Noronhia edentata (H. Perrier)

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 : 104-107

27. Noronhia edentata (H. Perrier) Hong-Wa, comb. & stat. nov. ( Fig. 18A).

≡ Noronhia emarginata var. edentata H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 296. 1949.

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Forêt d’Analamazaotra , [ 18°55’48”S 48°25’48”E], 800 m, s.d., Perrier de la Bâthie 8809 ( P [ P00791237 ]!; isolecto-: K [ K000233192 , K000233193 ] image seen; P [ P03558849 , P03558850 ]!) . Syntypi: M ADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Analamazaotra RS, 2.IV.1905, Thouvenot 58 ( K [ K000233191 ] image seen, P [ P00701239 , P00701240 ]!); ibid. loc., comm. 3.XII.1934, Ursch 82 ( P [ P03558851 ]!) .

Description

Trees to 25 m tall, trunk to 35 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 1-6 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium to light gray, smooth to rugose. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades dark green above, medium green below, elliptic to obovate, 5-17 3 2-7.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base acute to attenuate, margin slightly revolute, apex rounded to slightly acuminate, the acumen 0-5(-15) mm long, midrib sunken above, raised below, secondary veins conspicuous, 7-17 per side, 7-25 mm apart, looping 1.5-7 mm from the margin; petiole medium gray, 6-38 3 1.3-4 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Thyrses fasciculate, pauciflorous, compact; peduncle 8-9 mm long, moderately pubescent; pedicel 1.5-8 mm long, moderately pubescent; calyx moderately pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 1-1.5 3 0.8-2 mm; corolla white sometimes tinged greenish, urceolate, 3-5.5 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 1.2-3 mm long, lobes widely ovate, apex obtuse; corona present, 1.4-2.2 mm long, undivided; stamens 1.8-2.5 mm long, anthers widely oblong, 1.1-1.9 mm long; pistil 1.4-2.5 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 2-9 3 1.8-3.6 mm; young fruits green, reddish black when mature, ovoid to subglobose, 12-31 3 8.5-26 mm, surface smooth, sometimes covered with a white pellicle, apex flat to bluntly pointed or apiculate; dry pericarp 1.3-4.2 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 11.5-21.5 3 7-18 mm.

Distribution, ecology and phenology

Noronhia edentata occurs in low- to high-elevation humid forests in the east, from Sambava to Ambondrombe ( Fig. 19). It produces flowers and fruits from September to May.

Conservation status

The assessment was based on 27 collections representing 19 localities, resulting in an EOO of 38,642 km 2, an AOO of 68 km 2, and 13 subpopulations representing 12 locations, of which six occur within protected areas (Analamazaotra, Betampona, Makira, Makirovana, Masoala, and Zahamena). Being widespread and present in many protected areas, Noronhia edentata is assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”.

Photos: F.Rakotoarivony

Notes

Noronhia edentata can be recognized by its leaves, which have broadly elliptic blades and long, woody petioles, its white greenish flowers and its large fruits, with thick pericarp. There is a slight leaf heteroblasty in this species. In particular, the leaf base is narrower and the acumen longer (up to 15 mm long) in seedlings and saplings than in adult plants. This taxon was previously recognized as a variety of N. emarginata , from which it differs by its habit, leaf shape, and flower color and shape. Moreover, these two entities belong to separate clades (HONG- WA & BESNARD, 2013, 2014). PERRIER DE LA BâTHIE (1949) described N. emarginata var. edentata based on the following syntypes: Perrier de la Bâthie 8809, Thouvenot 58 and Ursch 820; the latter is a typographical mistake for Ursch 82. The overall quality and completeness of Perrier de la Bâthie 8809 justify the selection of one of the specimens at P as the lectotype.

Additional specimens examined

MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Ambatobiribiry, [ 14°11’S 50°05’E] , 50-345 m, 29-30.XI.1950, Humbert & Capuron 24423 ( G, MO, P). Prov. Toamasina: Maroantsetra, Ambinanitelo , Ankirindro forest , 15°17’35”S 49°23’59”E , 664 m, 16. I .2003, Antilahimena et al. 1741 ( G, MO, P); Manambolo, Amparihibe forest , 15°02’26”S 49°34’59”E , 800 m, 22. II .2003, Antilahimena 1919 ( MO); Moramanga, Sahaevo , 18°50’38”S 48°16’54”E , 1006 m, 11.XI.2006, Antilahimena & Edmond 4944 ( G, MO, P, TAN, TEF); Ambatovy , 18°51’43”S 48°17’39”E , 1049 m, 9.XII.2006, Antilahimena & Edmond 5092 ( MO, P, TAN, TEF); ibid. loc., 18°50’28”S 48°18’16”E , 1085 m, 13. V .2010, Bernard 1566 ( MO, P, TAN); Analamazaotra RS, 18°56’12”S 48°25’09”E , 953 m, 2. V .2010, Hong-Wa & Ortiz 650 ( MO, P, TAN); Betampona RNI , 17°51’S 49°12’E, 275-650 m, 30.IX.1993, Lewis 711 ( K, MO, P, TAN); Analamazaotra RS, [ 18°56’S 48°26’E], 25.VII, Louvel 88 ( P); Andasibe , 18°55’50”S 48°25’04”E , 963 m, 5.XII.2008, Rakotondrafara et al. 932 ( MO, P, TAN); Moango, Zahamena RNI , 17°33’32”S 48°53’55”E, 800 m, 4. V .2003, Rakotondrajaona et al. 274 ( CNARP, G, MO, P, TEF); Lakato, Ambodigavo, forêt d’Analanjahana , 19°07’57”S 48°24’00”E , 794 m, 31. V .2007, Razanatsima et al. 266 ( G, MO, P, TAN); 32 km E of Moramanga , 18°57’S 48°27’E , 870 m, 29. I .1993, Schatz 3452 ( MO, P, TAN); Maroantsetra, Farankaraina , [ 15°25’S 49°52’E] , 20-25 m, 16.IX.1952, Service Forestier 6151 ( P, TEF); Périnet , [ 18°56’S 48°26’E] , 1000 m, 1. VI .1954, Service Forestier 10374 ( P, TEF); Masoala Peninsula, Ambanizana , 15°40’24”S 49°57’51”E , 110-260 m, 28.X.1994, Vasey & Velo 83 ( MO, P, TAN) .