5 3 1.5-3.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base rounded to acute, margin flat to slightly revolute and undulate, apex acuminate, the acumen 3-11 mm long, midrib flat to slightly sunken above, raised below, secondary veins conspicuous, 6-10 per side, 4.5-11 mm apart, looping 1-4 mm from the margin; petiole light gray, 3-9 3 1-1.5 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Flowers fasciculate; pedicel 2.5-21 mm long, glabrous; calyx very sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 0.8-3 3 0.7-2.5 mm; corolla red, urceolate, 2.5-9 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 0.5-6 mm long, lobes triangular, apex obtuse; corona present, (0-) 1-2 mm long, undivided to slightly 4-lobed; stamens 1.2-2.8 mm long, anthers obconical to orbicular, 0.7-1.9 mm long; pistil 1.2-2.7 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 3-15 3 0.6- 1.3 mm; young fruits green, dark red when mature, ovoid, 12-14.5 3 9.5-11.5 mm, surface smooth, apex apiculate to flat, with the persistent style; dry pericarp 0.5-0.7 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 8.5-10.5 3 6.5-10 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia buxifolia occurs in low- to high-elevation dry forests from Antsalova in the west to Andohahela in the south (Fig. 3). It produces flowers and fruits from November to June.

Conservation status

Based on 21 collections representing 15 localities, the assessment indicated an EOO of 96,461 km 2, an AOO of 60 km 2 (although the true AOO is probably larger than 2,000 km 2), and 11 subpopulations representing 10 locations, of which seven occur within protected areas (Amoron’i Onilahy, Analavelona, Andohahela, Behara-Tranomavo, Bemaraha, Corridor Parcel I-II Andohahela, and Menabe-Antanimena). Therefore, N. buxifolia is assigned a preliminary status of “Near Threatened”.

Notes

Noronhia buxifolia can be recognized by its ovate, acuminate leaf blades and fasciculate, long-pedicellate red flowers. It differs from N. tefyana Hong-Wa by its ovate (vs. broadly lanceolate) leaves and its urceolate (vs. cupuliform) and red (vs. pinkish tinged green) flowers. PERRIER DE LA BâTHIE (1949, 1952) distinguished the variety N. buxifolia var. quadriloba H. Perrier based on differences in leaf, corolla and corona size and the margin of the corona. These differences, however, are only part of the range of variations within this species and do not justify the recognition of a distinct entity below the species level or at any other rank. Therefore, the variety N. buxifolia var. quadriloba is placed in synonymy.

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Tsingy de Bemaraha N of Manambolo river, 19°09’S 44°49’E, 50 m, 28.XI.1996, Jongkind et al. 3262 (MO, TAN, WAG) ; Besaraha, [18°41’13”S 44°15’11”E], 0-20 m, 18.XII.1952, Leandri et al. 2257 (G, MO, P) ; Antsalova, [18°13’S 44°35’E], 150-750 m, 11. I.1959, Réserves Naturelles 10210 (G, MO, P, TEF) . Prov. Toliara: Morondava, forêt de Marosalaza, [20°02’S 44°33’E], 9. VI.1974, Abraham 79 (MO, P) ; Sakaraha, Mahaboboka, Marotsiraka-Betsileo, 22°38’36”S 44°10’17”E, 1285 m, 7.XI.2007, Andriamihajarivo et al. 1485 (MO, P, TAN) ; Ampandrandava, [24°05’S 45°42’E], 1200 m, XI.1943, Herb. Jard. Bot. Tan. 5390 (P) ; Forêt d’Analavelona (bassin du Fiherenana), [22°41’S 44°08’E], 1000- 1200 m, 15-19.XII.1946, Humbert 19754bis (P) ; Massif de l’Andohahela et abords, au N de Imonty (RN XI), [24°49’S 46°41’E], 400-1900 m, 3.XII.1960, Leandri & Saboureau 4218 (P) ; Haut bassin de la Mananara et abords (SE) , [24°46’S 46°43’E], 400-1900 m, 3.XII.1960, Leandri & Saboureau 4437 (G, MO, P); Forêt d’Analavelona, près d’Antanimena, 22°40’42’’S 44°11’30’’E, 1050 m, 12.III.1998, Messmer 597 (G, MO) ; Andranohinaly, [23°16’30’’S 43°58’30’’E], 20.VIII.1960, Peltier 2570 (P) ; Forêt d’Analavelona, près de la source de la rivière Manasay, 22°36’50’’S 44°08’00’’E, 1000-1348 m, 7.XI.2000, Randriatafika 220 (G, MO, P) ; ibid. loc., Randriatafika 228 (G, MO); Analavelona, [22°36’50’’S 44°08’00’’E], 800-1348 m, 10.XII.1955, Service Forestier 15578 (P, TEF) .