taxonID	type	description	language	source
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — INDIA. Kerala, Idukki district, Uppukunnu, 800 m, 26 May 2019, B. Mani 3241 (holotype CCMT!; isotypes MH!, CCMT!).	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	diagnosis	Eugenia cruciformis is notably distinguishable from all reported species of Eugenia by its cruciform staminal disc. Based on other morphological features, it is allied to E. mooniana Wight (1841: 13) and E. argentea Beddome (1872: 109). It differs from both species by its narrowly triangular / subulate bracteoles, conical hypanthium, deltoid calyx lobes, oblong petals, and strictly one-seeded fruit (Table 1, Figures 1 & 2).	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	description	Description: — Shrubs up to 2 m high; young branchlets terete to slightly compressed, brown tomentose. Leaves opposite; leaf blades oblong to narrowly elliptic, 6 − 8.5 cm long × 1.5 − 2.7 cm wide, cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, coriaceous, midrib prominent beneath, grooved above, lateral veins 16 − 25 at each side, young leaves sparsely pubescent on adaxial surface; petioles 3 – 6 mm long, glabrous, round beneath, channelled above. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, flowers solitary or in 2 – 4 flowered racemes; peduncles terete, ca. 3 mm long, brown tomentose; bracts linear, ca. 1.25 × 0.5 mm, persistent, dark brown multicellular hairs present on abaxial surface, sparsely pubescent on adaxial surface; pedicels 1 − 2 mm long, terete, pubescent, hairs pale brown; bracteoles persistent, narrowly triangular / subulate, ca. 0.7 mm long, multicellular brown hairs present on abaxial surface, adaxial surface glabrous. Flowers ca. 8 mm in diameter at anthesis; hypanthium ca. 2 mm long, conical, pale brown tomentose; sepals 4, ca. 1 mm long, in two slightly unequal pairs, deltoid, pale brown tomentose outside, obtuse at apex, oil glands present; petals 4, ca. 5 × 3 mm, oblong, white, margin ciliate, round at apex, recurved on maturity, oil glands present; staminal disc pubescent, projecting, cruciform, confined to the rim of the hypanthium, inner outline circular, outer surface thinner near the sepals and thicker near the petals-imparting a cruciform appearance, oil glands prominently raised; stamens numerous, unequal, 2.5 − 5.5 mm long; filaments white, filiform, 2.2 − 5.2 mm long; anthers reniform, 2 - celled, ca. 0.3 × 0.5 mm, basifixed; ovary internally glabrous, 2 - celled, ovules 8 − 13, placentation axillary; style turgid, ca. 6 mm long, white, glabrous; stigma simple, acute. Fruits broadly ellipsoid, 2.5 − 3 × 1.5 − 2 cm in diameter, crimson at maturity, sparsely pubescent, calyx persistent; seed one, orbicular, ca. 1 cm in diameter, pale brown with dark brown stripes, black when dry.	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet is derived from the presence of a distinctive cruciform staminal disc, a morphological character unique to this species within Eugenia.	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	biology_ecology	Phenology: — Flowering occurs during March to June and fruiting starts in May. Habitat and distribution: — The species is found in the evergreen plant formations of the Idukki district as undergrowth at an elevation of about 800 m. Presently, this species is known only from the type locality, where about 23 individuals have been observed.	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	conservation	Preliminary conservation status: — Based on the estimated geographical range, the extent of occurrence (EOO) is less than 100 Km 2 (B 1) and area of occupancy (AOO) is less than 10 Km 2 (B 2). The population is found in one location (B 2 a) and continuing decline observed in the quality of habitat (B 2 biii). The total number of matured individuals is less than 50 (D). In this view, the Eugenia cruciformis preliminarily assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) category (IUCN 2024).	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	materials_examined	Paratype s: — INDIA. Kerala, Idukki district, Idukki, 800 m, 4 June 2019, B. Mani 3242 (CCMT!); idem, 8 June 2019, B. Mani 3243 (CCMT!).	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
03FA87A9FFC3FFC6FF6AF936FE80A74B.taxon	discussion	Notes: — The diversity of Eugenia in the Western Ghats, especially in Kerala, is remarkable. This is evident from the recent discovery of several species in this geographic region (Murugan 2002, Gopalan & Srinivasan 2003, Kumar & Yeragi 2003, Murugan & Gopalan 2005, Gopalan & Murugan 2008, Shareef et al. 2011, Manoharan et al. 2021 & Jose et al. 2024). The distinguishing feature of the new species is its cruciform staminal disc, which sets it apart from all other known species of Eugenia. However, it is morphologically allied to E. mooniana and E. argentea, sharing characteristics such as petiolate leaves, an acuminate lamina apex, and pedicellate flowers. Eugenia mooniana is a widespread species occurring throughout the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Although the new species proposed here is closely related to it, it can be easily distinguished by its low, bushy habit; flowers with short pedicels; narrowly triangular or subulate bracteoles; conical hypanthium; deltoid calyx lobes; oblong petals which are longer than pedicels; and broadly elliptic fruits containing a single seed (Figures 2 & 3). Similarly, it differs from E. argentea by its low, bushy habit; cuneate lamina base; glabrous petiole; narrowly triangular or subulate bracteoles shorter than the calyx lobes; conical hypanthium; deltoid calyx lobes; oblong petals; and broadly elliptic, crimson fruits with a single seed (Table 1).	en	Mani, Bince, Thomas, Sinjumol (2025): Eugenia cruciformis (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 718 (4): 291-297, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.4.4
