Eugenia biflora (L.) De Candolle (1828: 276)

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 : 33

3. Eugenia biflora (L.) De Candolle (1828: 276) .

Basionym:— Myrtus biflora Linnaeus (1759: 1056) .

Type:— JAMAICA. P. Browne s.n. ( LINN 637.6 ; lectotype designated by Fawcett & Rendle 1926: 338) . ( Fig. 2 C-D.)

Trees or shrubs 1– 4 m. Twigs densely pubescents, the indumentum whitish. Leaves with petioles 2–4 mm long, pubescent, channeled; blades elliptic to narrowly so, lanceolate or ovate, 3–7.8 × 1.2–4.1 cm, pubescent or densely pubescent, the indumentum whitish, chartaceous, concolorous; glands conspicuous; base rounded, cuneate or attenuate; apex acuminate, long acuminate, almost caudate, generally apiculate, rarely acute; midvein adaxially impressed or sulcate; lateral veins visible abaxially, not arched, 12 to 20 pairs; intra-marginal vein ca. 1 mm from the margin, margin revolute. Inflorescences axillary, raceme simple, the axis 1.5–4.9 cm long, pubescent, the indumentum whitish; bracts triangular to narrowly so, or lanceolate, 2–3 × 1–3 mm, pubescent, persisting in the fruit; pedicels 3–9 mm long, sparse to densely pubescent, the indumentum brownish or whitish; bracteoles deltate to broadly so, ovate or lanceolate, 1–2 × 1–5 mm, pubescent, persisting in the fruit; flower buds globose, 3 × 4 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, ovate, oblong or deltate, orbicular, 2 × 3 mm, pubescent, not reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary 2-locular. Immature fruits subglobose or globose, 0.6–0.8 × 0.4–0.7 cm, pubescent, surface smooth.

Note:— Eugenia biflora may be recognized by its pubescent or densely pubescent leaves with whitish indumentum; lateral veins sometimes not visible in dried material or evident only abaxially; revolute leaf margins; a pubescent simple raceme; subglobose or globose flowers buds; and densely pubescent fruits.

Distribution and habitat:— Throughout Tropical America, and widely distributed in central, northeastern and northwestern Brazil (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, E. biflora was found growing in gallery forest edges and secondary forest.

Phenology:— Flowering all year and fruiting in January, March, November and December.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Anajatuba , 3°15’52” S, 44°37’11” W, 14 August 2008 (fl.), M. Vidigal 03a ( IAN!) ; 3°5’52” S, 44°37’11” W, 29 September 2008 (st.), M. Ribeiro 02 ( IAN!) ; Afoga , 3°15’52” S, 44°37’11” W, 18 October 2008 (fl.), M. Vidigal 01 ( IAN!) ; Margem da Estrada Colombo-Anajatuba , 27 January 1976 (fr.), B.G.S. Ribeiro & G.S. Pinheiro 1246 ( IAN!) ; 21 November 1978 (fl.), L.R. Marinho & G.S. Pinheiro 608 ( IAN!) ; São Benedito , 3°15’52” S, 44°37’11” W, 28 June 2008 (fl.), A. Araújo 84 ( IAN!) . Bacabal , 4°23’30” S, 44°39’00” W, 18 February 1983 (fl.), G.T. Prance 28150 ( NY!) . Bom Jardim, Posto Indígena Pindaré ( Funai Post Guajajara Indians ), along Rio Pindaré , c. 15km W of Santa Inês, 3°30’ S, 45°30’ W, 01 November 1983 (fl.), M.J. Balick, J.M. Frazão, J.G.A. Vieira & W.S. Silva 1501 (SP, image). Cândido Mendes , 1°26’49” S, 45°43’00” W, 02 November 2017 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 526 ( MAR!) . Itapecuru Mirim, Fazenda Serra , 3°23’33” S, 44°21’31” W, 24 September 1975 (fl.), D.P. Lima 13398 ( PEUFR!) . Santa Helena, Próximo do Lugarejo Queimadas, 2°13’52” S, 45º17’59” W, 09 July 1978 (fl.), N.A. Rosa & O. Cardoso 2560 ( IAN!) . Santa Luzia, Alzilândia, Rio Pindaré , 3°45’ S, 46°04’59” W, 30 March 1979 (fl., fr.), J. Jangoux 1025 ( NY!) . São Luís, Alumar , 2°41’30” S, 44°19’44” W, 08 August 1995 (fl.), K.B. Ferreira s.n ( MAR!) ; Anil , 2°36’ S, 44°14’ W, January 1940 (fl.), R.L. Fróes 11705 ( NY!) ; Reserva Florestal do Sacavém , 2°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 20 December 1988 (fl.), J.C. Silva Jr. 55 ( MAR!) ; Sítio Santa Eulália, 2°30’30” S, 44°16’39” W, 16 September 2017 (fl., fr.), G.S. Amorim 454, 452 ( MAR!) ; 2°30’52” S, 44°16’33” W, 26 February 2018 (fr.), G.S. Amorim 492 ( MAR!) ; Vinhas , 2°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 08 January 1998 (fr.), A. Salino 3876 (SP, image). São Luiz Gonzaga do Maranhão, 4°19’00” S, 44°40’00” W, 01 October 1980 (fl.), D.C. Daly 404 (INPA, image). São José de Ribamar , Estrada carroçal, 27 December 1997 (fr.), H.C. Nakakura s.n. ( EAC!) ; Sítio Aguahy , 2°38’48” S, 44°09’06” W, 13 October 2015 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 259 ( MAR!) ; 2°38’48” S, 44°09’06” W, 07 May 2016 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 272 ( MAR!) ; 2°39’00” S, 44°07’55” W, 26 August 2017 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 369 ( MAR!) ; 2°38’47” S, 44°09’05” W, 28 October 2017 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 377 ( MAR!) ; 2°38’47” S, 44°09’05” W, 20 February 2018 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 467 ( MAR!) . Serrano do Maranhão, Porto do Pindobal , 1°38’32” S, 44°52’17” W, 19 August 2014 (fl.), G.P. Lima 495 ( MAR!) . Viana , between Vitoria do Mearim and Viana, 3°15’ S, 44°55’00” W, 16 January 1980 (fl.), D.C. Daly & G.G. Campbell 628 ( IAN!) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. A–B. Flower buds and flowers in Calycolpus goetheanus. C–D. Flowers in Eugenia biflora. E–F. Flower buds and immature fruits in E. caducibracteata. G. Immature fruit in E. densiracemosa. H. Immature fruits in E. flavescens. I. Immature fruits in E. patens. J. Immature fruits in E. polystachya. K. Flowers in E. protenta. L–M. Flower buds and flowers in E. punicifolia. N–P. Flower buds, flowers and immature fruits in E. stictopetala.