Eugenia caducibracteata Mazine

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 : 34

4. Eugenia caducibracteata Mazine (in Mazine & Souza 2009: 149).

Type:— BRAZIL, Pará, Almeirim, Gleba Monte Dourado, floresta secundária de terra firme, J.M. Pires & N.T. Silva 2015 (holotype: MG). ( Fig. 2 E-F.)

Shrubs 2– 17 m. Twigs glabrous, sparsely pubescent when young, the indumentum whitish. Leaves with petioles 3–8 mm long, glabrous or puberulent, channeled or shallowly channeled; blades elliptic to broadly so, lanceolate, ovate or oblong, 5.2–14 × 2.5–6.3 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the indumentum brownish, chartaceous, concolorous; glands conspicuous; base rounded, cuneate or acute; apex acute or attenuate, rarely acuminate; midvein adaxially sulcate; lateral veins visible, not arched, 8 to 10 pairs; intramarginal vein 1–3 from the margin, margin revolute. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, raceme simple, the axis 4.2–10.4 cm long; bracts not seen, caducous before anthesis; pedicels 2–9 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles ovate to broadly so, or deltate, 1–2 × 1–3 mm, glabrous, persistent in the fruit; flower buds globose, 5 × 5 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, orbicular, 2–3.5 × 3–4 mm, glabrous, not reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary 2-locular. Immature fruits oblong or ellipsoid, 1.4–1.7 × 1.1–1.3 cm, glabrous or puberulent, surface smooth.

Note:— Eugenia caducibracteata may be recognized by its adaxially sulcate leaf midvein; a simple raceme with a long axis; large flower buds (5 × 5 mm); and bracts that are caducous before anthesis.

Distribution and habitat:— Known from northeastern and northwestern Brazil (Amazonas, Maranhão and Pará states) ( Mazine & Souza 2009). E. caducibracteata can be found growing in unflooded tropical moist forest ( Mazine & Souza 2009) and in Amazonian Maranhão was found growing in secondary forest.

Phenology:— Flowering in February and December and fruiting in August.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Açailândia, Estrada BR-222, entre Santa Inês e Açailândia , 300m, 4°45’ S, 45°10’ W, 17 December 1978 (fl.), J. Jangoux 559 ( NY!) . Alto Alegre do Pindaré, Alzilândia, Rio Pindaré , 0- 100 m, 3°45’ S, 46° 05’ W, 11 December 1978 (fl.), J. Jangoux & R.P . Bahia 304 (BHCB, image). Buriticupu, Reserva Florestal da CVRD, 46°24’04” S, 46°24’04” W, 08 February 1996 (fl.), F.H. Muniz B2378 (SP, image). Santa Luzia , Alzilândia , Rio Pindaré , 3°45’ S, 46°05’ W, 11 December 1978 (fr.), J. Jangoux 304 ( NY!) . São Luís, February-March 1939 [fl], R.L. Fróes 11773 ( NY!) . São José de Ribamar, Sítio Aguahy , 2°38’47” S, 44°09’05” W, 03 February 2018 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 448 ( MAR!) ; 03 February 2018 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 447 ( MAR!) ; 26 August 2017 (fr.), G.S. Amorim 373 ( MAR!) . Turiaçu, Palmeirinha , 27 February 1983 (fl.), J. U. Santos 994 ( 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.