Eugenia wynadensis Beddome (1864: 47)

Byng, James W., Wilson, Peter G. & Snow, Neil, 2015, Typifications and nomenclatural notes on Indian Myrtaceae, Phytotaxa 217 (2), pp. 101-116 : 103

6. Eugenia wynadensis Beddome (1864: 47) .

Lectotype (designated here):— INDIA. Wynad (Devallicottah) shrub or small tree, Beddome 2943 ( K! [barcode K000821504 ]; isolectotype BM! [barcode BM000944236 ]).

= Meteoromyrtus wynadensis (Bedd.) Gamble (1918: 241) .

Distribution:— India [Kerala, Tamil Nadu]; ca. 1000 m.

Notes:—In a subsequent publication, Beddome (1872) stated that his species was intermediate between Pimenta Lindley (1821 : t. 19) and Eugenia , but he retained it in Eugenia with a question mark. Duthie (1878 –9: 506) noted Beddome’s remarks but said that “materials at my disposal are too incomplete for the preparation of a proper generic description.” Gamble (1918) showed no such hesitation and created the genus Meteoromyrtus Gamble (1918: 241) for the species, distinguishing it from Eugenia by its 2-locular ovary with about four pendulous ovules in each. We are not convinced that these features are an adequate basis for distinction at generic rank, particularly as the axillary, pubescent flowers and persistent calyx lobes fit easily within the current circumscription of Eugenia recognised by most specialists.

Both Duthie and Gamble used the spelling ‘wynaadensis’, but Beddome cited the type locality as ‘ Wynád ’ and used the spelling ‘wynadensis’. The accent on the place name presumably indicates a long vowel and it is this pronunciation that the variant spelling is intending to convey. Given that the name of the district has been rendered in various ways, one modern one being ‘Wyanadu’, correcting Beddome’s orthography is unneccesary. No type specimen was designated by Beddome, and designation of the specimen at Kew as the lectotype is based on the better quality inflorescences.

Lectotypifications and nomenclatural notes in Syzygium