Noronhia domatifera

Hong-Wa, Cynthia, 2016, A taxonomic revision of the genus Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars (Oleaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, Boissiera 70, pp. 1-292 : 101-102

26. Noronhia domatifera Hong-Wa, spec. nova ( Fig. 17).

Typus : M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Ambohibary, Ampitambe , Ambatovy , Andranovery , cleary zone 5, 18°51’50”S 48°18’35”E, 980 m, 11. II .2008, S . Randrianasolo et al. 645 (holo-: MO-6615573!; iso-: G, P [ P06774030 ] image seen, TAN) .

Diagnosis

Noronhia domatifera Hong-Wa can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its non-woody petioles, its abundant leaf domatia and its diffuse inflorescences with purplish cream flowers.

Description

Trees to 12 m tall, trunk to 10 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.6-1.6 mm diameter, glabrous; bark brownish, smooth. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales deciduous; blades dark green above, lighter below, elliptic, 5-12 3 1.7-3.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia common, base attenuate, margin flat, slightly revolute, apex cuspidate, the cusp 3.5-14 mm long, midrib slightly sunken above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins mostly conspicuous below, 5-14 per side, 6-15 mm apart, looping 1-4 mm from the margin; petiole reddish, 4-8 3 0.7-2 mm, not woody, glabrous. Thyrses geminate to fasciculate, pauciflorous, diffuse; peduncle 2-5 mm long, glabrous; pedicel 3-13 mm long, glabrous; calyx glabrous on both sides, lobes triangular, 0.5-1 3 0.6-1.3 mm; corolla purplish outside, yellowish inside, subrotate, 3-6 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1-3 mm long, lobes ovate, apex obtuse; corona present, 1.2- 1.5 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.2-1.7 mm long, anthers oblong, 0.8-1 mm long; pistil 1-2 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 5-14 3 0.6-1 mm; young fruits green, purplish when mature, ovoid, 13-14 3 9.5-11.5 mm, surface smooth, apex flat to bluntly pointed; dry pericarp 0.6-1 mm thick; endocarp crustaceous; seed 9-11 3 7.5-9.5 mm.

Etymology

The presence of abundant domatia on the lower surface of leaf blades provided the basis for the name of this species.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia domatifera occurs in mid- to high-elevation humid forests in the Mangoro region in the east, with one specimen collected much further north at Makirovana ( Fig. 9 ). It produces flowers and fruits from December to March.

Conservation status

Fourteen collections representing 13 localities were available for analysis, which yielded an EOO of 16,099 km 2, an AOO of 44 km 2, and eight subpopulations representing eight locations, of which three occur within the network of protected areas (Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena, Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby, and Zahamena). Due to ongoing habitat degradation and loss resulting from forest exploitation, shifting cultivation and industrial mining, N. domatifera is assigned a preliminary status of “Vulnerable” [VU B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v)], although the EOO is not expected to decline in the near future.

102 Boissiera 70

Notes

Noronhia domatifera most closely resembles N. disjuncta , but differs by its nonwoody (vs. woody) petiole, the presence (vs. absence) of domatia on the abaxial leaf blades, and its cuspidate (vs. acuminate) leaf apex, subrotate (vs. urceolate), purplish (vs. red) flowers, and crustaceous (vs. woody) endocarp. The new species can be recognized by its non-woody petioles, abundant leaf domatia, and diffuse inflorescences with purplish cream flowers.

Paratypi

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Anjagoveratra, Anamboafo , Forêt de Makirovana , 14°09’16”S 49°57’46”E, 404 m, 20.III.2013, Rakotonirina et al. 82 ( 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. 281 ( CNARP, G, MO, P, TEF) ; Moramanga, Ankerana , 18°25’33”S 48°47’11”E, 919 m, 24.III.2011, Antilahimena 7798 ( MO, P, TAN) ; ibid. loc., 18°25’28”S 48°47’17”E, 921 m, 25.III.2011, Antilahimena 7806 ( MO, P, TAN) ; env. Lac Alaotra , [17°42’S 48°28’E], 900 m, I.1938, Cours 675 ( P, syntypes of Noronhia mangorensis ) ; Toamasina, 1450 m, 11.XII.1944, Cours 1828 ( MO, P) ; Menaloha , [17°42’S 48°28’E], 850 m, 25. II.1952, Cours 4004 ( MO, P) ; ibid. loc., 1000 m, 15. II.1952, Herb. Stat. Agric. Alaotra 1647 ( P, TAN) ; ibid. loc., Herb. Stat. Agric. Alaotra 4004 ( TAN) ; Moramanga, Berano , 18°50’36”S 48°19’53”E, 1000 m, 20. II.1997, Rakotomalaza et al. 1128 ( MO, P, TEF) ; Ambatovy , 18°51’34”S 48°18’25”E, 1050 m, 3.III.1997, Rakotomalaza et al. 1212 ( MO, P, TEF) ; Zahamena PN, 17°30’40”S 48°43’35”E, 1200 m, 26.XI.2002, Rakotonandrasana et al. 641 ( CNARP, MO, P, TEF) ; Ambatovy , 18°51’51”S 48°18’49”E, 1005 m, 14. II.2008, S. Randrianasolo et al. 667 ( MO, P, TAN) ; Brickaville, Ambodilendemy , 18°25’45”S 48°47’16”E, 919 m, 14.III.2011, Ravelonarivo & Edmond 3658 ( G, MO, P, TAN) ; Didy , [18°07’S 48°32’E], [1100 m], 10.X.1950, Service Forestier 1701 ( TEF) .

Figures

Fig. 9. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm.ex Thouars. N. christenseniana Dubard to N. domatifera Bosser.