30. Noronhia gracilipes H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 287. 1949 (Fig. 22B).

Typus: M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: env. d’Analamazaotra, [18°55’48”S 48°25’48”E], 700 m, s.d., Perrier de la Bâthie 8811 (holo-: P [P00413233]!; iso-: P [P00413234]!).

Description

Trees to 10 m tall, trunk to 15 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.5-1.5 mm diameter, glabrous; bark light gray to whitish, smooth, sometimes lenticellate. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades dark green above, lighter below, lanceolate to elliptic, 5.5-11.5 3 2-4.6 cm, chartaceous, glabrous, domatia casual to common, base acute to attenuate, margin slightly revolute and undulate, apex acuminate to cuspidate, the acumen or cusp 6-23 mm long, midrib slightly sunken above, raised below, secondary veins conspicuous, 5-10 per side, 6-26 mm apart, looping 1-5 mm from the margin; petiole light gray to whitish, 2-9 3 0.7-2.2 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Thyrses fasciculate, pauciflorous, diffuse; peduncle 2-22 mm long, glabrescent; pedicel 14-36 mm long, glabrescent; calyx sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular to deltate, 1.5-3 3 1-2 mm; corolla pinkish, cupuliform to subrotate, 4-6 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1.5-4 mm long, lobes lanceolate, apex acute; corona absent; stamens 1.5-2.7 mm long, anthers oblate to orbicular, 1.3-1.9 mm long; pistil 2.2-3.8 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 10-37 3 0.5-2.3 mm; young fruits green, dark red when mature, subglobose, 13-24 3 12.5-22 mm, surface smooth, sometimes covered with white dots, apex apiculate; dry pericarp 0.3-1.1 mm thick; endocarp crustaceous; seed 9-19.5 3 7-15 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia gracilipes occurs in low- to high-elevation humid forests from Montagne d’Ambre in the north to Ranomafana in the south (Fig. 19). It produces flowers and fruits throughout the year except in March and April.

Conservation status

Based on 34 collections representing 28 localities, the assessment indicated an EOO of 86,638 km 2, an AOO of 100 km 2, and 15 subpopulations representing 12 locations, of which seven occur within protected areas (Ambalabe, Analamazaotra, Andringitra, Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena, Montagne d’Ambre, Pic d’Ivohibe, and Zahamena). With such a large EOO and presence in many protected areas, N. gracilipes is assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”.

Notes

Noronhia gracilipes can be recognized by its chartaceous, acuminate leaf blades, long peduncles and pedicels, pinkish flowers, and subglobose, crustaceous fruits. This species closely resembles N. decaryana, from which it differs mainly by the color of its bark (whitish vs. gray) and flowers (pinkish vs. orangish-red), and by the shape of its corolla (cupuliform to subrotate vs. urceolate).

116 Boissiera 70

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antananarivo: Andreba, au voisinage d’Anjozorobe, [18°18’S 47°52’E], 1400-1500 m, 1.XI.1967, Bernardi 11135 (G, P). Prov. Antsiranana: Montagne d’Ambre (Station des Roussettes), 12°33’S 49°08’E, 1000 m, 22.I.2009, Hong-Wa 571 (MO, P, TAN); Antsalaka, Montagne d’Ambre PN, 12°37’17’’S 49°10’46’’E, 1038 m, 12.VI.2010, Hong-Wa 713 (MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 12°34’49”S 49°07’58”E, 20.I.2008, Ramandimbimanana et al. 38 (G, MO, TEF); ibid. loc., 12°36’11”S 49°11’28”E, 1030 m, 1.V.2008, Ramandimbimanana 104 (G, MO, TEF); ibid. loc., 12°30’49”S 49°09’51”E, 1040 m, 24.V.2008, Ramandimbimanana et al. 128 (G, MO, TEF); Ambohitra (Joffreville), Montagne d’Ambre PN, 12°33’S 49°08’E, 1000 m, 13.IX.1987, Schatz 1504 (G, MO, P, TAN); ibid. loc., 12°36’12”S 49°11’55”E, 910 m, 5.V.2008, Trigui et al. 335 (G, MO, TEF). Prov. Fianarantsoa: Andringitra RNI, Camp II, c. 43 km S of Ambalavao, 22°13’22’’S 46°58’18’’E, 1210 m, 1-7.XII.1993, Lewis et al. 1011 (MO, P); Ivohibe RS, 22°29’00’’S 46°58’06’’E, 1200 m, 16.X.1997, Rakotomalaza et al. 1431 (G, MO, P, TAN); Andrambovato, Fort-Carnot, [21°31’S 47°25’E], 878-1000 m, 24.VIII.1955, Service Forestier 15400 (MO, TEF). Prov. Toamasina: Brickaville, Ambodilendemy, Ankerana, 18°25’40”S 48°47’17”E, 990 m, 24.III.2011, Antilahimena 7782 (G, MO, P, TAN); Andasibe-Périnet, 18°56’S 48°25’E, 1000 m, 2-5.XI.1984, Dorr & Barnett 3183 (MO, P, TAN); Analamazaotra RS, 18°56’S 48°26’E, 9.VI.1938, Herb. Jard. Bot. Tan. 3731 (MO); Ambatondrazaka, Antanandava, Antenina, 17°30’09”S 48°46’19”E, 917 m, 1.II.2002, Randrianjanaka 696 (CNARP, G, MO, P, TEF); Vatomandry, Ambalabe, Ambinanindrano II, 19°09’47”S 48°34’37”E, 624 m, 12.VIII.2006, Razanatsima 147 (MO, P, TAN); Ambodiriana, 17°53’24”S 49°13’48”E, 29.XI.1953, Réserves Naturelles 5907 (MO) .