Noronhia tefyana

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 : 258-260

80. Noronhia tefyana Hong-Wa, spec. nova ( Fig. 65B , 66 ).

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Melaky, Maintirano , village d’Ambinda , 18°04’S 44°30’E, 203 m, 19.X.2009, Razakamalala et al. 4440 (holo-: MO-6615561!; iso-: G [ G00341622 ]!, P [ P00722508 ] image seen, TAN) .

Diagnosis

Noronhia tefyana Hong-Wa can be distinguished from other species of the genus by its lanceolate leaf blades, its long acumen, its fasciculate, pink flowers, and its slightly rugose, apiculate fruits.

Description

Trees to 5 m tall; young twigs cylindrical, 0.5-1.5 mm diameter, glabrous; bark light gray, smooth. Leaves opposite, semi-deciduous; bud scales persistent; blades dark green above, lighter below, broadly lanceolate, 5-10.5 3 1.5-3.5 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin flat, apex acuminate, the acumen 8-20 mm long, midrib slightly sunken above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins conspicuous only below, 8-13 per side, 5-11 mm apart, looping 1-5 mm from the margin; petiole light gray, 4-7 3 1-1.5 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Flowers fasciculate; pedicel 7-9 mm long, glabrous; calyx moderately to sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 1.5-2 3 1.3-1.7 mm; corolla pinkish with green lobes, cupuliform, 4-4.5 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 2.5-3.5 mm long, lobes deltate, apex acute; corona present, 1.5 mm long, undivided; stamens 2-2.5 mm long, anthers obovate, 1.5-2 mm long; pistil 1.8-2 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 9-15 3 0.8-1.1 mm; young fruits green, brownish when mature, ovoid to subglobose, 12-13 3 9-10 mm, surface smooth to slightly rugose, covered with a white pellicle, apex rostrate, the rostrum flattened, apiculate; dry pericarp 0.4 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 7 3 5 mm.

Etymology

This name honors Tefy Andriamihajarivo, a botanist at the Missouri Botanical Garden in Madagascar, for contributing to the knowledge and conservation of the Malagasy flora, for collecting Noronhia in the field, and for helping with various requests during this study.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia tefyana occurs in low-elevation dry forests in and around the Bemaraha PN in the west ( Fig. 62 ). It produces flowers and fruits from October to March.

Conservation status

Noronhia tefyana is currently known only from nine collections representing eight localities. With an EOO of 1037 km 2, an AOO of 28 km 2, and four subpopulations representing four locations, of which two occur within protected areas (Beanka and Bemaraha), N. tefyana is assigned a preliminary status of “Endangered” [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)]. Indeed, decline in habitat quality and habitat loss will persist in most of its range because of wildfire, forest exploitation, nomadic grazing, and conversion of forested area into agricultural fields.

260 Boissiera 70

Notes

Noronhia tefyana is similar to N. buxifolia , but these two taxa can be distinguished by the shape of their leaves and flowers, the length of their pedicels, and the color of their corolla. The new species can be recognized by its lanceolate leaf blades with a long acumen, fasciculate, pink flowers, and slightly rugose, apiculate fruits.

Paratypi

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajanga: Beanka, Kinahango , 18°01’28”S 44°30’16”E, 172 m, 19.XI.2011, Gautier 5662 ( G, K, MO, P, TEF) ; ibid. loc., Sarodrano , 18°03’51”S 44°31’46”E, 333 m, 10.XII.2011, Hanitrarivo et al. 6 ( G, K, MO, P. TEF) ; ibid. loc., 18°03’45”S 44°31’05”E, 296 m, 4.III.2012, Hanitrarivo et al. 253 ( G, K, MO, P. TEF) ; ibid. loc., 18°02’51”S 44°31’29”E, 499 m, 8.III.2012, Hanitrarivo et al. 281 ( G, K, MO, P. TEF) ; Tsingy de Bemaraha, S of the Manambolo river , 19°09’S 44°49’E, 50 m, 18.XII.1996, Jongkind et al. 3590 ( G, MO, P, TAN, WAG) ; Belitsaka , 17°32’27”S 44°16’53”E, 23.X.2009, Rakotonasolo et al. 1433 ( CAS, K, MO, P, TAN) ; Maintirano, Ambinda , 18°04’S 44°30’E, 203 m, 19.X.2009, Razakamalala et al. 4459 ( MO, TAN) ; Melaky , 14 km E Antsalova, 18°41’S 44°43’E, 18.III.1993, Villiers et al. 4824 ( P).

Figures

Fig.65.Photographs of Noronhia Stadtm.ex Thouars.

Fig. 66. Noronhia tefyana Hong-Wa

Fig. 62. Distribution maps of species of Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars.N. similis Hong-Wa to N. tubulosa H. Perrier.