Eugenia protenta McVaugh (1969: 204)

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 : 40-41

14. Eugenia protenta McVaugh (1969: 204) .

Replacing name for Eugenia protracta O. Berg (1863: 254) , nom. illeg.

Type:— VENEZUELA. “ Prope San Carlos, ad Rio Negro , Brasiliae borealis”, R. Spruce 3816 (holotype: BR! [5260492], image) . ( Fig 2K )

Trees 4 m. Twigs glabrous. Leaves with petioles 3–6 mm long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, channeled or shallowly channeled; blades elliptic to broadly so, 4.9–11.5 × 1.9–2.4 cm, glabrous, chartaceous, discolorous; glands conspicuous; base rounded or cuneate; apex acute, acuminate or long acuminate; midvein adaxially sulcate; lateral veins visible adaxially, not arched, 10 to 13 pairs; intra-marginal vein ca. 1 mm from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence axillary, a fascicle, the axis 2–4 mm long, pubescent, the indumentum reddish-brown; bracts orbicular, 2 × 5 mm, pubescent adaxially and glabrous abaxially, caducous after anthesis; pedicels 5–10 mm long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; bracteoles orbicular, 0.5 × 1.2 mm, pubescent adaxially and glabrous abaxially, persistent in the fruits; flower buds globose, 3 × 2 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, obovate, 1.2–2.7 × 1.2–3 mm, glabrous or pubescent, not reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary not seen. Immature fruit globose, 0.6–1 × 0.6–0.8 cm, pubescent, surface with glands marked.

Note:— Eugenia protenta may be recognized by its elliptic to broadly elliptic leaves, the acute, acuminate or long acuminate leaf apex; and the globose fruit, which are pubescent and with marked glands on the surface. This species is morphologically related to E. lambertiana but can be distinguished by its glabrous leaves (vs. puberulent adaxially), flat margin (vs. revolute) and the pubescent fruit (vs. glabrous).

Distribution and habitat:— Known from Venezuela and northeastern and northwestern Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Maranhão, Pará and Rondônia states) (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, E. protenta was found growing in “terra firme’’ forest.

Phenology:— Fruiting was registered in March.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: São José de Ribamar, Sítio Aguahy , 2°38’34” S, 44°08’19” W, 25 August 2017 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 362 ( MAR!) . São Luís, Anil , 2°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 14 March 1949 (fr.), R.L. Fróes 24270 ( IAN!) .

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas : Cuieiras Campina , Rio Cuieiras near mouth of Rio Branchinho, 2°32’44” S, 60°19’10” W, 2 July 1975 (fl.), A.B. Anderson 145 (US, image) ; Presidente Figueiredo : Represa de Balbina on rio Uatumã, ca. 4 km NW of dam on D-1 road, 1°49’59” S, 59°31’59” W, 4 July 1986 (fr.), W.W. Thomas 5342, with C.A. Cid & E. Fiuza Lima ( NY!) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. A–B. Flower buds and flowers in Calycolpus goetheanus. C–D. Flowers in Eugenia biflora. E–F. Flower buds and immature fruits in E. caducibracteata. G. Immature fruit in E. densiracemosa. H. Immature fruits in E. flavescens. I. Immature fruits in E. patens. J. Immature fruits in E. polystachya. K. Flowers in E. protenta. L–M. Flower buds and flowers in E. punicifolia. N–P. Flower buds, flowers and immature fruits in E. stictopetala.