Myrcia subterminalis M.F. Santos (2015a: 169)

Santos, Matheus F., Lucas, Eve & Sano, Paulo T., 2018, A taxonomic monograph of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia (Myrteae, Myrtaceae), Phytotaxa 380 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

18. Myrcia subterminalis M.F. Santos (2015a: 169) ( Figures 10 and 49 )

Type:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: mun. Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi , Próximo ao marco 112, seguindo o córrego, 27 August 2003 (fl.), Rossini 482 (holotype MBML!, isotypes SP!, SPF!)

Tree 3–15 m high. Epidermal peeling sometimes present in immature parts; trichomes light brown (rarely ferruginous), 0.1–0.2 mm long. Twig when immature brownish (when dry), flattened, sometimes with longitudinal grooves, not keeled, with scattered trichomes to glabrous; mature twig greyish (when dry), cylindrical, cortex slightly cracked, glabrous; branching monopodial (rarely sympodial), 2–3 branches per node (rarely more than three), epidermal protrusion absent at the nodes (present only in sympodial branching), internode 2.5–6.8 cm long; cataphyll foliaceous, 7 × 2 mm, usually only at the basal internode of a new branch, early deciduous, adnate, lanceolate, externally puberulent; terminal node with central and lateral buds developed or lateral ones undeveloped, pubescent or puberulent. Leaf discolorous, chartaceous, blade 5.0–14.5 × 1.4–5.9 cm, elliptic, widely elliptic, ovate or obovate, apex caudate, base attenuate, cuneate or obtuse, margin plane, secondary veins 3–6 mm apart, held at an angle of 65–85° relative to the midvein, marginal vein 1.0– 1.5 mm from the margin (rarely two), tertiary veins conspicuous (rarely inconspicuous); adaxial surface glabrous, midvein sulcate in the first half and flat in the second half, secondary veins flat (rarely raised), pellucid dots inconspicuous, from 5 to 15 per mm 2; abaxial surface with scattered trichomes to glabrous when immature, glabrous at maturity, midvein and secondary veins raised, pellucid dots slightly conspicuous to inconspicuous, from 5 to 15 per mm 2; petiole 3–10 × 1–2 mm, canaliculate to semicylindrical, immature with scattered trichomes, glabrous at maturity. Inflorescence 3.5–7.0 × 2.5–3.5 cm, pyramidal, axillar at the terminal or subterminal nodes, terminal dichasia usually with three flowers, 14–70 flowers, rachis puberulent or with scattered trichomes to glabrous, branching 1–5 times at the base, first internode of central rachis 1.0– 1.5 mm wide, cylindrical to flattened, distal internodes flattened, opposite branching (rarely subopposite), 2–5 branches per node, epidermal protrusion present at the nodes (usually absent in apical branches). Bract 0.8 × 0.2 mm, deciduous, lanceolate or ovate, concave, apex acuminate, base truncate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface puberulent. Pedicel 0–2 mm long, cylindrical, puberulent. Bracteole 0.4–0.6 × 0.2 mm, deciduous, lanceolate or ovate, concave, apex acuminate, base truncate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface puberulent to glabrous. Floral bud 2–3 × 1–2 mm, turbinate. Hypanthium extending 0.6–1.0 mm above the summit of the ovary, not tearing at the anthesis, externally with scattered trichomes to glabrous, pellucid dots slightly conspicuous, internally glabrous; calyx 4–5-merous, lobes 0.4–1.0 × 0.6–1.8 mm, distinct from the hypanthium, deciduous, depressed ovate, widely depressed ovate or ovate, concave, apex rounded, base truncate, externally with scattered trichomes to glabrous, internally puberulent to glabrous; corolla 4–7-merous, petals white, 0.8–2.0 × 1.0– 1.8 mm, depressed ovate to widely ovate, concave, apex rounded, base truncate, externally puberulent or with scattered trichomes to glabrous, internally glabrous; staminal ring 0.2–0.4 mm wide, glabrous, stamens 38–60, filament 1.6–5.0 mm long, glabrous, anther 0.24–0.40 × 0.24–0.48 mm, square, oblong or transversely oblong; ovary 0.6–1.0 × 0.8 mm, 2-locular, each locule with two ovules, style 3.6–5.2 mm long, glabrous, stigma punctiform, papillose. Fruit green when immature, reddish at maturity, 7 × 6 mm, depressed globose or globose, base rounded, glabrous, remnants of calyx lobes present or not; seeds 1–2.

Distribution and Habitat:— Myrcia subterminalis is found in the Atlantic Forest domain, inhabiting submontane to montane rainforest (Alagoas, Bahia and Espírito Santo states) and semideciduous forest (municipality of Bandeiras– Minas Gerais state) ( Figure 10 ).

Phenology:— Myrcia subterminalis has flowers from July to September and in November. Specimens with fruits were found from September to January (mature fruits were not seen).

Conservation status:—Based on the Geocat analysis (Area of Occupancy of 36 km 2), we agree with the classification of Myrcia subterminalis as Vulnerable (VU, criteria B2a, biii; IUCN 2001) by Santos et al. (2015a).

Discussion:— Myrcia subterminalis resembles Myrcia bicolor but differs in its predominantly monopodial vegetative branching (vs. sympodial), inflorescences in the terminal and subterminal nodes (vs. only in terminal nodes) and turbinate floral bud (vs. clavate) ( Santos et al. 2015a). Myrcia subterminalis is also distinguished by a strongly canaliculate petiole, leaf blades with decurrent bases and the lightly reticulate venation ( Santos et al. 2015a).

Available illustrations and images:— Santos et al. (2015a).

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Alagoas: Mun. Uniao dos Palmares , Serra das Bananeiras , 500– 560 m, 9 ° 12’7,75”S, 35 ° 52’4,8”W, 3 November 2002 (fr), W.W.Thomas 13253 (CEPEC!). Bahia: Mun. Almadina, Serra do Corcovado, 831 m, 14 ° 42’21”S, 39 ° 36’14”W, 3 September 2011 (fl), M.M.Coelho 360 (CEPEC!). Mun. Arataca, 1000 m, 15 ° 10’2,5”S, 39 ° 20’3”W, 12 October 2005 (fr), A.M.A.Amorim 5313 (CEPEC!); Parque Nacional da Serra das Lontras , 26 November 2011 (fl), M.F.Santos 757 (CEPEC!, K!, NY!, RB!, SPF!); RPPN “Caminho das Pedras”, 1000 m, 15 ° 10’2,5”S, 39 ° 20’3”W, 24 September 2006 (fr), A.M.A.Amorim 6387 (CEPEC!); ibidem, 936 m, 15 ° 10’2,7”S, 39 ° 20’2,2”W, 26 November 2006 (fr), A.M.A.Amorim 6613 (CEPEC!). Espírito Santo: Mun. Cariacica, Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas, 600 m, 20 ° 17’29”S, 40 ° 31’10”W, 20 July 2008 (fl), A.M.A.Amorim 7577 (RB!). Mun. Santa Teresa, 8 August 2000 (fl), V.Demuner 1357 (BHCB!, MBML!); Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia, 769 m, 19 ° 58’14,6”S, 40 ° 32’13,3”W, 13 November 2011 (st), M.F.Santos 733 (K!, SPF!); ibidem, 22 September 1999 (fl), V.Demuner 25 (MBML!, SPF!); Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi, 850 m, 6 December 2001 (fr), L.Kollmann 5156 (MBML!, SPF!); ibidem, 800 m, 27 September 2011 (fl), L.Kollmann 4776 (MBML!, SPF!); ibidem, 28 November 2001 (fr), L.Kollmann 5048 (MBML!, SPF!). Minas Gerais: Mun. Bandeiras, 830–850 m, 15 ° 48’23”S, 40 ° 31’5”W, 30 January 2004 (fr), W.W.Thomas 13637 (BHCB!, CEPEC!, NY!, UB!). Total: 14 specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Distribution of Myrcia ascendens (triangles), Myrcia subavenia (circles) and Myrcia subterminalis (squares). Continuous lines represent South American country and Brazilian state boundaries. The grey gradient represents elevation.

FIGURE 49. Images of representative specimens of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia species: Myrcia subterminalis (isotype: Rossini 482 [SP]).