Myrcia minutiflora Sagot (1885: 185)

Amorim, Gabriela Dos Santos, Barbosa, Maria Regina De Vasconcellos, Jr, Eduardo Bezerra De Almeida & Thomas, William Wayt, 2022, Taxonomic study of Myrtaceae in forest fragments in Amazonian Maranhão, Brazil, Phytotaxa 568 (1), pp. 27-60 : 48-49

25. Myrcia minutiflora Sagot (1885: 185) .

Basionym:— Aulomyrcia minutiflora (Sagot)Amshoff (1948: 532) .

Type:— FRENCH GUIANA. Maroni, E.M. Mélinon 442 (lectotype designated by McVaugh [1969, p. 1-2]: P) . ( Fig 6 A-B)

Shrubs 3 m. Twigs pubescent, the indumentum yellowish. Leaves with petioles ca. 4 mm long, pubescent, channeled; blades elliptic or broadly so, 7–9.5 × 2.9–4 cm, glabrous adaxially and sparsely pubescent abaxially, the indumentum yellowish, membranaceous or chartaceous, discolorous, darker adaxially than abaxially, glands conspicuous; base cuneate or rounded; apex long-caudate; midvein adaxially sulcate; lateral veins visible and prominent abaxially, arched, 7 to 11 pairs; intra-marginal vein 4–6 mm from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, a thyrsoid, sometimes much-reduced, a single flower, flowers congested, the axis 2.9–4.2 cm, sometimes inconspicuous, glabrous, the first branching 0.9–1.7 cm long, with two lateral branches; bracts lanceolate 1.5 × 1.5 mm, glabrous, caducous after anthesis; pedicels 4 mm long, pubescent; bracteoles not seen, caducous before anthesis; flower buds globose, 1 × 1 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, deltate, 0.5 × 0.5 mm, glabrous adaxially and pubescent abaxially, not reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary not seen. Immature fruit globose, 1 cm diameter, sparsely pubescent, surface smooth.

Note:— Myrcia minutiflora may be recognized by its discolorous, elliptic to broadly elliptic leaves with a longcaudate leaf apex; visible lateral veins and a prominent abaxially, arched, intra-marginal vein 4–6 mm from the margin; and a thyrsoid inflorescence, sometimes reduced to a solitary flower.

Distribution and habitat:— Known from, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and central, northeastern and northwestern Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Maranhão, Mato Grosso and Pará states) (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. minutiflora was found growing in disturbed forests.

Phenology:— Fruiting in September.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Monção, Basin of the Rio Turiaçu , 3°09’58” S, 45°56’17” W, 16 May 1985 (st.), W.L. Balée 883 ( NY!). Nova Olinda do Maranhão, S. of Fazenda Guarany, Km 133 of Br 316, 2°46’12” S, 45°43’12” W, 21 September 1980 (fr.), D.C. Daly D162 ( NY!) .

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas : Manaus-Itacoatiara, Reserva Florestal Ducke, 2°52’59” S, 59°58’00” W, 30 December 1997 (fl.), P.A.C.L. Assunção 759 ( NY!) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. A-B. Myrcia minutiflora. A. Habit. B. Fruit. C–E. Myrcia neoclusiifolia. C. Habit. D. Inflorescence in panicle. E. Fruit. F–G. Myrcia neospeciosa. F. Habit. G. Fruit. H–J. Psidium acutangulum. H. Habit. I. Inflorescence in dichasia. J. Fruit.