Myrcia neospeciosa A.R. Lourenço & E. Lucas

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 : 51

28. Myrcia neospeciosa A.R. Lourenço & E. Lucas (in Lourenço et al. 2018: 79).

Replacing name for Calyptranthes speciosa Sagot (1885: 187) .

Type:— FRENCH GUIANA. M. Mélinon 488 (type: P [00723171], image) . ( Fig. 6 F-G.)

Trees 6– 8 m. Twigs glabrous. Leaves with petioles 13–25 mm long, pubescent, unchanneled; blades ovate-lanceolate, oblong, rarely elliptic, 14.5–31.4 × 6–10 cm, glabrous adaxially and pubescent abaxially, the indumentum brownishred, chartaceous, discolorous, more lustrous adaxially; glands not seen; base rounded; apex acute or long acuminate; midvein adaxially impressed or sulcate; lateral veins slightly visible, not arched, 30 to 38 pairs; intra-marginal vein 1 mm or less from the margin, nearly straight, very close the margin, margin revolute. Inflorescence axillary, pyramidal panicle, flowers lax, the axis 2.3–3 cm long, pubescent, the indumentum brownish-red, with two lateral branches, opposite, 3.7–6.6 cm long; bracts not seen, caducous before anthesis; pedicels 3 mm long or sessile, pubescent; bracteoles not seen, caducous before anthesis; flower buds not seen; calyx-lobes completely fused, opening by calyptra, not reflexed, caducous in fruit; ovary not seen. Immature fruit subglobose to globose, 0.6–0.8 × 0.7–0.9 cm, pubescent, surface smooth.

Note:— Myrcia neospeciosa may be recognized by its ovate-lanceolate or oblong, rarely elliptic leaves, which are more lustrous adaxially; the nearly straight intra-marginal vein, which is 1 mm or less from the margin; the calyxlobes, which are completely fused and opening by calyptra; and the subglobose or globose fruits, which are pubescent and have a smooth surface.

Distribution and habitat:— Known from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and northeastern and northwestern Brazil (Acre, Amapá, Maranhão, Pará and Rondônia states) (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. neospeciosa was found growing in “terra firme” forest.

Phenology:— Fruiting in December.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Rio Maracassumé , 03 July 1958 (st.), R.L. Fróes 34439 ( IAN!) .

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Pará : Ilha de Marajó. Rio Anajas, 1°00’00” S, 50°10’00” W, 28 October 1987 (fr.), H.T. Beck 209 (INPA, image). Amazonas: Manaus, Reserva Florestal Adolfo Ducke, Próx. picada da Petrobrás, 2°52’59” S, 59°58’00” W, 06 August 1997 (fr.), M.A.D. Souza 395 (INPA, image) .

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.