Eugenia

Sobral, Marcos, Grippa, Carlos R., Souza, Marcelo C., Aguiar, Osny T., Bertoncello, Ricardo & Guimarães, Thais B., 2012, Fourteen new species and two taxonomic notes on Brazilian Myrtaceae, Phytotaxa 50 (1), pp. 19-50 : 28-34

2. Eugenia L.

Eugenia is a pantropical genus with 1106 species ( Govaerts et al. 2011), of which 356 are known from Brazil ( Sobral et al. 2010); it is recognized by the predominantly tetramerous flowers, bilocular ovaries with several ovules per locule and seeds with well developed cotyledons that may vary from completely fused to clearly distinct, without any evident hypocotyl or a vestigial one.

2.1. Eugenia culta Sobral , sp. nov. Type: Brazil. Espírito Santo, mun. Santa Teresa, rua Pedro Gasparini , 27 Nov. 2003, M. Sobral s.n. MBML 22094 (holotype MBML; isotype BHCB). Figure 5 .

This species is related to Eugenia sprengelii , of which it is kept apart by the verticillate leaves and flowers with longer pedicels.

Shrubs to 3 m. Twigs glabrous or with simple brown curled trichomes 0.1–0.2 mm, falling with age, the internodes 5–7 mm × 0.5–1 mm; base of twigs with four to five series of imbricate elliptic cataphylls 1–1.5 × 1.5 mm, occasionally persisting in older twigs. Leaves with petioles 1–2 × 0.6–0.7 mm; blades verticillate in three, lanceolate–ovate or oblong–ovate, 23–30 × 6–7 mm, 4–5 times larger than wide, glabrous, discoloured, clearer abaxially, with glandular dots visible on both surfaces, 0.05–0.1 mm in diameter and 25–30 per square milimeter; apex attenuate, the apex itself obtuse; base acute or obtuse; midvein plane or slightly sulcate adaxially, plane or slightly salient, sometimes lighter than the surface and vanishing distally abaxially; secondary veins 6 to 8 at each side, scarcely or not visible adaxially, occasionally moderately salient abaxially, leaving the midvein at angles about 40 degrees; marginal vein to 0.5 mm from the margin. Inflorescences axillary, racemiform, the axis 1–2 × 1–1.5 mm, with 2, occasionally 4 flowers, with grey trichomes to 0.1 mm; bracts ovate, 0.5–0.9 × 0.3; pedicels 5–10 × 0.3–0.4 mm, with scattered simple erect trichomes to 0.2 mm; bracteoles ovate, 0.5–0.8 × 0.2–0.3 mm, glabrous or with cilia to 0.1 mm; flower buds pyriform, 3.5–4 × 2–3 mm, glabrous, the ovary clearly distinguishable from the calyx; calyx lobes hemispherical, unequal between them, the external ones 0.6 × 0.8 mm, the internal ones 0.8–1.2 mm, glabrous or with brown cilia to 0.1 mm; petals rounded, white, 3–4 mm; stamens up to 50, 2– 3 mm, anthers elliptic, 0.7–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, eglandular; staminal ring 1–1.2 mm in diameter; style 3–4 mm, the stigma punctiform and minutely papillose; calyx tube absent; ovary with two locules and three to five ovules per locule. Fruits globose or elliptic, red when ripe, 7–8 × 5–8 mm in diameter, with one or two seeds, these with shining brown and easily detachable testa and embryo not completely developed, but with cotyledons fused and no apparent hypocotyl.

Habitat, distribution and phenology — Eugenia culta is an understory shrub native to the montane regions of Espírito Santo and the highlands of Minas Gerais, in the Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica) domain, two localities distant from each other about 600 km, without any known collection in the intermediate municipalities. It is, however, widely cultivated in gardens of the municipality of Santa Teresa, although local gardeners could not give any additional information about the source of its cultivation; flowers and fruits were collected in March, April and June.

Conservation — considering the disparity of the available data, with the two collection sites widely separate from each other and the scarcity of additional information on the distribution of this species, its conservation status must be scored as DD (Data Deficient), according to IUCN criteria (IUCN 2001).

Affinities — this species is apparently related to Eugenia sprengelii DC. , a species native from Rio de Janeiro and also widely cultivated in Brazil (for description see Berg 1857 –1859: 229), from which it can be distinguished by its consistently verticillate leaves and longer pedicels (4 mm in E. sprengelii vs. 10 mm in E. culta ).

Etymology — the epithet is derived from the Latin word for "cultivated", alluding to its horticultural local use at Santa Teresa.

Paratypes: Brazil, Espírito Santo, mun. Santa Teresa , sede, alt. 630 m, 2 Apr. 2004, L. Kollmann 6597, fr. (BHCB, MBML); mun. Santa Teresa, vale do Canaã, afloramento rochoso com vegetação rupestre próximo ao terreno do Coqueto e Belumat, 8 Aug. 2005, A.P. Fontana, C. Esgario, W.S. da Silva & R. C. de Britto 1512 (BHCB, MBML) . Minas Gerais, mun. Coronel Murta , Jun. 1997, E. Tameirão Neto 2519 (BHCB) .

2.2. Eugenia rotula Sobral sp. nov. Type: Brazil, Bahia, mun. Mucugê, estrada para Barra da Estiva , alto da Chapada Diamantina, 18 Jan. 2000, J. R. Pirani, A.A. Conceição & M. Meguro 4530 (holotype SP, isotype SPF). Figure 6 .

This species is distinct from all Brazilian species by its very small and suborbicular leaves.

Shrub to 0.2 m. Twigs grey, subterete, when young with simple brown trichomes 0.2–0.3 mm, soon glabrous and irregularly exfoliating; internodes 1–3 × 0.3–1 mm. Leaves sessile or with petioles to 0.5 × 1 mm, visible abaxially; blades orbiculate to widely elliptic, 4–6 × 4–5.5 mm, discoloured when dry, the surface dark green and transversely wrinkled adaxially, pale green abaxially, glabrous, with glandular dots visible adaxially, about 0.05 mm in diameter and 10 to 15 per square milimeter; apex emarginate or rounded; base rounded or cordiform; midvein plane or slightly sulcate adaxially, prominent abaxially; secondary veins 2 to 3 at each side, leaving the midvein at angles of about 90 degrees, invisible adaxially and weakly prominent abaxially; marginal vein 0.1–0.2 mm from the margin, the margin itself strongly revolute. Flowers solitary, axillary, occasionally in the apex of twigs devoid of leaves; pedicels 2–3 × 0.5 mm, glabrous or with brown simple trichomes to 0.1 mm; bracteoles triangular, persisting after anthesis, 0.5–0.6 × 0.3 mm, with trichomes as the pedicels; flower buds globose to obovate, to 4 × 4 mm, glabrous; calyx lobes four, vinaceous, hemispherical, concave, unequal, the external ones to 1 × 1 mm, the internal ones 2 × 2–2.5 mm; petals four, white, rounded, glabrous or with cilia to 0.1 mm, stamens about 80, 4– 5 mm, the anthers oblong, to 0.8 × 0.3 mm, eglandular; staminal ring 2 mm in diameter; style to 4 mm, the stigma punctiform, minutely papillose; ovary with two locules and 5 to 6 ovules per locule. Fruits not seen.

Habitat, distribution and phenology — this species is a shrub from cerrados of central Bahia, presently known only from the type collection, from the municipality of Mucugê; flowers were collected in January.

Conservation — the municipality of Mucugê has been intensely surveyed since at least three decades ago ( Harley & Simmons 1986); with an area of about 2450 km 2 ( IBGE 2012), there are about 10500 collections lited in specieslink ( CRIA 2012), with an average of 4.2 collections / km 2; even so, Eugenia rotula is presently known from only one collection, suggesting a narrow endemism. Nevertheless, since additional information is not available, this species must be scored as DD (Data Deficient) according to IUCN criteria (IUCN 2001).

Affinities — Eugenia rotula is easily distinguished by the other Brazilian species of the genus through its very small and rounded leaves. The size and shape of leaves bear some resemblance to the Cuban species Eugenia cowellii Britton & Wilson (for description see Liogier 1953: 463), but leaves in this species are more elliptic and petioles mostly evident.

Etymology — the epithet is derived from the Latin word meaning "small wheel", alluding to the form of the leaves.

2.3. Eugenia serraegrandis Sobral , sp. nov. Type: Brasil. Bahia, mun. Uruçuca, rod. Uruçuca / Serra Grande , 28.3 km E; 14 o 28.897' S, 39 o 07.674' W, entorno do Parque Estadual Serra do Conduru , 8 Jan. 2003, J.G. Jardim & S.C. de Sant'Ana 4103 (holotype CEPEC). Figure 7 .

This species is related to Eugenia platyphylla , but differs by its larger leaves and larger, pilose flowers.

Tree to 7 m high. Twigs grey, glabrous or with only the apical gem with very scarce simple grey trichomes to 0.1 mm, subterete, slightly longitudinally rugose and exfoliating, the most distal flower–bearing twigs smooth; internodes 25–90 × 3–4 mm. Leaves with petioles 11–12 × 2–3 mm, black when dry, adaxially complanate and sulcate; blades lanceolate, oblong–lanceolate or obovate–lanceolate, 130–230 × 45–70 mm, 2.8–3.2 times longer than wide, brownish and slightly discoloured when dry, glabrous, with glandular dots scarcely visible on both sides, about 0.05 mm in diameter and 15–20 per square milimeter; apex acute or slightly acuminate to 3–8 mm; base cuneate; midvein sulcate adaxially, prominent abaxially; secondary veins 12 to 16 at each side, leaving the midvein at angles of 50–80 degrees, visible and moderately to markedly prominent on both sides; marginal veins three, respectively 7–8, 2–3 and 1–1.5 mm from the margin, the margin itself sometimes revolute. Inflorescences at the base of new twigs, not subtended by leaves, uniflorous or two–flowered, with basal bracts lanceolate, 2–3 × 1 mm, deciduous at anthesis; inflorescence axis, when present, 7–8 × 1 mm, not bearing bracts at the base of the pedicels and without a visible apical gem, simulating two pedicels fused basally; pedicels glabrous, 17–21 × 1.2–1.8 mm, strongly complanate; bracteoles not seen, deciduous before anthesis and leaving scars in the pedicels. Flower buds not seen; ovary and calyx lobes uniformly pilose externally, densely covered with grey simple trichomes to 0.1 mm; calyx lobes four, green in nature, hemispheric to subquadrate, slightly unequal in size, the external ones 5–5.5 × 6 mm and the internal ones 6 × 7–8 mm, both sides equally pilose; petals four, white in nature, suborbicular to obovate, to 10 × 8 mm, with grey trichomes to 0.3 mm on both sides; stamens about 200 (staminal scars counted), to 10 mm, the anthers subglobose, to 0.4 × 0.5 mm, eglandular; staminal ring subquadrate, to 7 mm in diameter, with scattered trichomes to 0.1 mm; style glabrous, 11–12 mm, the stigma very slightly capitate and minutely papillose; ovary with two locules and 8 ovules per locule in one examined flower. Fruits not seen.

Geographical distribution, habitat and phenology — this species, presently known only from the type collection, is a tree from the atlantic coastal rainforest at the municipality of Uruçuca, Bahia. Flowers were collected in January .

Conservation — the municipality of Uruçuca has been intensively surveyed, with about 5800 collections ( CRIA 2012) along an area of 390 km 2 ( IBGE 2012), with an average of about 15 collections / km 2. Considering this, the fact of Eugenia serraegrandis being known from only one collection is probably indicative of its rarity. Since additional information is not available, it must be scored as DD (Data Deficient) according to IUCN criteria (IUCN 2001).

Affinities — Eugenia serraegrandis is apparently related to Eugenia platyphylla (for description see Berg 1857 –1859: 294), from which it can be distinguished by the characters in the following key:

1. Leaves 170 × 80 mm; midvein raised on both sides; flowers glabrous; calyx lobes to 2 mm ...... Eugenia platyphylla

—. Leaves 230 × 70 mm; midvein adaxially sulcate; flowers densely and uniformly pilose; calyx lobes to 8 mm ........... ................................................................................................................................................... Eugenia serraegrandis

Etymology — the epithet is derived from the collection place, Serra Grande. 2.4. Eugenia unana Sobral , sp. nov. Type: Brazil. Bahia, mun. Una, estrada Olivença–Una, a 26 km ao sul de Olivença, próximo ao nível do mar, restinga, 31 Dec. 1979, S.A. Mori & F.P. Benton 13261 (holotype CEPEC, isotype NY). Figure 8 .

This species is related to Eugenia stictopetala , from which it is distinct through its larger and more laxly reticulate leaves and flowers with larger calyx lobes that conceal the petals in bud.

Tree to 4 m. Twigs grey, glabrous, longitudinally striate, with internodes 20–25 × 5 mm. Leaves with petioles 12–18 × 2–3 mm, adaxially applanate and blackish when dry; blades obovate or oblong–obovate, 140–200 × 70–110 mm, 1.8–2 times longer than wide, glabrous, discoloured when dry, the abaxial side dull and lighter; glandular dots smaller than 0.1 mm in diameter, about 20 per square milimeter; apex obtuse; base widely cuneate; midvein smooth or somewhat prominent adaxially, strongly prominent abaxially; secondary veins 12 to 16 at each side, visible and moderately prominent on both faces, leaving the midvein at angles 60–70 degrees; marginal veins two, the inner one 3–7 mm, the outer one to 2.5 mm from the strongly revolute margin. Inflorescences umbelliform or fasciculiform, axillary and ramiflorous, the axis 1.5–2 × 2 mm, with up to six flowers; bracts not seen; pedicels 6–10 × 0.5 mm, glabrous; bracteoles ovate, 1.7–2.2 × 1.8–2 mm, glabrous, persisting after anthesis; flower buds pyriform, to 5 × 3.8 mm, glabrous, strongly covered with glands, the petals concealed by the calyx lobes, these hemisphaerical, unequal in size, the external ones to 3 × 3.8 mm, the internal ones 4.5–5 × 3.5–5 mm, these with a more or less membranous, lighter margin 0.5–0.7 mm wide; petals obovate, glabrous, to 7 × 5.5 mm; stamens up to 70, about 7 mm, the anthers oblong, 0.8–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, eglandular; staminal disk 3 mm in diameter; style 7–8 mm, the stigma punctiform and papillose; ovary with two locules and 19 to 28 centrally attached ovules per locule. Fruits not seen.

Geographical distribution, habitat and phenology — this species is a small tree from the shrubby coastal vegetation (restinga) at the municipality of Una. It is presently known from two collections made more than thirty years ago; as this region has been intensely surveyed by the staff of CEPEC herbarium, the inexistence of recent collections may be suggestive of its rarity. Flowers were collected in December and January.

Conservation — although the municipality of Una was intensely surveyed - about 9000 collections ( CRIA 2012) along an area of 1200 km 2 ( IBGE 2012), with an average of 7.5 collections /km 2 - there are no recent collections of Eugenia unana , probably pointing to its rarity; the present scarcity of information must score it as DD (Data Deficient), according to IUCN criteria (IUCN 2001).

Affinities — this species is apparently related to Eugenia stictopetala DC. (for description, see McVaugh 1958, under E. tapacumensis O.Berg ), from which it is distinguished in the following key:

1. Leaves to 140 × 60 mm, 3–3.5 times longer than wide; flowers with calyx lobes equal between them, to 1.5 × 2 mm, with the globe of the petals visible above it when in bud .............................................................. Eugenia stictopetala

—. Leaves to 170 × 98 mm, 1.8–2 times longer than wide; flowers with calyx lobes unequal in size, the external ones to 3 × 3.8 mm, the internal ones to 5 × 5 mm, entirely concealing the globe of the petals when in bud ........................... ................................................................................................................................................................ Eugenia unana

Etymology — the epithet is derived from the collection place.

Paratype: Brazil. Bahia, mun. Una , 4 km N of Comandatuba, SE of Una, 15 o 19' S, 39 o 00' W, 25 Jan. 1977, R. M. Harley, S.J. Mayo, R. M. Storr, T. S. Santos & R. S. Pinheiro 18262 (CEPEC, K) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Eugenia culta — image of isotype (scale — 50 mm). Insert: detail of flowers (scale — 10 mm).

FIGURE 6. Eugenia rotula — image of holotype (scale — 50 mm). Insert: detail of flowers (scale — 10 mm).

FIGURE 7. Eugenia serraegrandis — image of holotype (scale — 50 mm). Insert: detail of flowers (scale — 10 mm).

FIGURE 8. Eugenia unana — image of isotype at RB (scale — 50 mm). Insert: detail of flowers (scale — 10 mm).