Myrcia multiflora (Lam.) De Candolle (1828: 244)

Amorim, Gabriela Dos Santos, Barbosa, Maria Regina De Vasconcellos, Jr, Eduardo Bezerra De Almeida & Thomas, William Wayt, 2022, Taxonomic study of Myrtaceae in forest fragments in Amazonian Maranhão, Brazil, Phytotaxa 568 (1), pp. 27-60 : 49

26. Myrcia multiflora (Lam.) De Candolle (1828: 244) .

Basionym:— Eugenia multiflora Lamarck (1789: 202) . 106.

Lectotype:— FRENCH GUIANA. s.l., Leprieur, s.n. (syntype: P [P00163142], image) . ( Fig. 5 I-J.)

Trees or shrubs 2– 10 m. Twigs glabrescent, the young branchlets pubescent, the indumentum whitish. Leaves with petioles 2–4 mm long, glabrous, pubescent on young branches, channeled; blades elliptic, lanceolate or ovate, 3.8–6 × 1–3.8 cm, glabrescent, membranaceous, concolorous, glands conspicuous and abundant; base cuneate or rounded; apex acute or acuminate; midvein adaxially impressed; lateral veins dark, flat to impressed, with numerous intermediates veins, not arched, 10 to 21 pairs; intra-marginal vein 1–2 mm from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence terminal or subterminal, pyramidal panicle, flowers lax, the axis 12–31 mm long, glabrescent, the first branching 1.5 cm; bracts lanceolate 1–2 × 1–2 mm, glabrous, caducous after anthesis; pedicels 1–3 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles lanceolate, 1 × 1 mm, glabrous, caducous after anthesis; flower buds globose, 1–2.5 × 1–2 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, five, orbiculate, 0.5–1 × 0.5–1 mm, glabrous adaxially and pubescent abaxially, not reflexed; ovary 2-locular. Immature fruits globose, 0.5 cm diameter, glabrous, surface smooth.

Note:— Myrcia multiflora may be recognized by its elliptic, lanceolate or ovate leaves, which are concolorous and with abundant glands, and the dark lateral veins with numerous intermediate veins visible in dried material. This species is morphologically related to M. selloi , from which it is distinguished by its lateral leaf veins, which are flat abaxially and not arched (vs. prominent abaxially and arched) and erect calyx-lobes (vs. calyx-lobes reflexed).

Distribution and habitat:— Known from northeastern Argentina, Bolivia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela and widely distributed in Brazil (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. multiflora was found growing in “terra firme” and secondary forests.

Phenology:— Flowering in May and September.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Fazenda São Francisco , 11km. N. of km. 337 of BR-316, 4°00’00” S, 44°55’59” W, 25 September 1980 (fl.), D.C. Daly & D.G. Campbell 268 ( IAN!) . Bacabal, Fazenda São Francisco , 4°00’00” S, 44°55’48” W, 25 September 1980 (fl.), D.C. Daly D268 ( NY!) . Cândido Mendes , 1°26’49” S, 45°43’00” W, 02 November 2017 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 524 ( MAR!) . São José de Ribamar, Sítio Aguahy , 2°38’34” S, 44°08’19” W, 07 May 2016 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 271 ( MAR!) . Santa Helena, próximo do Lugarejo Queimadas , 2°13’52” S, 45°17’59” W, 09 September 1978 (fl.), N.A. Rosa & O. Cardoso 2559 ( IAN!) .

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Pará : Marajás , Carajás , Serra Norte. Estrada H-7,30 km do acampamento, 6°04’15” S, 50°21’04” W, 04 August1982 (fl.), U.N. Maciel 742 ( NY!): Serra dos Carajás, 25-30 km NW of Serra Norte mining camp Pará, 5°55’00” S, 50°25’59” W, 05 December 1981 (fr.), D.C. Daly with R. Callejas, M.G. da Silva, E.L. Taylor, C. Rosario, M R. dos Santo 1739 ( NY!) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. A. Fruits in Myrcia amazonica. B. Flowers in Myrcia bracteata. C–D. Flowers and fruits in Myrcia cuprea. E–F. Flowers and immature fruits in M. eximia. G–H. Flowers in Myrcia guianensis. I–J. Flowers bud and immature fruits in Myrcia multiflora. K–L. Flowers bud and immature fruits in Myrcia selloi. M–N. Flowers and fruits in Myrcia splendens. O. Flowers in Myrciaria tenella. P. Fruit in Psidium guineense.