Myrcia cataphyllata M.F. Santos (2015b: 101)

Santos, Matheus F., Lucas, Eve & Sano, Paulo T., 2018, A taxonomic monograph of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia (Myrteae, Myrtaceae), Phytotaxa 380 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

5. Myrcia cataphyllata M.F. Santos (2015b: 101) ( Figures 18 and 19 )

Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: mun. Una, Reserva Biológica de Una, entrada no km 46 da Rod. BA 001 Ilheus/Una, coletas efetuadas a ca. 10 km no ramal de acesso ao Ecoparque de Una , 15°09’S, 39°05’W, 30 April 2000 (fr.), Sant’Ana 782 (holotype CEPEC!, isotype RB!, SP!)

Shrub to 2 m high. Epidermal peeling present in immature parts; trichomes ferruginous or brown, 0.1–0.3 mm long. Twig when immature brownish (when dry), flattened, keeled; greyish at maturity (when dry), cylindrical, cortex slightly cracked, glabrescent to glabrous; branching sympodial, 1–2 branches per node, epidermal protrusion present at the nodes, internode 2.7–6.2 cm long; cataphyll foliaceous, 15–17 × 3–4 mm, at all internodes, persistent or late deciduous, free, lanceolate, externally with scattered trichomes to glabrous, internally glabrous. Leaf concolorous, coriaceous, blade 9.9–18.2 × 2.6–6.0 cm, narrowly elliptic, elliptic or obovate, apex acuminate or acute, base narrowly cuneate or cuneate, margin plane, secondary veins 3–9 mm apart, held at an angle of 35–70° relative to the midvein, one or two marginal veins, the first 1.5–3.5 mm and the second 0.5–1.0 mm from the margin, tertiary veins conspicuous; adaxial surface glabrous at maturity, midvein sulcate in the first half and flat in the second half, secondary veins raised or inconspicuous, pellucid gland dots slightly conspicuous, less than 5 per mm 2; abaxial surface with scattered trichomes to glabrous at maturity, midvein raised, secondary veins raised, pellucid gland dots inconspicuous, less than 5 per mm 2; petiole 3–7 × 2 mm, canaliculate, glabrous at maturity. Inflorescence 4 × 6 cm, pyramidal, axillar at the terminal node, rachis puberulent to glabrous, 1–2 branching at the base, first internode of central rachis 2–3 mm wide, semicylindrical to flattened, distal internodes flattened, branching opposite, three branches per node, epidermal protrusion present at the nodes (usually absent at the apical branches); cataphylls at the base of the central rachis, 6–18 × 1–2 mm, lanceolate, externally puberulent to glabrous, internally with scattered trichomes to glabrous, apex acuminate, concave. Bract 8–10 × 2 mm, persistent, lanceolate, folded, apex acuminate, base truncate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface puberulent. Pedicel not seen. Bracteole 7 × 2 mm, deciduous, lanceolate, folded, apex acuminate, base truncate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface puberulent. Floral bud not seen. Hypanthium not tearing at anthesis, externally puberulent, internally glabrous; calyx 5–merous, lobes 1.4–2.5 × 1.2–1.5 mm, distinct from the hypanthium, deciduous, widely depressed ovate or triangular, concave, apex acuminate or aristate, base truncate, externally puberulent, internally puberulent or with scattered trichomes; petals not seen; staminal ring glabrous, stamens not seen; ovary not seen, style 1.1 mm long, glabrous, stigma punctiform, papillose. Fruit green when immature, 10–12 × 11–12 mm, depressed globose or globose, base attenuate, glabrous, remnants of calyx lobes present or not; seeds not seen.

Distribution and Habitat:— Myrcia cataphyllata is found in the understory of lowland rainforest (Atlantic Forest domain) ( Santos et al. 2015b). It is recorded only from the municipality of Una (Bahia state) ( Figure 19 ).

Phenology:— Myrcia cataphyllata was collected with fruits in February and April (mature fruits were not seen). Flowering material has not been collected.

Conservation Status:— Our analysis on Geocat confirms the classification of Myrcia cataphyllata as Endangered (EN, criteria B1a, biii; IUCN 2001) by Santos et al. (2015b).

Discussion:—According to Santos et al. (2015b), M. cataphyllata is distinguished by keeled branches, unusually big and persistent cataphylls, persistent bracts and calyx lobes with acuminate or aristate apices. Myrcia bicolor is similar to M. cataphyllata but does not have keeled branches, persistent cataphylls or bracts, and the calyx lobes apex are rounded ( Santos et al. 2015b). Myrcia cataphyllata was not included in the phylogenetic analysis of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia but possesses the diagnostic characters of this group ( Santos et al. 2015b, 2016a).

Available illustrations and images:— Santos et al. (2015b).

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Mun. Una, 100 m, 30 April 1981 (fr), S.A.Mori 13851 (CEPEC!, NY!); ibidem, 18 February 1998 (fr), T.G.Bacelar 26 ( CEPEC!) . Total: 2 specimens .

Figures

FIGURE 18. Images of representative specimens of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia species: Myrcia cataphyllata (holotype: Sant’Ana 782 [CEPEC]).

FIGURE 19. Distribution of Myrcia cataphyllata (triangles), Myrcia nitida (squares) and Myrcia plusiantha (circles). Continuous lines represent South American country and Brazilian state boundaries. The grey gradient represents elevation.