taxonID	type	description	language	source
039F8783FF85FF8AFF8D086D340A1C62.taxon	description	leaf apex bluntly obtuse to rounded (vs acuminate); fruits 7 – 8 (– 9) × 6 – 8 (– 12) mm (vs 20 – 25 × 18 – 20 mm), obovoid or cup-shaped (vs ovoid), glossy purplish black when ripe (vs pink); and styles not persistent or c. 2 mm (vs 4 mm). – Type: Philippines, Mindanao Island, Surigao del Norte Prov., Claver, in forests on ultramafic soils, c. 50 m elevation, 3 vii 2010 (fl), E. S. Fernando 2279 (holotype PNH!; isotypes LBC!, PUH!, SING!). Figures 1, 2. Small, glabrous tree, 3 – 5 m tall; stem 6 – 10 cm in diameter, branches spreading above. Twigs 4 - winged when young, turning quadrangular with age; resinous, reddish brown. Leaves opposite, subsessile, deep red when young. Petiole slightly swollen, drying deep black, 1 – 2 mm long. Lamina ovate-oblong, rigidly and thickly coriaceous, base cordate, apex bluntly obtuse to rounded, margins entire, both surfaces epunctulate, 9.3 – 13.0 × 5.6 – 8.1 cm; secondary veins 15 – 18 pairs, thin, (9.0 –) 10.7 – 11.4 mm apart, innermost intramarginal vein thin, (2.3 –) 2.7 – 3.5 mm from the margin, outermost intramarginal vein 0.7 – 0.9 mm from the margin, very faint; both surfaces of the midrib deep black. Inflorescence (axillary –) terminal, (4.0 –) 6.0 – 7.6 cm long, 4 - winged. Ultimate branchlets in triads, flowers sessile. Flower buds goblet-shaped. Hypanthium goblet-shaped, greenish proximally, black (reddish distally when fresh), 3.8 – 6.0 × 2.0 – 4.5 mm (hypanthium limb 2 – 3 mm, ovary portion 2 – 3 mm), rim with 4 rounded lobes, one pair larger than the other, 1.3 – 1.5 × 0.5 – 0.7 mm, pseudo-pedicel slender, 1.1 – 1.3 mm long. Corolla pseudo-calyptrate, white, 4 - merous, irregular rounded. Stamens many, filaments slender, white, 8 – 10 mm long, anthers basifixed, broadly oblongsuborbicular, parallel, (yellow when fresh), 0.2 – 0.3 × 0.3 – 0.5 mm. Style 1, 7 – 10 mm long. Ovary bilocular, axile placentation; ovules c. 15 per locule. Infructescence terminal. Fruits obovoid or cup-shaped, 7 – 8 (– 9) × 6 – 8 (– 12) mm, the surface smooth, hard, black (ripening glossy purplish black when fresh); distally ± flat with circular calyx rim (2.5 –) 3.0 – 4.0 mm wide, calyx lobes shallow, fleshy, weakly incurved, c. 1 mm long, style not persistent or when persistent c. 2 mm long. Seed 1, globose, testa smooth, 5 – 7 mm wide, (white to pinkish red when fresh), surface of the opposite facing cotyledons slightly undulate. Seedling germination (fresh material): epigeal, phanerocotylar; hypocotyl c. 18 – 22 mm long, 1.0 – 1.5 mm thick; epicotyl 8 – 21 mm long, 4 - angular, the edges sometimes reddish; cotyledons of bulky or reserve type, planoconvex, smooth and rounded on the outside and covered with the brown testa; the exposed inner cotyledon green as is the emerging seedling axis, c. 2 – 3 mm thick, cotyledon stalk c. 1 mm long; first two eophylls opposite, lamina narrowly elliptic, 10 – 24 × 2 – 5 mm, base attenuate, apex acute; subsessile. Distribution. This species is, thus far, restricted to the islands of Mindanao and Hinatuan. In Mindanao, it is known to occur only in Surigao del Norte Province. Habitat and ecology. The type population of this species was found along a stream at 55 – 60 m elevation on ultramafic soils, although some individuals were also recorded at higher elevations reaching to 260 m. Other plant species in the type locality include Alyxia obovatifolia Merrill (Apocynaceae), Bikkia philippinensis Valeton (Rubiaceae), Buchanania insignis Blume (Anacardiaceae) and Rhodomyrtus surigaoensis Elmer (Myrtaceae). Etymology. The epithet omissum (Latin for ‘ neglected, disregarded’) alludes to the fact that although first encountered several years ago, this species has only recently been given attention. Proposed IUCN conservation category. Using GeoCAT (Bachman et al., 2011; https: // www. geocat. kew. org), an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 196.5 km 2 was calculated, which is within the threshold for an Endangered category. The AOO was estimated at 32 km 2, which is also within the threshold for an Endangered category (IUCN, 2012). This species has a severely fragmented population; known populations occur in small patches comprising a few individuals. After more than a decade of field visits to the area, we have observed a steady decline in the: (i) EOO; (ii) area of occupancy (AOO); and (iii) area, extent and quality of the habitat, and number of locations. All known localities of this species, including that on the small adjacent Hinatuan Island, are within areas subject to surface mining for nickel. Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN, 2012) and the Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee, 2022), we preliminarily assess Syzygium omissum as Endangered [EN B 1 + B 2 ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v)]. Notes. The combination of characters for this species is unique among all Philippine Syzygium. When Robinson’s (1909) key to Philippine species was used, the leaf characters and inflorescence position were found to closely resemble those of Syzygium bernardoi, but the stems and reproductive parts are very different (see diagnosis). Syzygium bernardoi was observed to have similarities to the Antisepticum group, whereas S. omissum is perhaps truly related to the Myrtifolium group of Robinson (1909), considering their small turbinate flowers, inconspicuous and small calyx lobes (i. e. hypanthium rim subtruncate), pseudo-calyptrate corolla, and ripe pericarp fleshy and purplish black. Syzygium silamense is not assigned to a group in Ashton (2006, 2011), and the holotype does not contain the material needed to enable this. The term ‘ bulky or reserve type’ in Syzygium omissum refers to exposed cotyledons that are thick and ‘ food-storing’, as opposed to foliaceous or leaf-like (Ng, 1978; De Vogel, 1981) (see Figure 2 E, F). Additional specimens examined (paratypes). PHILIPPINES. Mindanao Island: Surigao del Norte Prov., Claver, along river, 53 m elevation, 8 viii 2013 (fr, seedling, + spirit), E. S. Fernando 3224 (LBC!); ibid., along small, rocky stream, 55 m elevation, 23 iv 2015 (fl buds), E. S. Fernando 3759 (CAHUP!, LBC!, PNH!); ibid., 260 m elevation, 7 vi 2019 (fl, fr), E. S. Fernando 4781 (LBC!, PNH!, PUH!); ibid., 55 m elevation, 16 xii 2020 (fl buds, fr juvenile, fr, seedlings), E. S. Fernando 4968 (LBC!); ibid., near nursery area, on gentle slope, 210 m elevation, 6 xi 2022 (fl, + spirit), E. S. Fernando 5224 (LBC!); ibid., 114 m elevation, 20 vi 2023 (fr, seedling, + spirit), E. S. Fernando 5394 (LBC!). Hinatuan Island: 95 m elevation, 4 xii 2023 (st), E. S. Fernando 5670 (LBC!).	en	Fernando, E. S., Quimado, M. O., Mansibang, J. A. (2024): Two New Species Of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) From Ultramafic Soils In Northeastern Mindanao, Philippines, With Notes On Three Other Rare Species. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 81 (2027): 1-19, DOI: 10.24823/EJB.2024.2027
039F8783FF81FF86FF8D0F3B34A61C3F.taxon	description	6 × 3 cm), adaxially punctate leaf surface (vs adaxially epunctulate), fewer secondary veins (7 –) 8 – 9 pairs (vs 10 – 15), and fewer flowered inflorescence 1 – 3 (– 4) flowers (vs 5 – 12 (– 15 )). – Type: Philippines, Mindanao Island, Surigao del Norte Prov., Claver, in forests on ultramafic soils, on steep slope, c. 320 m elevation, 6 vi 2019 (fl), E. S. Fernando 4765 (holotype PNH; isotypes LBC, SING). Figures 3, 4. Small glabrous tree 4 – 6 m tall; stem 10 – 15 cm in diameter, trunk and branches tending to be upright, erect. Twigs quadrangular, seldom laterally flattened. Leaves opposite, young leaves purple when fresh. Petiole 1.3 – 2.0 (– 2.2) mm long. Lamina oblanceolate, rigidly coriaceous, base attenuate, apex bluntly obtuse to rounded, margins revolute, entire, sparsely punctate adaxially, epunctulate abaxially, 3.2 – 4.5 × 0.8 – 1.3 cm; secondary veins (7 –) 8 – 9 pairs, thin, 3.0 – 4.0 (– 4.8) mm apart, intramarginal vein thin, 0.6 – 1.0 mm from the margin; pale olive brown when dry. Inflorescence (pseudoterminal –) axillary, solitary (– simple cyme), 1 – 3 (– 4) flowers, sessile (or 12 mm long when present, slender, quadrangular). Flower buds clavate. Hypanthium claviform, white, with dense fibre bundles, 12 × 2.7 – 3.3 mm, rim subtruncate in outline, obscurely 4 - lobed, rounded, 0.5 – 0.6 × 0.7 – 0.8 mm, pseudo-pedicel slender, 1.7 – 4.1 mm. Corolla pseudo-calyptrate, white, 4 - merous, irregular rounded. Stamens many, filaments slender, white, 2.8 – 4.7 mm, anthers basifixed, oblong, parallel, yellowish brown (yellow when fresh), c. 0.3 × 0.2 mm. Style 1, 6 – 8 mm long. Ovary bilocular, axile placentation; ovules c. 6 per locule. Fruits solitary on axils (or rarely in very short axis, 12 mm long), broadly obovoid, 11 – 12 × 10.0 – 11.5 mm, surface smooth, ripening dull, waxy red when fresh, brown when dry; pericarp fleshy, with longitudinally striated fibres covering the testa. Seedling germination hypogeal, cotyledons remain inside the testa, unexposed; epicotyl angular, with alternate cataphylls preceding the eophylls; first two eophylls opposite, narrowly elliptic, 1.2 – 3.4 × 1.5 – 2.0 mm. Distribution. Endemic to the Philippines. This species is, thus far, known only from Surigao del Norte Province on Mindanao Island, Philippines. Habitat and ecology. This species occurs on steep ultramafic hill slopes at 320 m elevation. Associated species include two Myrtaceae, namely the common Leptospermum amboinense Blume and saplings of Xanthostemon verdugonianus Náves ex Fern. - Vill., Gymnostoma rumphianum (Miq.) L. A. S. Johnson (Casuarinaceae), Norrisia malaccensis Gardner (Loganiaceae) and Scaevola micrantha C. Presl (Goodeniaceae). Etymology. The epithet parvipomum (Latin: parvi, ‘ small’; pomum, ‘ apple’) refers to the similarity of the ripe fruits to small, red apples. Notes. Floral characters suggest that this species belongs to Syzygium subg. Perikion sensu Hatt et al. (2023) with a claviform hypanthium and the presence of fibre bundles in the hypanthium wall. The results of a thorough review of Philippine Syzygium (see methodology) suggest that there are c. 12 species (including S. parvipomum) that belong to subg. Perikion, of which seven have consistent terminal inflorescence. Meanwhile, representatives of the subgenus with axillary to ramiflorous inflorescence are unique to only five of species in the Philippines so far. An identification key for the Philippine representatives of this group is presented below. Proposed IUCN conservation category. Only two adjacent populations, each consisting of fewer than 15 mature individuals of Syzygium parvipomum, have been observed in the type locality. A continuing decline in the number of mature individuals in each population is probable, as all populations are within an area subject to surface mining. Following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN, 2012) and Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee, 2022), we preliminarily assess Syzygium parvipomum as Critically Endangered [CR C + C 2 a (i)]. Additional specimens examined (paratypes). PHILIPPINES. Mindanao Island: Surigao del Norte Prov., Claver, in forests on ultramafic soils, on steep slope, c. 370 m elevation, 22 vi 2023 (fr., + spirit), E. S. Fernando 5407 (CAHP, LBC, PNH, PUH); ibid. (+ spirit), E. S. Fernando 5408 (K, LBC, PNH, PUH, SING); ibid., (seedling, + spirit), E. S. Fernando 5408 A (LBC).	en	Fernando, E. S., Quimado, M. O., Mansibang, J. A. (2024): Two New Species Of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) From Ultramafic Soils In Northeastern Mindanao, Philippines, With Notes On Three Other Rare Species. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 81 (2027): 1-19, DOI: 10.24823/EJB.2024.2027
039F8783FF8CFF82FF8D0A0833001C74.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Endemic to the Philippines. Mindanao Island, Surigao del Norte Province. Proposed IUCN conservation category. Using GeoCAT (Bachman et al., 2011; http: // www. geocat. kew. org), an EOO of less than 100 km 2, which is within the threshold for the Critically Endangered category, was calculated, in addition to an AOO of 12 km 2, which is within the threshold for an Endangered category. The known localities of this species are all within a mining area. Following the IUCN Red List Categories (IUCN, 2012) and the recommendation to use a precautionary approach in conservation assessments (IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee, 2022), we assess this species as Endangered [EN B 1 + B 2 b (i, ii, iii, iv, v)]. Notes. This species falls under the Myrtifolium group of Robinson (1909). Vegetatively, this group consist of species with a generally elliptic-oblong lamina, acute-obtuse leaf base, acute-acuminate apex, and thin secondary venation, but most importantly for inclusion in the Myrtifolium group, the possession of small turbinate flowers, inconspicuous and small calyx lobes (i. e. hypanthium rim subtruncate), pseudo-calyptrate corolla, small fruits, pericarp ripening to fleshy texture and purplish-black colour. Information from the late Leonard L. Co (Pelser et al., 2011 onwards) includes a note of the similarity of Syzygium filipes to S. rostratum (Blume) De Candolle from Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. However, Syzygium filipes is readily distinguished by its elongated, gracile inflorescence / infructescence axes. Additional specimens examined. PHILIPPINES. Mindanao Island: Surigao del Norte, Claver, 170 m elevation, 6 xi 2022 (fr), E. S. Fernando 5223 (LBC, PNH); ibid., 210 m elevation, 22 vi 2023 (fl buds), E. S. Fernando 5409 (LBC, PNH, PUH, SING). Syzygium siderocolum (Merr.) Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 79 (1950) 414, excl. syn. ‘ Eugenia similis ’ (which is the printer’s error for ‘ Eugenia sidericola ’). Eugenia siderocola Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 18 (1921) 303. – Type: Philippines, Mindanao Island, Surigao Province, on ridges and along streams at the iron deposit on the northeast coast, extending from low elevations to at least 650 m, 4 vi 1919, M. Ramos & J. Pascasio BS 34521 (lectotype A [A 00069783] designated here!; isolectotypes K [K 000800306], P [P 05229088], US [US 00118159]); paratype: Philippines, Mindanao Island, Surigao Province, on ridges and along streams at the iron deposit on the northeast coast, extending from low altitudes to at least 650 m, 4 vi 1919, M. Ramos & J. Pascasio BS 34722 (not found). Figure 6. Distribution. Endemic to the Philippines. Mindanao Island, Surigao del Norte Province. Proposed IUCN conservation category. Using GeoCAT (Bachman et al., 2011; https: // www. geocat. kew. org), an EOO of less than 100 km 2, which is within the threshold for the Critically Endangered category, was calculated, in addition to an AOO of 12 km 2, which is within the threshold for the Endangered category. The known localities of this species are all within a mining area. Following the IUCN Red List Categories (IUCN, 2012) and the recommendation to use a precautionary approach in conservation assessments (IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee, 2022), we assess this species as Endangered [EN B 1 + B 2 b (i, ii, iii, iv, v)]. Notes. This species grows on ridges and along streams at low elevations. According to L. L. Co (Pelser et al., 2011 onwards), it is known only from the original two collections. In the protologue, Syzygium siderocolum was compared with S. cagayanense (Merr.) Merr. It can be distinguished from all other species of Philippine Syzygium by its strikingly small growth habit, flexuous twig, small and oblong lamina, obtuse-rounded apex, terminal inflorescence, and most importantly, an inconspicuous secondary venation. Additional specimens examined. PHILIPPINES. Mindanao Island: Surigao del Norte, Claver, along a streambank, 35 m elevation, 5 ix 2022 (fr young), E. S. Fernando 5180 (LBC, PNH); ibid., 114 m elevation, 20 vi 2023 (fl buds), E. S. Fernando 5396 (K, LBC, PNH, PUH, SING). Syzygium surigaense (Merr.) Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 79 (1950) 417. – Eugenia surigaensis Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 18 (1921) 297. – Type: Philippines, Mindanao Island, Surigao Province, along streams at low altitudes at the iron deposit on the northeast coast, 14 vi 1919, M. Ramos & J. Pascasio BS 34686 (lectotype A [A 00069806], designated here!; isolectotypes K [K 000800349], P [P 05229209], US [US 00118184]). Figure 7. Distribution. Endemic to the Philippines. Mindanao Island, Surigao del Norte Province. Proposed IUCN conservation category. This species has a small population size, with only a single mature fruiting individual recorded. This plant was about 7 m tall with a 10 cm stem diameter (Figure 7 A) and was seen in April 2019 at low elevation along a stream, from which area herbarium specimens were collected. The species may occur in similar habitats elsewhere in the vicinity. However, given that the whole area is part of a surface mining project, the remaining individuals of this species, if any, face real threat to their survival from habitat loss. Considering its EOO, AOO and area, extent and / or quality of habitat; the number of mature individuals; and a projected continuing decline in habitat quality and quantity, Syzygium surigaense is assessed as Critically Endangered [CR) C + C 2 a (i)]. Notes. According to L. L. Co (Pelser et al., 2011 onwards), this species is, thus far, known only from the type specimen. It was compared with Syzygium megalanthum (C. B. Rob.) Merr. because of its solitary- to few-flowered inflorescence, turbinate hypanthium, rim 2 – 3 cm in diameter, and large, persistent calyx lobes, but strongly differs from that species by its thick and corky petioles, fewer secondary veins, eglandular lamina, and broader leaf base. Additional specimen examined. PHILIPPINES. Mindanao Island: Surigao del Norte, Claver, along a stream, 37 m elevation, 26 iv 2019 (fr), E. S. Fernando 4714 (LBC, PNH, PUH).	en	Fernando, E. S., Quimado, M. O., Mansibang, J. A. (2024): Two New Species Of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) From Ultramafic Soils In Northeastern Mindanao, Philippines, With Notes On Three Other Rare Species. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 81 (2027): 1-19, DOI: 10.24823/EJB.2024.2027
