Syzygium cerasiforme (Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry

Chantaranothai, Pranom, 2024, Notes on the genus Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Taiwan, PhytoKeys 244, pp. 151-161 : 151-161

Syzygium cerasiforme (Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry , Mem. Amer. Cad. Arts. 18: 187. 1939.

Myrtus cerasiformis Blume , Bijdr. Fl. Ind. Ned.: 1087. 1826. Type: Indonesia, Java, Blume s. n. (Isotype NY [NY 00405548]).

Type.

Based on Myrtus cerasiformis Blume.

Distribution.

Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Java, Borneo.

Ecology.

In evergreen swamp forest and a drainage along river.

Notes.

POWO (2023) accepts Syzygium lineatum as a synonym of S. cerasiforme and also shows the distribution of S. cerasiforme in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China. I agree with Merrill and Perry (1939) that both species are not conspecific. Moreover, Parnell and Chantaranothai (2002), Chen and Craven (2007), and especially Soh and Parnell (2015) and Tagane et al. (2015, 2018) working on Cambodian taxa, indicated that Syzygium cerasiforme had never been recorded in Cambodia. Syzygium cerasiforme is similar to S. lineatum in having terminal and axillary inflorescences, leaf shape and 14 or more pairs of secondary veins. It differs by smaller leaves, sepals and petals and the outer stamens and style are shorter (4.3–6.7 mm vs 10–15 mm and 5.2–7.7 mm vs 11–13 mm, respectively). However, the Cambodian specimens were collected from Kampong Thom and Stung Treng provinces in Cambodia and I identified them as S. cerasiforme . Therefore, these two specimens are the first new record for Cambodia.

Specimens examined.

Cambodia, Kampong Thom Province, Sandan District, Rey Long, ca. 13 km south-eastern of Spong, ‘ Cheum Takong’ (Takong swam; 3 × 4 km), a drainage of O Long River, Base camp 13 ° 20.27 ' N, 105 ° 36.077 ' E, 7 Apr. 2008, McDonald et al. 7901 ( AAU) & Stung Treng Province, Prey Long Forest, Cheum Takong and O Long River, 13 ° 20.359 ' N, 105 ° 36.32 ' E, 7–10 April 2009, McDonald et al. PL 8 ( AAU).