A taxonomic revision of the genus Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars (Oleaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands Author Hong-Wa, Cynthia Missouri Botanical Garden P. O. Box 299 St. Louis MO 63166 - 0299 U. S. A & Claude E. Phillips Herbarium Delaware State University 1200 N. DuPont Hwy, Dover DE 19901 - 2277 U. S. A. chwa@desu.edu text Boissiera 2016 2016-10-21 70 1 292 journal article 22287 10.5281/zenodo.7599432 f2ceb54b-e71d-4433-9e67-b75b62f8a902 978-2-8277-0086-8 0373-2975 7599432 40. Noronhia lanceolata H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar , Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 286. 1949 ( Fig. 28B ). Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR . Prov. Toliara : Sud-Ouest : Plateau Bara , bassin du Fiherenana , [ 22°57’S 44°19’E ], V.1933 , Perrier de la Bâthie 19243 ( P [ P00413230 ]!; isolecto-: BR [ BR0000006265632 ] image seen, K [ K000233189 ] image seen, P [ P00413231 , P00413232 ]!) . Syntypi : MADAGASCAR . Prov. Toliara : Antanimora , [ 24°14’S 45°15’E ], 13.VII.1926 , Decary 4299 ( P [ P04078602 ]!) ; ibid. loc ., [ 24°14’S 45°15’E ], 17.VII.1926 , Decary 4522 ( P [ P04078608 ]!) ; Massif du Vohitsiombe , [ 24°25’S 46°08’E ], 2.VIII.1926 , Decary 4564 ( P [ P04078604 , P04078605 ]!) ; ibid. loc. , 2.VIII.1926 , Decary 4649 ( P [ P04078597 ]!) ; Ampandrandava , [ 24°05’S 45°42’E ], VIII.1942 , Herb. Jard. Bot. Tan. 5108 ( P [ P04078587 , P04078588 , P04078589 , P04078591 , P04078592 , P04078593 ]!) ; Fiherenana , [ 22°57’30”S 44°19’00”E ], 25-300 m , 2-3.VIII.1928 , Humbert 5124 ( G [ G00188778 ] image seen, P [ P04078582 ]!) ; Bassin supérieur du Mandrare , [ 24°30’S 46°35’E ], 700-1200 m , 20-22.XI.1928 , Humbert 6765 ( P [ P04078609 in part]!) ; Vallée de la Manambolo , [ 24°31’S 46°37’E ], 300-400 m , XII.1933 , Humbert 12792 ( P [ P04078594 , P04078595 , P04078596 ]!) ; ibid. loc. , [ 24°31’S 46°37’E ], 400-600 m , XII.1933 - I .1934 , Humbert 12813 ( P [ P04078606 ]!) ; ibid. loc. , [ 24°31’S 46°37’E ], 400-900 m , 1.XII.1933 , Humbert 13012 ( G [ G00188777 ] image seen, P [ P04078600 , P04078601 ]!) ; Bords de la Linta , Plateau Mahafaly , [ 24°46’S 44°17’E ], VI .1910 , Perrier de la Bâthie 8821 ( P [ P04078610 , P04078611 ]!) ; Ampandrandava , [ 24°25’S 45°42’E ], VII.1943 , Seyrig 23 ( P [ P04078590 ]!) . Description Trees to 8 m tall, trunk to 17 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.4-1.2 mm diameter, glabrous; bark light gray to brownish, rugose. Leaves opposite, semi-deciduous; bud scales persistent; blades light green, lanceolate, 3.5-10 3 0.6-1.8 cm , coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base attenuate, margin flat, apex acute to acuminate, the acumen 1-3 mm long, midrib flat to slightly raised above, distinctly raised below, secondary veins barely visible, 7-14 per side, 5.5-16 mm apart, looping 0.8-2.5 mm from the margin; petiole whitish to yellow, 5-15 3 0.3-1.1 mm , not woody, glabrous. Thyrses geminate, pauciflorous, somewhat diffuse; peduncle 1.5-9 mm long, moderately pubescent; pedicel 2-7 mm long, moderately pubescent; calyx moderately pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 0.7-1.6 3 0.6-1.3 mm ; corolla white, cupuliform, 3-4 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 2.5-3 mm long, lobes ovate, apex rounded; corona absent; stamens 2-2.7 mm long, anthers ovate, slightly apiculate, 1.7-1.8 mm long; pistil 2.2-3 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 3-12 3 0.5-2.1 mm ; young fruits green, purplish red when mature, ovoid to subglobose, 10-26.5 3 6-22.5 mm , surface smooth, sometimes covered with white dots, apex flat to rostellate, with the persistent style; dry pericarp 1.4-2.7 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 6.5-19 3 4-12.5 mm . Distribution, ecology and phenology Noronhia lanceolata occurs in low- to high-elevation dry forests and thickets in the south, from Sakaraha to Andohahela ( Fig. 27 ). It produces flowers and fruits throughout the year except in August and September. Conservation status There were 31 collections representing 29 localities available for analysis, which yielded an EOO of 26,232 km 2 , an AOO of 104 km 2 , and 20 subpopulations representing 17 locations, of which seven occurs within protected areas (Amoron’i Onilahy, Andohahela, Behara-Tranomaro, Beompa, Corridor Parcel I-Parcel II, Extension Ampalamora, and Vohidava-Betsimalaho). With an actual AOO likely much larger than 2,000 km 2 , many locations and good representation within the network of protected areas, Noronhia lanceolata is assigned a preliminary status of “Least Concern”. Notes Noronhia lanceolata can be recognized by its rugose bark, non-woody petiole, lanceolate leaf blades, and white flowers lacking a corona. It differs from N. alleizettei by its non-woody (vs. woody) petioles, lanceolate (vs. narrowly elliptic) leaf blades, thyrsoid inflorescences (vs. fasciculate flowers), cupuliform (vs. urceolate) corolla, and larger (26 3 22 mm vs. 13 3 13 mm ) fruits. The description of this species was based on the following syntypes : Decary 4299 , 4522 , 4561 , 4564 and 4649 , Herb. Jard. Bot. Tan. 5108 , Humbert 5124 , 6765 , 12792 , 12813 and 13012 , Perrier de la Bâthie 8821 and 19243 , and Seyrig 23 . The choice of a sheet of Perrier de la Bâthie 19243 at P as the lectotype is based on its completeness and quality as well as the presence of duplicates in various other herbaria. The specimen Humbert 6765 ([P04078609]) includes three fragments, of which two are assigned to N. lanceolata and one to N. divaricata . Moreover, PERRIER DE LA BâTHIE (1949) listed Decary 4561 as one of the syntypes of N. lanceolata , but no such specimen was found under Noronhia at the Paris herbarium. In fact, the only specimen found of Decary 4561 is clearly not a Noronhia , having been identified as Desmodium repandum (Vahl) DC. (P [P0009323]!). Besides, this specimen was collected in humid forest at Farafangana, far north from the range of N. lanceolata and outside of its natural habitat. However, it is possible that a numbering mistake was made since Decary 4561 was collected on August 8, 1926 in Farafangana, six days after Decary 4564 was collected in Fort-Dauphin, suggesting that perhaps another specimen bearing the number Decary 4561 , truly representing N. lanceolata , exists. Nevertheless, in the absence of such a specimen and given the presence of material belonging to Desmodium Desv., Decary 4561 should be treated as an excluded syntype . Additional specimens examined MADAGASCAR . Prov. Toliara : Ambatoabo , Imonty-Evasia , Andohahela PN, 24°47’11”S 46°43’26”E , 680 m , 17.XII.2004 , Andriamihajarivo 487 ( MO , P , TAN ); Amboasary Sud , Marotsiraka , Atsonjo Analamainty , Ankotsy , 24°17’30”S 46°07’48”E , 428 m , 10.XI.2008 , Andriamihajarivo et al. 1547 ( MO , P , TAN ); Imanombo (Centre-Sud), 1.XI.1952 , Bosser 4332 ( MO , TAN ); Imonty ( Bassin de Mandrare ), [ 24°49’S 46°41’E ], I.1962 , Bosser 15718 ( P , TAN ); Behara à l’E d’Ambovombe , [ 24°57’S 46°23’E ], 1.VIII.1931 , Decary 9085 ( G , P ); Tsimelahy , Andohahela PN ( Parcelle II), 24°57’25”S 46°36’26”E , 158 m , 21.II.2009 , Hong-Wa 609 ( MO , P , TAN ); Ihazofotsy , Andohahela PN, 24°50’S 46°32’E , 100 m , 16.IV.1996 , Laha 73 ( K , MO , P , TAN ); Ankoba , near E edge of Andohahela PN Park , Parcel 2, 24°47’19”S 46°42’07”E , 200 m , 23.I.2008 , Lowry et al. 6942 ( G , MO , P ); Andohahela PN, Parcelle 2 , 24°49’S 46°32’E , 30-50 m , 18.III.1994 , Rahajasoa et al. 214 ( G , K , MO , P , TAN ); Ambohimahavelona , Sept Lacs , Andranolahy , 23°31’24”S 44°09’10”E , 120 m , 4.IX.1998 , Rakotomalaza & Messmer 1676 ( G , P ); Andohahela PN, Parcelle 3 , 24°31’S 46°38’E , 600-1700 m , 5-22.VII.1993 , Randriamampionona 507 ( K , MO , P ); Mont Trafonaomby , Andohahela PN, parcelle 1 , 24°33’S 46°43’E , 1000- 1957 m , 7.IV.1994 , Randriamampionona 792 ( G , MO , P , TAN ); Andohahela ( parcel 1 ), Tsimelahy , 24°50’20”S 46°32’17”E , 6.IV.1996 , Randriamampionona 1228 ( G , MO , P ); Andohahela PN, Esomony , 24°31’S 46°37’E , 17.IX-30.X.1991 , Randriamanantena & Durbin 37 ( K , MO ); Fort-Dauphin , Ambatoabo , Ankoba , 24°47’01”S 46°42’20”E , 298 m , 27.II.2009 , Randrianaivo et al. 1762 ( G , MO , P , TAN ) ; Andohahela PN, Analamatsaka , 25°00’16”S 46°37’14”E , 180 m , 7-11.VI.1999 , Ratovoson et al. 100 ( MO , P , TAN ); Ambatoabo , Evasia , 24°48’12”S 46°41’07”E , 200 m , 19.XI.2008 , Ratovoson 1475 ( G , MO , P , TAN ); Behara Androy , [ 24°42’S 46°44’E ], 30.XI.1953 , Réserves Naturelles 5962 ( G , P , TAN , TEF ); Amboasary , Maromby , Sifotsy près d’Isomony , [ 24°40’S 46°44’E ], 28.X.1962 , Réserves Naturelles 12187 ( P , TEF ); entre Ranomainty et Bevilany , [ 25°00’S 46°34’E ], 0-200 m , 7.XII.1961 , Service Forestier 20483 ( MO , P , TEF ); Route Tuléar-Sakaraha , PK 28 , [ 23°20’00”S 43°51’30”E ], 300 m , 8.I.1962 , Service Forestier 20780 ( MO , P , TEF ); Piste de Maromiandra (Tuléar) au plateau de Mikoboka , [ 22°45’S 44°04’E ], 1.IV.1965 , Service Forestier 24138 ( G , MO , P , TEF ) .