Eugenia patens Poiret

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 : 39

11. Eugenia patens Poiret (in Lamarck & Poiret 1813: 124).

Type:— FRENCH GUIANA. Cayenne , Leblond s.n. (P [01902639] image). ( Fig. 2I , 3 E-H)

Trees or shrubs 4 m. Twigs sparsely pubescent, the indumentum reddish-brown. Leaves with petioles 6–9 mm long, pubescent, channeled; blades elliptic to broadly so, or oblong, 10.5–16.2 × 3.8–5.3 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the indumentum whitish, chartaceous, discolorous; glands conspicuous; base rounded, attenuate or cuneate; apex acute or acuminate; midvein adaxially sulcate; lateral veins visible adaxially, not arched, 19 to 22 pairs; intra-marginal vein ca. 1 mm from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence axillary, raceme simple, the axis 9.8–12.6 cm long, pubescent; bracts not seen, caducous before anthesis; pedicels 5–15 mm long, pubescent; bracteoles deltate, 8 × 5 mm, pubescent adaxially and glabrous abaxially, caducous after anthesis; flower buds globose ca. 3 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, orbicular or oblong, 2–3 × 3–4 mm, pubescent, not reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary not seen. Immature fruit globose, 1–1.3 × 1.3–1.5 cm, pubescent, surface muricate.

Note:— Eugenia patens may be recognized by its discolorous, elliptic to broadly elliptic, or oblong leaves, with an adaxially sulcate midvein; and the globose fruit that are pubescent and have a ridged surface. This species is morphologically similar to E. polystachya from which it is distinguished by its fruit with muricate surface (vs. smooth) and glabrous or sparsely pubescent leaves (vs. densely pubescent).

Distribution and habitat:— Known from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and northeastern and northwestern Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Maranhão, Pará and Rondônia states) (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, E. patens was found growing in “terra firme” forests and secondary forests.

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting in October.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Bequimão, Pontal , 2°58’54” S, 45°19’09” W, 12 January 2020 (fr.), G.S. Amorim 601 ( JPB!) ; Monção: Ka’apor Indian Reserve , 3°09’58” S, 45°56’17” W, 07 October 1986 (fl.), W. Balée 2684 ( NY!) . Mineirinho, Rio Pindaré , 26 October 1979 (fl., fr), J. Jangoux 937 ( MG!) .

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.

FIGURE 3. A–B. Eugenia dittocrepis. A. Habit. B. Immature globose fruit. C–D. E. lambertiana. C. Habit. D. Inflorescence in fascicle. E–H. E. patens. E. Habit. F. Inflorescence in a simple raceme. G. Flower bud. H. Fruits. I–M. E. patrisii. I. Habit. J. Inflorescence in raceme auxotelic. K. Flower bud. L. Imature fruit with indumentum. M. Mature glabrous fruit.