Syzygium palodense Shareef, E. S. S. Kumar & Shaju, 2012

Shareef, S. M., Santhosh Kumar, E. S. & Shaju, T., 2012, A new species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India, Phytotaxa 71 (1), pp. 28-33 : 28-31

Syzygium palodense Shareef, E. S. S. Kumar & Shaju sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 & 2 )

Syzygium rubicundum et Syzygium densiflorum similis , ab ambabus differt in ramulis parum alatis, calyce campanulato, fructibus subglobosis, a priore floribus sessilibus albis, a posteriore petiolis brevioribus, calycis lobis deltoideis ad suborbicularibus, petalis calyptratis.

Type:— INDIA. Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram district, Palode , + 100 m, 16 April 2009 (with flowers), S . M . Shareef 70663 (holotype TBGT!; isotypes MH!, TBGT!)

a. Flowering twig; b. Part of leaf enlarged; c. Flower bud; d. Flower; e. Longitudinal section of flower; f. Petal; g. Stamen; h. Anthers; i. Fruit (all drawn from S. M. Shareef 70663 by T. Shaju).

Small to large evergreen trees, ca. 18 m high; bark pale brown, smooth, blaze blush pink; twigs quadrangular, slightly winged, brownish when dry. Leaves opposite, subopposite or alternate, coriaceous, folded, punctate beneath, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 5.5–9.5 × 2.4–5.4 cm, base obliquely cuneate, apex caudate–acuminate; margin slightly revolute, midrib channeled above, elevated beneath; lateral nerves 24–35, close, parallel, obscure above and distinct beneath; intra-marginal nerve one tiered, ca. 2 mm from the margin. Young leaves crimson red turning green at maturity. Petiole 2–5 mm long, thick and robust, black on drying. Inflorescence terminal or subterminal, ca. 9 cm long; peduncle and branches 4-angled, slightly winged. Bracteoles 2, deltoid, ca. 0.7 mm long, rounded at apex, caducous. Flowers calyptrate, sessile, creamy-white; calyx campanulate, punctate, outer yellowish green, inner creamy-white, ca. 3.5 × 4 mm; lobes 4, persistent, deltoid to suborbicular, margin split up during anthesis. Petals 4, free, creamy-white, 2.5 × 3 mm, orbicular to suborbicular, calyptrate. Stamens many, filaments ca. 5 mm long, pointed. Ovary 2-celled, ovules many; style ca. 5.5 mm, long, pointed. Fruit subglobose to obovoid, ca. 2.2 × 1.8 cm, fleshy, dark purple when ripe; seed 1, subglobose, ca. 1.6 × 1.3 cm.

Phenology, distribution and habitat:— Syzygium palodense is so far known only from Palode, in the Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala at ca. 100 m elevation. The present population comprises about 30 medium- to large-sized trees and numerous seedlings in its vicinity. It is growing as a riparian element along the banks of a stream. The main associated species are Artocarpus hirsutus Lamarck (1789: 210) , Holigarna arnottiana Hooker (1879: 36) , Hopea parviflora Beddome (1869 : t. 7), Olea dioica Roxburgh (1820: 6) , Vateria indica Linnaeus (1753: 515) , Xanthophyllum arnottianum Wight (1838 : t. 23), Terminalia paniculata Roth (1821: 383) etc. Flowering and fruiting occurs from April to July. Bruised leaves smell like tender mangoes. Ripe fruits are sweet and eaten by the local people.

In the present locality, the members of the populations are well protected through legislation by the Kerala Forest Department. The authors collected a few seedlings from the type locality and are conserving at JNTBGRI, as part of its ex-situ conservation.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— INDIA. Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram district, Palode , 100 m, 28 July 2009 (with fruits), S . M . Shareef 70666 ( TBGT); Palode , 90 m, 9 April 2012 (with flowers), S . M . Shareef 72441 ( TBGT); Palode , 100 m, 12 April 2012 (with flowers), S . M . Shareef 72454 ( TBGT) .

Etymology:— Syzygium palodense is named after its type locality Palode, Kerala.

Interrelationships:— Syzygium palodense is similar to S. rubicundum and S. densiflorum , but differs from the former by the slightly winged branchlets, sub-opposite or alternate coriaceous leaves, crimson-red young leaves, elliptic to elliptic–oblong lamina with obliquely cuneate base, thick and robust shorter petiole, creamy-white sessile flowers, campanulate calyx, orbicular to suborbicular petals and subglobose fruits, and from the latter by the winged pale brown branchlets, sub-opposite or alternate coriaceous leaves, elliptic to elliptic–oblong lamina with caudate–acuminate apex and obliquely cuneate base, shorter petioles, subterminal inflorescence, campanulate calyx with deltoid to suborbicular lobes, calyptrate petals and subglobose to obovoid fruits. It is also similar to S. nervosum Candolle (1828: 260) but differs from it by the slightly winged quadrangular branchlets, sub-opposite or alternate coriaceous leaves, many lateral nerves, thick and robust shorter petiole, terminal and subterminal inflorescence with quadrangular peduncle and branches, campanulate calyx with persistent calyx lobes, orbicular to suborbicular and subglobose to obovoid fruits.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Syzygium palodense Shareef, E. S. S. Kumar & Shaju, sp. nov.

FIGURE 2. Syzygium palodense Shareef, E. S. S. Kumar & Shaju, sp. nov. a. Habit, b. Flowering twig; c. Fruiting twig.