Eugenia breteleri Jongkind, 2015

Jongkind, Carel C. H., 2015, Eugenia sapoensis Jongkind from Liberia and Eugenia breteleri Jongkind from Gabon, two new forest species (Myrtales: Myrtaceae), European Journal of Taxonomy 113, pp. 1-9 : 6-7

Eugenia breteleri Jongkind sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77144645-1

Figs 3 , 4

Diagnosis

A shrublet related to E. sapoensis Jongkind , but larger, twigs with conspicuously peeling bark, leaves with 6–8 pairs of main lateral nerves and fruits with a longer (3–5 mm) peduncle.

Etymology

Named after F.J. Breteler who was responsible for the organisation of the two expeditions that led to the discovery of the new species.

Type

GABON. Between Rabi-Kounga and Yeno, fr., 15 May 1992, Breteler, Jongkind, Nzabi & Wieringa 11457 (holo-: WAG; iso-: LBV).

Description

Shrublet 1.3–3 meter high, glabrous. Twigs with bark conspicuously peeling in thin strips. Leaves opposite or tri-verticillate, entire, petiolate; petiole 1.5–5 mm long; lamina papery, drying slightly reddish, glabrous, 5.5–10 cm long and 2–4.5 cm wide, apex long acuminate, base attenuate, with 6–8 pairs of main lateral nerves with several smaller, parallel ones in between, meeting in a conspicuous submarginal nerve up to 4 mm from the margin, midrib impressed above. Inflorescences strongly reduced, axillar or terminal, with up to five flower buds, bracts filamentous, ca. 1.5 mm long, early caducous, immature flower buds almost glabrous with a few hairs on the edge of the calyx. Fruits single, glabrous, 10–25 mm in diameter, 1-seeded, surface with many secretory cavities; seed sub-globose; embryo kidney-shaped, cotyledons fused for the larger part, covered with many secretory cavities; peduncle 3–5 mm long; 4 calyx lobes 1–1.5 mm long, longer than wide, rounded, glabrous.

Distribution and habitat

Undergrowth of evergreen lowland forest in the Rabi-Kounga area in south-west Gabon.

Note

On the label of Breteler 10319 the flowers are described as white when open, but on the specimens only small flower buds are found.

Additional specimens examined

GABON. Rabi-Kounga, fl.bud, 2 Nov. 1991, Breteler, Jongkind & Schoenmaker10319 (BR, K, LBV, MO, P, WAG); Between Rabi-Kounga and Yeno, fr., 20 May 1992, Breteler, Jongkind, Nzabi & Wieringa 11546 (LBV, WAG).

Conservation status

Based on the only 3 specimens the “Extent of Occurrence” (EOO) is 95 km 2 and the “Area of Occupancy” (AOO) is 12 km 2, the first counts as “Critically endangered” (CR) and the second as “Endangered” (EN). I expect that in this case the limited number of specimens might for a large part show the lack of botanical exploration in this, still densely forested, part of Gabon. For the moment “Vulnerable” (VU) could be more appropriate.

Figures

Fig. 3. Distribution map of Eugenia sapoensis sp. nov. and Eugenia breteleri sp. nov.

Fig. 4. Eugenia breteleri sp. nov. A. Branch with leaves. B. Detail of leaf from below showing secretory cavities. C. Fruit (from pickled specimen) with style and part of the calyx still present. D. Cross section of fruit and single seed. A & B from Breteler 11457, C & D from Breteler 11546. Drawing by Hans de Vries.