Eugenia arvensis Vellozo (1829: 209)

Giaretta, Augusto, Lucas, Eve & Sano, Paulo Takeo, 2021, Taxonomic monograph of Eugenia sect. Schizocalomyrtus (Myrtaceae: Myrteae), a group within Eugenia with unusual flowers, Phytotaxa 524 (3), pp. 135-177 : 147-150

2. Eugenia arvensis Vellozo (1829: 209) .

Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: “habitat fruticetis maritimus, ac mediterraneis”, J. M. C. Vellozo s.n. [probably lost] (lectotype designated here: the illustration of tabula 37, vol. 5 in Vellozo et al. (1831)). Epitype:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: restinga da Marambaia, praia da Armação , 24 October 1999, fl., L. F. T. Menezes 510 (epitype designated here: RB! [00680095]; isoepitype RBR [00012181-photo!]). ( Figure 7 ).

= Eugenia oxyphylla O. Berg (1857: 251) , syn. nov. Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, s.d., Sellow 236 (lectotype designated here: LE [00007446-photo!]; isolectotype B [probably destroyed]).

= Eugenia rostrata O. Berg (1859: 282) , syn. nov. Type :— BRAZIL. s.d., Sellow s.n. (syntype B [probably destroyed]).

= Eugenia zuccarinii O. Berg (1857: 257) , syn. nov. Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: s.d., Sellow s.n. (lectotype designated here: K! [000276669]; isolectotypes B [probably destroyed], P! [01902285]).

Shrubs or trees 2 to 15 m tall. Young leaves glabrous or with brownish trichomes up to 0.1 mm, appressed, sparse, glabrescent. Leaves with petioles 5–10 × 1 mm; blades 2–12 × 1–4 cm, elliptic or narrow-elliptic; base cuneate or acute, rare obtuse; apex abruptly acuminate or acuminate, 0.5–2 cm long, falcate, less often acute; midvein canaliculate adaxially; secondary veins 6–16 in each side; single marginal vein, 1–3 mm from the margin. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, fasciculiform, rarely auxotelic, recovering vegetative growth; bracts 1–1.5 × 1–1.5 mm, wide-ovate; rachis 1–10 mm long, terete, puberulent; 1–4 pairs of flowers, pedicels 5–15 × 0.5 mm; up to three rachises sharing an axil; bracteoles 0.5–1 × 0.5–0.8 mm, ovate, glabrous, usually persistent but eventually caducous when fruiting. Flower buds 3–5 × 3–4 mm, obovate, calyx lobes apparently free but fused by ca. 1 mm long at the base, tearing discreetly at the base at anthesis by 1 mm long, two unequal pairs, the outermost 1–1.5 × 1.5–2 mm, wide-ovate, the innermost 2–2.5 × 2 mm, hemispherical, glabrous outside; petals 3–4 × 4–5 mm, wide-ovate; stamens straight in the bud, filaments up to 4 mm long, anthers 0.5–1 mm long; staminal whorls flat, 2.5–3.5 mm diameter, squared, not tearing at anthesis; style 4.5–5 mm long; ovary with 2–locules, 6–8 ovules per locule. Fruits 5–15 × 5–15 mm, globose or oblong, purplish or reddish when ripe, glabrous, crowned by the remnants of the calyx regular calyx lobes; seeds 1–3.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the type location, i.e. arvus from Latin means crop or open field likely in allusion to the open-shrub Restinga vegetation where the species often occurs.

Distribution and habitat:— Eugenia arvensis occurs in Southeastern (Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo) and Northeastern Brazil (Bahia), known from coastal forest in the Serra do Mar and sandy plains, inland towards the Chapada Diamantina in gallery forests, at elevations between 0 to 900 m ( Figure 8 ). Eugenia arvensis is shrub or tree found on slopes and lowland forests, reaching coastal scrub vegetation on well-drained sand soil called Restinga, within Ombrophilous Dense Forest in the Atlantic Forest, and in dense populations on welldrained litholic soil along streams in humid forests or in eroded rift valleys within semideciduous forest in the transition between Atlantic Forest and Caatinga.

Phenology:— Flowers of specimens from Atlantic forest, including Restinga vegetation, have been mainly collected from August to November and in fruit from September to January ( Figure 6 - Atlantic). Flowers and fruits of specimens from Caatinga were collected from January to April ( Figure 6 - Caatinga).

Conservation status:— Eugenia arvensis is known from 11 protected areas (APA da Serra da Mantiqueira, APA Marimbus/Iraquara, APA de Petrópolis, APA da Serra do Mar, PARNA da Chapada Diamantina, PARNA de Itatiaia, PES Paulo César Vinha, PES da Pedra Branca, PES da Serra do Mar, REBIO Córrego do Veado, REBIO do Tinguá, RESEC de Jacarenema) and non-protected areas in well preserved and disturbed sites with EOO of 580,664.6 km ². Although this species is not threatened, there is a significant risk of local extinction due to suppression of coastal environments from urbanization, mainly in the northeastern range where morphological variability is wider. Although surrounded by a drier environment in the transitional zones in the Caatinga, populations are restricted to humid forest along streams or in the rift valley presumably caused by water erosion. The vulnerability of Eugenia arvensis to climate change has increased due to deforestation, not only locally, but also in up-stream localities that hamper riverflow. Thus, it is suggested that this species should be rated as Least Concern (LC).

Comments:— Examination of available type material and the protologues of Eugenia oxyphylla , E. rostrata and E. zuccarinii support the view they are the same species. The type of Eugenia rostrata was not found and presumably the only specimen was destroyed in the Berlin herbarium during the Second World War ( Scholz 1987). Additionally, it is concluded here that Eugenia arvensis Vellozo should be included in its circumscription. This decision is based on the protologue and in Berg’s assignment of Eugenia arvensis as related to E. oxyphylla ( Berg 1857) . Berg’s action is significant evidence of its identity since Eugenia arvensis is known only by a short description and an illustration ( Vellozo et al. 1831). The type of Eugenia arvensis was not successfully traceable as recurrent for Vellozo’s material for Florae Fluminensis and, therefore, the illustration was designated as lectotype (see Art. 7.8 of the Code). However, the illustration lacks detail in deep to fully support a reliable determination. Thus, it was assigned an epitype that serves as an interpretative type to support a precise application of the name (see Art. 9.9 of the Code). As consequence, Eugenia arvensis described by Vellozo has priority over Berg’s names and must be accepted as here proposed.Although Eugenia arvensis apparently has a flower with free lobes, discreet calyx fusion at the base of the lobes suggests circumscription within Eugenia sect. Schizocalomyrtus , also supported by the molecular phylogeny ( Giaretta et al. 2019b). Eugenia arvensis has been identified as E. rostrata in Restinga vegetation, however, careful examination finds no morphological characters to support the segregation into two species. Despite overlap of leaf dimensions, populations from Bahian Caatinga are often identified as Eugenia zuccarinii and tend to have narrow-elliptic leaves while elliptic or wide-elliptic leaves are frequent in coastal populations. Phenology also varies between populations of different vegetational biomes ( Figure 6 ). Phenological fluctuation among populations seems to be related to the environment but studies on genetic populations might reveal insights on their historical segregation or even reveal cryptic species.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. 16 December 1926, fr., W. J. Burchell 3672-2 ( K!). Bahia: Camacan, RPPN Serra Bonita , 15 January 2009, fl., A. M. Amorim 7747 ( CEPEC!); ibid ., 16 January 2009, fr., A. M. Amorim 7771 ( CEPEC!, SPF!); ibid ., 6 June 2006, fr., M. M. M. Lopes 810 ( CEPEC!). Ibirapitanga, Reserva Municipal Cachoeira do Pau , 19 March 2003, fr., W. W. Thomas 13450 ( CEPEC!, SPF!, UB!). Ilhéus , área do CEPEC , 25 August 1981, fl., J. L. Hage 1221 ( SPF!); CEPLAC , 31 October 1967, fr., R. S. Pinheiro 342 ( CEPEC!). Jacobina, mata dos Bandeirantes , 8 April 2001, fr., N. G. Jesus 1345 ( CEPEC!). Jequié , estrada para Serra dos Brejos , 5 February 2004, fl., W. W. Thomas 13828 ( CEPEC!). Lençóis, Chapadinha, entrada da mata do Grotão, fenda na Serra do Brejão , 25 April 1995, fl., M. C. Ferreira 1810 ( ALCB!, CEPEC!, HRB!, SPF!); Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina , 23 February 2003, fr., P. Fiaschi 1345 ( CEPEC!); ibid ., rio Mandassaia, Barro Branco , 22 January 2000, fl., A. A. Ribeiro-Filho 6 ( ALCB!); Serra da Chapadinha , 25 April 1995, fl., M. C. Ferreira 1810 ( K!); ibid ., 5 February 1995, fr., A. M. Giulietti 1572 ( RB!) ibid ., 8 July 1996, fr., H. P. Bautista 3482 ( CEPEC!, K!, SPF!). Palmeiras, Chapadinha, próximo ao rio Mucugezinho, rodovia Lençóis-Seabra , ca. 21 km NW de Lençóis , 17 February 1994, fl., R. M. Harley CFCR 14176 ( ESA!, SPF!); ibid ., 17 February 1994, fl., R. M. Harley CFCR 14179 ( ESA!, SPF!); rio Capivara, trilha Lençóis-Fumaça , 5 April 1997, fl. and fr., A. A. Conceição 491 ( SPF!); Palmeiras, Serra da Chapadinha , 28 April 1995, fr., A. Pereira 1901 ( CEPEC!, K!). Rio de Contas , mata da base do pico de Itoibira , 29 January 1999, fr., F. H. F. Nascimento 105 ( CEPEC!). Salvador, Jardim Botânico de Salvador , 12 May 2005, fl., E. P. Queiroz 1301 ( CEPEC!); ibid ., 25 November 2005, fl., E. P. Queiroz 1255 ( CEPEC!). Espírito Santo: Águia Branca, Santa Luzia , 18 May 2007, fl., V. Demuner 3992 ( MBML!); ibid ., 18 October 2006, fl., V. Demuner 2852 ( MBML!); ibid ., 3 October 2007, fl., H. Q. Boudet 3479 ( MBML!). Aracruz, Comboios , 28 September 1993, fl., O. J. Pereira 4996 ( RB!, VIES!); Reserva Biológica de Comboios , 27 September 1993, fl., O. J. Pereira 4967 ( RB!, VIES!); Vila do Riacho , 8 November 2010, fr., J. M. L. Gomes 3955 ( VIES!). Guarapari , 7 August 1992, fl., L. V. Rosa 255 ( RB!); afloramento rochoso entre Peracanga e Bacutia , 7 June 2015, fr., A. C. S. Dal Col 376 ( VIES!); Parque Estadual de Setiba , 12 August 1992, fl., L. V. Rosa 265 ( RB!, VIES!); ibid ., 8 July 1992, fl., L. C. Fabris s.n. ( RB!); Parque Estadual Paulo César Vinha , 10 October 2015, fr., D. T. Wandekoken 94 ( VIES!); ibid ., 14 October 1996, fr., J. M. L. Gomes 2225 ( VIES!); ibid ., 14 October 1999, fl., A. M. Assis 738 ( VIES!); ibid ., 16 September 1999, fr., A. M. Assis 726 ( VIES!); ibid ., 28 August 1996, fl., J. M. L. Gomes 2205 ( VIES!); ibid ., 28 August 1996, fl., J. M. L. Gomes 2219 ( VIES!) , 31 August 1998, fl., A. M. Assis 535 ( VIES!) , 5 September 1998, fl., A. M. Assis 619 ( VIES!); Setiba , 12 August 1992, fl. and fr., L. V. Rosa 267 ( VIES!); ibid ., 12 August 1992, fl., L. V. Rosa 275 ( VIES!); ibid ., 12 August 1992, fl., L. V. Rosa 277 ( VIES!); ibid ., 15 May 1992, fr., L. C. Fabris 823 ( VIES!); ibid ., 7 August 1992, fl., L. V. Rosa 255 ( VIES!). Santa Leopoldina, fazenda Caioaba , 9 August 2006, fl., L. F. S. Magnago 1250 ( MBML!). Santa Maria de Jetibá, Belém , 19 November 2002, fr., L. Kollmann 5752 ( MBML!). Santa Teresa, Estação Biológica Santa Lúcia , 13 May 1993, fr., L. D. Thomaz 1463 ( MBML!). Vila Velha , 18 September 1983, fl., B. Weinberg 437 ( MBML!); Interlagos , 11 October 1996, fr., O. Zambom 303 ( VIES!); ibid ., 18 September 1983, fl. and fr., B. Weinberg s.n. ( MBML!); ibid ., 18 September 1997, fl., O. Zambom 329 ( VIES!); ibid ., 27 June 1996, fr., O. Zambom 311 ( VIES!); ibid ., 3 March 1997, fr., O. Zambom 314 ( VIES!); Reserva Ecológica de Jacarenema , 23 October 1996, fr., J. M. L. Gomes 2229 ( VIES!); ibid ., 3 September 1989, fl., L. D. Thomaz 583 ( GUA!, RB!, VIES!); ibid ., 3 September 1989, fl., L. D. Thomaz 592 ( RB!, VIES!); ibid ., 3 September 1989, fl., L. D. Thomaz 593 ( RB!, VIES!); ibid ., 3 September 1989, fl., L. D. Thomaz 595 ( VIES!); ibid ., 3 September 1989, fl., L. D. Thomaz 597 ( RB!, VIES!); ibid ., 8 October 1997, fl., R. L. Dutra 275 ( VIES!); ibid ., September 1989, fr., L. D. Thomaz 600 ( RB!, VIES!); restinga da Barra do Jucu, próximo a morada do Sol, em frente ao camping Club , 28 September 1999, fl., C. N. Fraga 496 ( ESA!, MBML!, UB!). Minas Gerais: Rio Preto, Povoado do Funil , 28 November 2012, fr., J. E. Q. Faria 3102 ( UB!). Rio de Janeiro: Armação de Búzios, morro das Emerências , 22 August 2008, fr., J. C. Lopes 10 ( SPF!). Cabo Frio, distrito de Tamoios, condomínio Florestinha , 6 December 2001, fr., G. S. Z. Rezende 37 ( RB!). Itatiaia, Parque Nacional de Itaiaia, trilha do Hotel Simon para os Três Picos , 9 November 1993, fl. and fr., M. P. M. Lima 234 ( K!, MBM!); ibid ., 9 November 1993, fl., M. P. M. Lima 234 ( CEPEC!). Mangaratiba, Ilha da Marambaia , 2 July 1999, fl., M. C. Souza 126 ( RB!); ibid ., 3 January 2002, fl. and fr., L. F. T. Menezes 884 ( RB!); ibid ., 24 October 1999, fl., L. F. T. Menezes s.n. ( RB!); ibid ., praia voltada para Baía de Sepetiba , 30 September 2001, fl., A. L. Melo s.n. ( RB!). Niterói, Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca , 21 August 2002, fl., A. A. M. Barros 1668 ( RB!). Nova Iguaçu, Tinguá , 14 November 2001, fr., H. C. de Lima 5940 ( RB!). Paraty, Praia Negra , 13 March 1992, fl., C. Farney 3094 ( RB!). Rio de Janeiro, bosque da Barra , 23 January 2002, fr., s.c., s.n. ( RB!); Jacarepaguá , 15 September 1969, fr., D. Sucre 5935 ( CEPEC!); ibid ., 23 September 1969, fr., D. Sucre 5959 ( CEPEC!); ibid ., lado sul-oeste da pedra de Itaúna, 15 September 1969, fr., D. Sucre 5935 ( K!, SP!); ibid ., lado sul da pedra de Itaúna, 2 September 1969, fl., D. Sucre 5896 ( K!); ibid ., 23 September 1969, fr., D. Sucre 5959 ( K!, SP!); ibid ., lado leste da pedra de Itaúna, 8 October 1970, fl., D. Sucre 7283 ( K!). São Pedro da Aldeia, Serra de Sapiatiba , vertente norte , 22 September 2000, fl., C. Farney 4214 ( RB!). Saquarema, Reserva Jacarepiá , 22 November 1996, fr., C. Farney 3556 ( RB!). Teresópolis, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos , 20 November 2006, fl., E. J. Lucas 589 ( UB!). Tijuca , 6 March 1972, fl., D. Sucre 8204 ( RB!). São Paulo: Jupia , 4 April 1961, fl., J. Mattos 8873 ( CEPEC!). Juquiá , 4 April 1961, fl. and fr., J. Mattos 8872 ( SP!) , 4 April 1961, fl., J. Mattos 8872 ( SP!). Pariquera-Açu, Estação Experimental do IAC , 10 January 1995, fr., L. C. Bernacci 964 ( SP!, SPF!). São Bernardo do Campo, Parque Caminhos do Mar , 31 October 1990, fr., S. Ferreira s.n. ( SP!). São Vicente, Parque Estadual Xixová-Japuí , 5 September 2003, fl., J. A. Pastore 1255 ( SPSF!) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Frequency distribution (n) of flowering (black-line triangle) and fruiting (grey-filled triangle) stages based on herbarium material of Eugenia sect. Schizocalomyrtus.

FIGURE 7. Eugenia arvensis. A. Leaf twig with flowers. B. Flower buds. C. Fruit. (A: L.F.T. Menezes 510; B: M.C. Souza 126; C: H.G. Dantas 355).

FIGURE 8. Distribution of Eugenia arvensis.