Myrcia selloi (Spreng.) N. Silveira

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 : 52

30. Myrcia selloi (Spreng.) N. Silveira (in Mattos et al. 1986: 5).

Basionym:— Myrtus selloi Sprengel (1825: 482) .

Type:— BRAZIL. “ Brasilia ”, Sellow s.n. (neotype designated by Lannoy et al. [2019, p. 112]: K [000344138]). ( Figs. 5 K-L.)

Shrubs 1.5– 3 m. Twigs sparsely pubescent or pubescent, the indumentum whitish. Leaves with petioles 2 mm long, pubescent, channeled; blades elliptic, lanceolate, oval or ovate, 3–10.2 × 1.2–5.1 cm, glabrescent, membranaceous, concolorous; glands conspicuous and dark abaxially; base cuneate or rounded; apex acute or acuminate; midvein adaxially flat; lateral veins visible and prominent abaxially, arched, 14 to 21 pairs; intra-marginal vein 3–4 mm from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence terminal or subterminal, pyramidal panicle, flowers lax, the axis 3–4.3 cm long, puberulent, the indumentum whitish, the first branching 1.7–2.7 cm long; bracts lanceolate, 0.5 × 1 mm, glabrescent, caducous before anthesis; pedicels 2.5–3.5 mm long, glabrescent; bracteoles lanceolate, 0.5–1 × 1 mm, glabrescent, caducous before anthesis; flower buds globose or obovate, 1 × 3 mm, constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, five, triangular, 1 × 1 mm, glabrous, reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary 2-locular. Immature fruit globose, 0.3 × 0.5 cm, glabrous, surface with glands marked.

Note:— Myrcia selloi may be recognized by its leaves with glands visible on both sides and dark abaxially; the globose or obovate flower buds constricted above ovary; and the reflexed calyx-lobes. This species is morphologically related to M. multiflora , from which it is distinguished by its abaxially prominent arched lateral veins (vs. flat and not arched), and reflexed calyx-lobes (vs. not reflexed). It is also morphologically related to M. tomentosa from which it is distinguished by its glabrescent and concolorous leaves (vs. glabrescent or sparsely pubescent adaxially and densely pubescent abaxially and discolorous), channeled petiole (vs. unchanneled), pedicellate flowers (vs. sessile flowers), and glabrous calyx-lobes (vs. pubescent).

Distribution and habitat:— Known from northeastern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay and widely distributed in Brazil (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, Myrcia selloi was found growing in secondary forests.

Phenology:— Flowering in January and October and fruiting in January.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Gururupú , December 1957 (st.), R.L. Fróes 33998 ( IAN!) . São José de Ribamar, Sítio Aguahy , 2°38’48” S, 44°08’47” W, 28 October 2017 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 385 ( MAR!) . São Luís, Sítio Santa Eulália , 2°30’30” S, 44°16’39” W, 29 January 2018 (fr.), G.S. Amorim 421 ( MAR!) ; 2°30’21” S, 44°16’48” W, 11 January 1988 (fl.), R. Nina 3 ( SLUI!) ; 2°30’56” S, 44°16’37” W, 20 January 1988 (fl.), E. Barroso 46 ( SLUI!) ; Reserva da Caema , 2°34’30” S, 44°15’10” W, 15 January 1992 (fl.), J. Azevedo 11 ( SLUI!) . Palmeirândia , 2°38’43” S, 44°53’42” W, 07 January 2007 (fl.), C.M. Vieira 77 ( IAN!) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. A. Fruits in Myrcia amazonica. B. Flowers in Myrcia bracteata. C–D. Flowers and fruits in Myrcia cuprea. E–F. Flowers and immature fruits in M. eximia. G–H. Flowers in Myrcia guianensis. I–J. Flowers bud and immature fruits in Myrcia multiflora. K–L. Flowers bud and immature fruits in Myrcia selloi. M–N. Flowers and fruits in Myrcia splendens. O. Flowers in Myrciaria tenella. P. Fruit in Psidium guineense.