Myrcia neoclusiifolia 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

27. Myrcia neoclusiifolia A.R. Lourenço & E. Lucas (in Lourenço et al. 2018: 78).

Replacing name for Calyptranthes clusiifolia O. Berg (1854–1856: 19).

Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais, Widgren 536 U (lectotype designated by Araújo & Lucas [2013, p. 434]) . ( Fig. 6 C-E.)

Shrubs 2– 4 m. Twigs glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the indumentum ochraceous. Leaves with petioles 9–14 mm long, pubescent, unchanneled; blades elliptic or broadly so, ovate or oval, 7–11.5 × 3.5–6.5 cm, glabrous adaxially and sparsely pubescent abaxially, the indumentum ochraceous, chartaceous or coriaceous, slightly discolorous, glands not seen; base rounded, rarely acute; apex acute or rounded; midvein adaxially impressed or sulcate distally, densely covered with indumentum; lateral veins visible, not arched, 11 to 14 pairs; intra-marginal vein 1–3 mm from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence terminal or subterminal, pyramidal panicle, flowers lax, the axis 5.4–9.3 cm long, pubescent, the indumentum ochraceous, with two lateral branches, opposite, 2.9–3 cm long; bracts not seen, caducous before anthesis; pedicels absent; bracteoles lanceolate or deltate, 2–4 × 2–4 mm, pubescent, caducous before anthesis; flower buds obovoid, 2 × 2 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes completely fused, opening by calyptra, not reflexed, caducous in fruit; ovary not seen. Immature fruit globose, 0.5 cm diameter, densely pubescent, surface smooth.

Note:— Myrcia neoclusiifolia may be recognized by its slightly discolorous elliptic to broadly elliptic, ovate or oval leaves; the pubescent panicle with two lateral branches; the ochraceous indumentum; the calyx-lobes, which are completely fused and opening by calyptra; and the globose fruits, which are densely pubescent and have a smooth surface.

Distribution and habitat:— Known from Bolivia, Venezuela and central, southeastern and northeastern Brazil (Bahia, Distrito Federal, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco and São Paulo states) (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. neoclusiifolia was found growing in “terra firme” and secondary forests.

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting in January and December.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: São Luís , 2°34’38” S, 44°12’04” W, February-March 1939 (st.), R.L. Fróes 11732 ( NY!) ; Estrada que vai do Rio Anil para Maioba , terra baixa perto de uma enseada, 10 January 1950 (fl., fr.), R.L. Fróes 25656 ( IAN!) ; reservatório Sacaven , 15 January 1951 (fl. Fr.), R.L. Fróes 26819 ( IAN!) ; vizinhanças do Reservatório de Sacaven , 2°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 27 December 1951 (fl., fr.), R.L. Fróes 27809 ( IAN!) .

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.