A taxonomic revision of the genus Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars (Oleaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands Hong-Wa, Cynthia Boissiera 2016 2016-10-21 70 1 292 8WYRY Hong-Wa Hong-Wa 2016 [502,847,380,408] Magnoliopsida Oleaceae Noronhia Plantae Lamiales 247 247 Tracheophyta species similis   Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: DIANA,  Massif du Tsaratanana, [ 13°49’S 48°44’E],  2100 m,  XI.1966,  Morat2264(holo-: MO-6149642!; iso-: P[ P00701309, P03559031]!, TAN!).   Diagnosis   Noronhia similisHong-Wa can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its obovate leaf blades that are somehow tinged golden, sericeous to glabrescent at maturity, and its compact inflorescences with greenish white flowers.   Description  Treesto 10 mtall; young twigs flattened, 1.5-4.5 mmdiameter, glabrous; bark light gray, rugose. Leavesopposite, persistent; bud scales deciduous; blades dark green above, lighter below, obovate, 5-11.5 3 3-5.5 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous to sericeous, domatia casual, base rounded, margin flat, apex rounded to slightly acute, the point 1-3 mmlong, midrib slightly sunken above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins conspicuous, 7-10 per side, 8-20 mmapart, looping 2-9 mmfrom the margin; petiole brownish, 5-13 3 1-2.5 mm, usually entirely woody, glabrous. Thyrsessolitary to geminate, multiflorous, compact; peduncle 5-10 mmlong, moderately to sparsely pubescent; pedicel 2-10 mmlong, moderately to sparsely pubescent; calyx moderately to sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 1-2 3 1-2.5 mm; corolla greenish white, subrotate, 3.5-5 mmlong, glabrous on both sides, the tube 0-2.5 mmlong, lobes oblong, apex obtuse; corona absent; stamens 2-4 mmlong, anthers oblong to ovate, 1.7-2.8 mmlong; pistil 2-3 mmlong, stigma capitate. Fruitingpedicel 1-2 3 1-1.5 mm; young fruits green, unseen mature, ovoid, 10-11 3 7-8 mm, smooth to rugose, apex bluntly pointed, dry pericarp 0.5 mmthick; endocarp woody.   Etymology The resemblance between  Noronhia similisand  N. broomeanawas used as the basis for the specific epithet of the new species described here.  Distribution, ecology and phenology   Noronhia similisoccurs in mid- to high-elevations humid forests on basement rocks and quartzites from the Tsaratanana massif to Makira in the north and from Ivohibe RS to Andohahela in the south ( Fig. 62). It has been collected in flowers from October to December.   Conservation status Based on six collections representing six localities, the assessment indicated an EOO of 68,364 km 2, an AOO of 24 km 2, and six subpopulations representing six locations, all of which occur within protected areas (Analamazaotra, Andohahela, Corridor Ambositra-Vondrozo, Makira, Tsaratanana, and Tsaratanana-Ambohipiraka-Corridor Marojejy). Given the large distribution, number of locations and AOO, whose actual value is likely to exceed the estimated value,  N. similisis assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”.   Notes   Noronhia similismost closely resembles  N. broomeana, but differs from it mainly by its woody (vs. non-woody) petiole, oblong (vs. obovate) leaf blades, and connate (vs. almost free) petals. Obovate leaf blades that are somehow tinged golden, sericeous to glabrescent at maturity, and compact inflorescences with greenish white flowers characterize this new species.    Paratypi   MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Massif du Tsaratanana, vallon d’Ambatoafy, [ 13°49’S 48°44’E],  XI.1966,  Morat2431( P, TAN);  ibid. loc., haut bassin de la Maevarano, [ 13°58’12’’S 48°50’24’’E],  1750-2000 m,  6.XI.1966,  Service Forestier24980( P, TEF).  Prov. Fianarantsoa: IvohibeRS, 22°28’12”S 46°57’36”E,  900 m,  9.X.1997,  Rakotomalaza et al.1393( G, MO, P, TAN).  Prov. Mahajanga: Befandriana-Nord, Matsoandakana, AmbotaharananaAndranomena, 15°07’48”S 49°20’38”E,  1146 m,  15.II.2008,  Bernard836( MO, P, TAN).  Prov. Toamasina: AnalamazaotraRS, [ 18°56’S 48°26’E],  15.X.1953,  Service Forestier8566( P, TEF);  ibid. loc., [ 18°56’S 48°26’E],  10.XI.1954,  Service Forestier12162( P, TEF).  Prov. Toliara: AndohahelaPN, 24°33’S 46°52’E,  700- 850 m,  2.XII.1989,  McPherson14577( K, MO, P, TAN). 4023240341 [454,1065,616,643] DIANA Madagascar Antsiranana 247 247 1 Antsiranana 4023241395 1966-11 P, TAN Massif du Tsaratanana Madagascar 2100 -13.816667 Morat 1289 48.733334 247 247 P00701309, P03559031 1 Antsiranana 4023240786 1966-11 P, TAN Morat Madagascar -13.816667 Massif du Tsaratanana 1289 48.733334 248 248 1 Prov. Antsiranana 4023241518 1966-11-06 P, TEF Service Forestier Madagascar 1875 -13.969999 Maevarano 21 48.84 248 248 1 Antsiranana 4023240517 1997-10-09 G, MO, P, TAN Rakotomalaza et al. Madagascar 900 -22.470001 Ivohibe 21 46.96 248 248 1 Prov. Fianarantsoa 4023241225 2008-02-15 MO, P, TAN Bernard Madagascar 1146 -15.13 Befandriana-Nord 21 49.343887 248 248 1 Prov. Mahajanga 4023240423 1953-10-15 P, TEF Service Forestier Madagascar -18.933332 Analamazaotra 1273 48.433334 248 248 1 Prov. Toamasina 4023241371 1954-11-10 P, TEF Service Forestier Madagascar -18.933332 Toamasina 1273 48.433334 248 248 1 Toamasina 4023241378 1989-12-02 K, MO, P, TAN McPherson Madagascar 775 -24.55 Andohahela 1250 46.866665 248 248 1 Prov. Toliara