Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg (1854–1856: 330)

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 : 54-55

34. Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg (1854–1856: 330) .

Basionym:— Eugenia floribunda H. West ex Willdenow (1799: 960) .

Type:— UNITED STATES. Virgin Islands, Ins. St. Crucis [ St. Croix ], M. Vahl s.n. ( HAL [0089630], image) .

Trees 3– 4 m. Twigs puberulent, the indumentum whitish. Leaves with petioles 2–4 mm long, puberulent, unchanneled; blades elliptic or lanceolate, 4.4–7.3 × 2.8–3 cm, glabrous, membranaceous, concolorous; glands not seen; base cuneate; apex long acuminate; midvein adaxially flat, sometimes prominent; lateral veins inconspicuous; intra-marginal vein 1 mm or less from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence glomerules clustered in axils, the axis inconspicuous; bracts not seen, caducous before anthesis; pedicels absent; bracteoles orbicular, ca. 0.5 × 0.5 mm, glabrous, caducous after anthesis; flower buds ovate, 1.5 × 1.5 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, glabrous, ovate, 1–1.5 × 1 mm, not reflexed; the fruit falling together with the calyx, corolla and hypanthium; ovary not seen. Immature fruit globose, 0.5–0.7 × 0.5–0.9 cm, glabrous, surface with glands marked.

Note:— Myrciaria floribunda may be recognized by its elliptic or lanceolate leaves with inconspicuous lateral veins, the long-acuminate leaf apex, the inflorescence of glomerules clustered in leaf axils, and the fruit, which falls together with the petals and hypanthium. This species is related to M. tenella , from which it is distinguished by leaves 4.4–7.3 × 2.8–3 cm (vs. 1–2.5 × 0.5–1.2 cm), the long-acuminate leaf apex (vs. acute leaf apex), and the 2–4 mm long petiole (vs. 1–2 mm).

Distribution and habitat:— Widely distributed from Mexico to tropical America (POWO 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. floribunda was found growing in secondary forests and along roads.

Phenology:— Flowering in May.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Nova Esperança, Rio Alto Turiaçú , 17 May 1979 (fl.) I.J. Jangoux & R.P . Bahia 689 ( MG!). Santa Inês, Colônia Três Satubas, margem da estrada de terra, a 12 km da BR-316, cruzamento à direita a 20 km de Araguaná , 3°04’48” S, 45°45’ W, 13 May 1979 (st.), J. Jangoux 587 & R.P . Bahia ( NY!) . Santa Luzia, Faz Agripec-Varig, caminho para o Rio Mutum , margem esquerda do Rio Pindaré , 3°7’48” S, 45°39’29” W, 05 April 1983 (fl.), M.F.F. Silva 1008 (INPA, image); Km 20 da estrada Santa Luzia / Santa Inez, 3°57’48” S, 45°39’29” W, 29 July 1977 (fl.), D. Thomaz 406 ( PEUFR!) . São Luís, Reserva Florestal do Sacavém, 2°30’ S, 44°15’ W, 07 May 1992 (fl.), F.H. Muniz 95 (INPA, image); Rio Anil , 2°31’14” S, 44°17’47” W, 14 May 1949 (fl.), R.L. Fróes 24281 ( IAN!) ; Granja Federal , 2°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 12 May 1949 (fl.), R.L. Fróes 24243 ( IAN!) .

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas : Manaus: Manaus - Porto Velho Highway, Km. 25, 4°46’06” S, 61°19’26” W, 19 March 1974 (fr.), G.T. Prance 20735 ( NY!) . Pará. Serra dos Carajás, 475-525 m, 5°48’ S, 50°33’ W, 07 June 1982 (fr.), C.R. Sperling 5952 ( NY!) .