Eugenia martinellii (G.M.Barroso & M.Peron) Stadnik, D.K. Caldas & M.C. Souza, 2021

Stadnik, Aline, Caldas, Diana K. D., Souza, Marcelo C., Lucas, Eve J., Baumgratz, José Fernando A. & Roque, Nádia, 2021, Systematics studies in Pliniinae (Myrtaceae) necessitate two new combinations in Eugenia (Myrtaceae), Phytotaxa 508 (2), pp. 155-165 : 156-158

1. Eugenia martinellii (G.M.Barroso & M.Peron) Stadnik, D.K. Caldas & M.C. Souza comb. nov.

Basionym: Plinia martinellii G.M.Barroso & M.Peron (1994: 289) .

Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Nova Friburgo, Reserva Ecológica Municipal de Macaé de Cima, Nascente do Rio das Flores , 17 November 1986, G. Martinelli 119 53 (holotype RB! ; isotype K! ). Figure 3

= Eugenia circumdata Mazine & Sobral (in Mazine et al. 2018: 161). Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Rio das Ostras, Reserva Biológica União , baixada, trilha 1, 18 November 1997, P. P. Oliveira 51A (holotype SP!; isotype BHCB!). syn. nov.

Comments:— Plinia martinellii is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro and is characterized by floral buds completely covered by orbicular concave bracteoles. This feature is uncommon in Eugenia , occurring in few species such as Eugenia circumdata Mazine & Sobral (2018: 161) , also from Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro, and Eugenia myrobalana De Candolle (1828: 277) , from Peru and Northern Brazil (Govaerts et al. 2021). After examining the typus and extensive herbarium collections of these, we are convinced that Eugenia circumdata must be synonymized under Plina martinellii , following the priority rule of nomenclatural code ( Turland et al. 2018). The two species share morphological features such as leaves with two marginal veins, racemiform inflorescence structure, brown-yellowish tomentose indumentum and the same rare bracteole pattern ( Mazine et al. 2018). The position of Plinia martinellii in Eugenia is supported by molecular data ( Figure 2 ) and morphological traits ( Figure 3 ), necessitating its combination under Eugenia .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Simplified phylogenetic tree of Eugenia based on Bayesian analysis of nuclear ITS and four plastid regions (psbA-trnH, rpl16, rpl-32trnL and trnQ-rps16). Eugenia martinellii and E. sebastianopolitana are asterisked to highlight their position in Eugenia sect. Umbellatae. Eugenia sect. Umbellatae is highlighted. Black arrow represents clade D (sensu Mazine et al 2018). Numbers at nodes represent PP and are only reported for support of 0.95 or above.

FIGURE 3. Eugenia martinellii. a. Inflorescence (1. Bracteole; 2. Four free calyx-lobes; 3. Petals). b. Floral bud (1. Bracteoles covering the bud before anthesis). c. Flowers (1. Flat hypanthium). d. Longitudinal section of floral bud. (1. Many ovules). e. Bark. f. Flowers. Scale: 1mm (d). Photos: Souza, M.C. (a-c, e-f); Stadnik, A. (d).