Noronhia crassinodis H. Perrier

18. Noronhia crassinodis H. Perrier in Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Sér. B, Biol. Vég. 2: 301. 1949 (Fig. 12A). Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Ouest-Nord, près de Diégo-Suarez, Sakaramy, [12°26’S 49°16’E], 400-500 m, IX.1926, Perrier de la Bâthie 17673 (holo-: P [P00418100]!). Description Shrubs to small trees to 7 m tall, trunk to 8 cm diameter; young twigs cylindrical, 0.7- 1.8 mm diameter, glabrous; bark medium gray, smooth to rugose, with scattered lenti-cels. Leaves opposite, persistent; bud scales persistent; blades yellowish green, obovate, 3.5-6.5 3 1.5-4.5 cm, very coriaceous, glabrous, domatia absent, base acute to attenu-ate, margin flat to undulate, apex mucronulate, the mucro 2-9 mm long, midrib sunken above, flat to raised below, secondary veins conspicuous mostly below, 7-12 per side, 4-9 mm apart, looping 1-4 mm from the margin; petiole medium gray, 3.5-7 3 1-2.5 mm, entirely woody, glabrous. Flowers fasciculate; pedicel 8-20 mm long, glabrescent; calyx moderately pubescent outside, glabrous inside, lobes triangular, 2-2.5 3 1.5-2 mm; corolla red purplish, urceolate, 5.5-7 mm long, glabrous on both sides, the tube 5 mm long, lobes oblong, apex obtuse; corona present, 1.3-1.8 mm long, undivided; sta-mens 2-2.2 mm long, anthers oblong, 1.5-1.9 mm long; pistil 1.5-2.5 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruiting pedicel 3.5-13 3 1-2.5 mm; young fruits greenish, reddish-yellow-ish when mature, ovoid, 10.5-14 3 5-12.5 mm, covered with white dots, apex flat to bluntly pointed, style persistent; dry pericarp 0.6-0.8 mm thick; endocarp woody; seed 6-7.5 3 4.3-4.7 mm. Distribution, ecology and phenology Noronhia crassinodis occurs in low- to mid-elevation dry forests in the north, from Mon-tagne des Français to Ankarana and Daraina (Fig. 9). It produces flowers and fruits throughout the year. Conservation status The assessment was based on 16 collections representing 16 localities and yielded an EOO of 3,849 km 2, an AOO of 52 km 2, and 12 subpopulations representing 10 locations, of which six occur within protected areas (Andavakoera-Andrafiamena-Am-bohipiraka, Ankarana, Loky-Manambato, Montagne d’Ambre, and Montagne des Français). Decline in habitat quality as well as loss of habitat and mature individuals resulting from land conversion, charcoal production and illegal and/or artisanal mining are expected outside of protected areas. Therefore, N. crassinodis is assigned a prelimi-nary status of “Vulnerable” [VU B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)]. Notes Noronhia crassinodis can be recognized by its thick nodes often with rigid bud scales, very coriaceous, obovate leaf blades terminated by a short mucro, fasciculate, red-pur-plish flowers, and punctate fruits. It differs from N. candicans and N. clarinerva by the features already discussed under these species, and differs from N. intermedia by its obovate (vs. obovate to obtrullate), mucronulate (vs. acuminate) leaves, red-purplish (vs. pale green) flowers, and punctate (vs. smooth to rugose) fruits. Additional specimens examined MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Marotaolana, Ankarana RS, forêt du Mahoro Anala-misakana, 12°49’32”S 49°15’08”E, 6.XI.1997, Bardot-Vaucoulon & Andrianantoanina 929 (K, MO, P, TAN); Tanambao-Marivorahona, 13°02’34”S 49°09’14”E, 45 m, 2.VII.2005, Guittou et al. 150 (CNARP, MO, P, TAN); Andranovondronina, Antsisikala, forêt d’Anka-tokobe, 12°10’33”S 49°12’58”E, 50 m, 18. V.2005, Leopold et al. 66 (CNARP, G, MO, P, TAN); Ramena, Andavakoera, Montagne des Français, 12°21’01”S 49°21’32”E, 115 m, 11.IX.2004, Rabefarihy & Guittou 20 (MO, P, TAN); Vohémar, Tsaratanana, forêt d’Ampondrabe, 12°58’18”S 49°41’57”E, 200 m, 4.XI.2005, Rakotonandrasana et al. 954 (CNARP, G, MO, P, TAN); Ampitiliantsambo, 15 km à l’E d’Andranomanitra, 12°23’18”S 49°22’57”E, 233 m, 14. VI.2004, Ramananjanahary et al. 20 (CNARP, G, MO, P, TAN); Montagne d’Ambre PN, 12°28’34”S 49°10’51”E, 682 m, 18.XII.2011, Raman-dimbimanana et al. 175 (G, MO, P, TEF); Ampitiliantsambo, Montagne des Français, 12°23’13”S 49°22’53”E, 239 m, 11.IX.2004, Randriambololomamonjy et al. 9 (MO, P, TAN); Mahamasina, Ankarana RS, 12°58’S 49°08’E, 50 m, 15. VI.1995, Razafimandimbi-son & Andrianantoanina 96 (K, MO, P, TAN).Published as part of Hong-Wa, Cynthia, 2016, A taxonomic revision of the genus Noronhia Stadtm. ex Thouars (Oleaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, pp. 1-292 in Boissiera 70 on pages 80-81, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.759943