Noronhia gautieri

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 : 112

29. Noronhia gautieri Hong-Wa, spec. nova ( Fig. 21 , 22A ).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: SAVA, Vohémar, Daraina, forêt d’Antsahabe , 13°13’03”S 49°32’51”E, 900 m, 6.XII.2004, Gautier & Nusbaumer 4839 (holo-: MO-6386608!; iso-: Daraina, G [ G00019223 ] image seen, K, P [ P00853025 ]!, TEF!) .

Diagnosis

Noronhia gautieri Hong-Wa can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its broadly ovate leaf blades, with rounded base, its long-pedicellate, subglobose fruits, with large persistent sepals, and its crustaceous endocarp.

Description

Shrubs to 3.5 m tall, trunk to 3 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 1.2-1.5 mm diameter, glabrous; bark yellowish, smooth, somewhat flaky. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades medium green above, lighter below, ovate, 7-13 3 2.5-5.5 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base rounded, margin flat, apex acute to acuminate, the acumen 1-9 mm long, midrib flat above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins conspicuous, 10-14 per side, 7-23 mm apart, looping 2-6 mm from the margin; petiole light gray, 8-13 3 2-3 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Flowers unseen, but infructescence thyrsoid. Fruiting pedicel 13-17 3 1.5-2.5 mm; young fruits green, yellowish when mature, subglobose, 11.5-20 3 10.5-18 mm, surface smooth, apex flat to slightly apiculate; dry pericarp 1-1.2 mm thick; endocarp crustaceous; seed 9-13 3 7-10 mm.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to Laurent Gautier, Curator at the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève , who collected the type specimen and has contributed widely to the knowledge of the flora of northern Madagascar.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia gautieri occurs in semi-deciduous and humid forests at low elevation in northeastern Madagascar ( Fig. 19 ). It fruits from October to December.

Conservation status

The assessment was based on three collections representing three localities and provided an EOO of 10,027 km 2, an AOO of 12 km 2, and three subpopulations representing three locations, two of which occur within protected areas (Loky-Manambato and Tsaratanana-Ambohimirahavavy-Corridor Marojejy). With a restricted distribution and projected continuing decline in habitat quality resulting from illicit forest exploitation, N. gautieri is assigned a preliminary status of “Vulnerable” [VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)].

Notes

Noronhia gautieri is similar to N. capuronii , but can be distinguished by its glabrous (vs. pubescent) petiole, rounded (vs. cordate) leaf base, and flat to apiculate (vs. flat) fruit apex.

Paratypi

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Antongondriha, Mt Anjenabe , [14°18’S 49°45’E], 500-600 m, 3-7.XI.1950, Humbert & Capuron 24047 ( MO, P); Antalaha, Ambohitralanana, [15°14’S 50°27’E], 9.X.1953, Réserves Naturelles 5716 ( MO, P).

Figures

Fig. 21. Noronhia gautieri Hong-Wa.A. Fruiting branch; B. AbaxiaL side of Leaf bLade;

Fig. 22. Photographs of Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars

Fig.19. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm.ex Thouars.N.edentata (H.Perrier) Hong-Wa to N.insularis (Labat,M.PignaL & O. PascaL) Hong-Wa & Besnard.