Myrcia plusiantha Kiaerskou (1893: 66)

Santos, Matheus F., Lucas, Eve & Sano, Paulo T., 2018, A taxonomic monograph of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia (Myrteae, Myrtaceae), Phytotaxa 380 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

14. Myrcia plusiantha Kiaerskou (1893: 66) ( Figures 4A , 5D , 19 , 40 and 41 )

Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: “Alto Macahé”, 5 March 1888 (fl.), Glaziou 16994 (lectotype C [barcode C10015882]! designated by Santos et al. (2016b), isolectotypes BR!, C [barcode C10015883]!, F!, G!, K!, LE!, NY!, P [three sheets]!, R!, RB!)

= Myrcia follii Barroso & Peixoto (1990: 4) . Type:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: mun. Linhares, Reserva florestal da CVRD, Est. Farinha Seca, ant. 221, km 4.140 lado direito, 23 November 1988 (fl.), Folli 821 (holotype CVRD!, isotypes RB!, SPF!)

Tree 4–18 m high. Epidermal peeling present in immature parts; trichomes brown or light brown (rarely ferruginous), 0.1–0.7 mm long. Twig when immature vinaceous (when dry), flattened, sometimes sulcate, not keeled, tomentose, pubescent, puberulent to glabrous; mature twig greyish (when dry), cylindrical, cortex smooth to slightly cracked, sometimes peeling, tomentose, pubescent, puberulent or glabrescent to glabrous; branching sympodial (rarely monopodial), two branches per node (rarely more than two), epidermal protrusions present at the nodes, internodes 4.0– 8.5 cm long; cataphyll scale-like to foliaceous, 2–35 × 2–10 mm, present in all internodes, deciduous, adnate, depressed ovate or ovate, externally tomentose, internally glabrous; terminal node with central bud developed and lateral ones undeveloped or only one developed, tomentose, puberulent to glabrous. Leaf concolorous or discolorous, coriaceous (sometimes chartaceous), blade 10.3–26.0 × 4.1–13.7 cm, elliptic, widely elliptic, oblong, ovate, widely ovate or obovate, apex caudate or acuminate to obtuse, base attenuate, cuneate to rounded or truncate, margin plane, secondary veins 5–15 mm apart, held at an angle of 50–75° relative to the midvein, two marginal veins, the first 2.5–5.0 mm and the second 0.5–1.5 mm from the margin (rarely one or three), tertiary veins conspicuous (rarely inconspicuous); adaxial surface puberulent to glabrous when immature, glabrous at maturity, midvein sulcate in the first half and flat in the second half, secondary veins raised or inconspicuous, pellucid dots slightly conspicuous to inconspicuous, more than 15 per mm 2; abaxial surface tomentose or puberulent when immature, puberulent or glabrescent to glabrous at maturity, midvein raised, secondary veins raised, pellucid dots slightly conspicuous to inconspicuous, less than 5 per mm 2; petiole 6–25 × 1–4 mm, canaliculate to semicylindrical, tomentose, pubescent or with scattered trichomes to glabrous when immature, tomentose, pubescent, puberulent or glabrescent to glabrous at maturity. Inflorescence 6–14 × 2.5–12.0 cm, pyramidal, axillar at the terminal node, terminal dichasia usually with three flowers, 8–154 flowers, rachis tomentose, pubescent, puberulent or with scattered trichomes to glabrous, 1–4 branching at the base (rarely more than four branching, sometimes with vegetative branches), first internode of central rachis 1–4 mm wide, semicylindrical to flattened, distal internodes flattened, opposite branching (rarely subopposite), 2–5(7) branching per node, epidermal protrusion present at the nodes (usually absent in the apical branches). Bract 1.4–3.6 × 0.4–1.4 mm, deciduous, ovate or obovate, concave, apex acute or obtuse, base truncate, adaxial and abaxial surfaces puberulent. Pedicel 0–2.4 mm long, cylindrical, tomentose, puberulent or with scattered trichomes to glabrous. Bracteole 0.6–3.6 × 0.4–1.4 mm, deciduous, ovate or obovate, concave, apex acuminate to obtuse, base truncate, adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Floral bud 3–6 × 1–3 mm, clavate or turbinate. Hypanthium 1.0– 2.2 mm extending above the summit of the ovary, not tearing at anthesis (rarely with a small vertical rupture), externally tomentose, pubescent, puberulent or with scattered trichomes to glabrous, sometimes glabrescent towards the apex, pellucid dots conspicuous (sometimes covered by the indumentum), internally glabrous; calyx 4–5(6)-merous, lobes 0.6–2.4 × 0.8–3.0 mm, distinct from the hypanthium, deciduous, depressed ovate to very widely ovate, concave, apex rounded, base truncate, externally pubescent, puberulent to glabrous, internally pubescent or puberulent; corolla 4–5-merous, petals light brown to white, 1.2–4.0 × 1–4 mm, depressed ovate to ovate, concave, apex rounded, base truncate, externally and internally puberulent to glabrous; staminal ring 0.2–0.8 mm wide, glabrous, stamens 75–200, filament 2.4–7.2 mm long, white, glabrous (rarely with scattered trichomes), anther 0.24–0.48 × 0.16–0.64 mm, square, oblong or transversely oblong; ovary 0.8–1.4 × 1.0– 2.8 mm, 2-locular, each locule with two ovules, style 4.4–8.2 mm long, glabrous (rarely with scattered trichomes), stigma punctiform, papillose. Fruit green to yellowish when immature, reddish to vinaceous at maturity, 7–15 × 7–16 mm, depressed globose or globose, base rounded (sometimes attenuate), glabrescent to glabrous, remnants of calyx lobes present or not; seeds 1–3.

Distribution and Habitat:— Myrcia plusiantha occurs in the forest understory of the lowland to high montane rainforest in the Atlantic Forest domain, recorded in Bahia (municipality of Almadina), Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, northeastern Paraná and eastern São Paulo. A single collection is known from a semideciduous forest (municipality of Faria Lemos– Minas Gerais state) ( Figure 19 ).

Phenology:— Myrcia plusiantha flowers from January to May and from October to December, with flowering concentrated in February. It was collected in fruit from March to September and in January to November (mature fruits in March, April and from July to September).

Conservation Status:— Myrcia plusiantha has a wide distribution area, is recorded in protected areas and often from highly dense populations. The small Area of Occupancy (124 km 2) is probably due to low collection effort. Even considering that Myrcia plusiantha is endemic to the Atlantic Forest, which has only 7.5% of its original area ( Myers et al. 2000), it is here classified as Least Concern (LC; IUCN 2001).

Discussion:— Myrcia plusiantha is characterized by: immature twigs smooth, vinaceous when dry and not keeled; sympodial vegetative branching; cataphyll scars present at all internodes ( Figure 4A ); reticulate and conspicuous venation (with few exceptions); and turbinate floral bud (with a few exceptions; Figure 5D ).

The specimens from Paraná, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have morphology similar to the type collection of Myrcia plusiantha , but collections from the Espírito Santo have some distinct features. The most significant is the clavate floral bud (e.g. Pinheiro 2310 [ICN], Vervloet 1802 [SPF]). However, materials from the municipality of Santa Teresa (Espírito Santo state) (e.g. Kollmann 5994 [SPF], Siqueira 669 [SPF]) show gradation among clavate and turbinate shapes of floral bud, indicating intraspecific variation. This is the only record of clavate and turbinate floral bud in the same species in Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia .

Specimens from northern Espírito Santo (municipality of Águia Branca; e.g. Lombardi 5213 [BHCB]) are distinct due to a leaf with less reticulate venation and fruit with an attenuate base, but collections from other localities (e.g. Folli 5048, 5540 [CVRD], Santos 712 [SPF]) show gradation between these characteristics.

Myrcia plusiantha with clavate flower buds, is similar to Myrcia tenuifolia , but can be distinguished by vinaceous dry twigs, up to two vegetative branches per node, and coriaceous leaves with reticulate venation. Myrcia plusiantha resembles Myrcia bicolor when leaves are elliptic and have acuminate apices; bigger leaf dimensions and turbinate flower bud distinguish the former species.

Available illustrations and images:— Kiaerskou (1893); Barroso & Peixoto (1990; as Myrcia follii ).

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Mun. Almadina, Serra do Corcovado , 650–900 m, 14 ° 42’2,1”S, 39 ° 36’1,2”W, 22 November 2005 (fr), M.M.M. Lopes 360 (BHCB!, CEPEC!, NY!) . Espírito Santo: Mun. Águia Branca , 400–500 m, 18 ° 52’17”S, 40 ° 48’46”W, 7 June 2006 (fr), V. Demuner 2473 ( MBML!) ; ibidem, 350–450 m, 18 ° 52’19”S, 40 ° 48’46”W, 19 May 2007 (fr), V. Demuner 4025 ( MBML!) ; ibidem, 300–550 m, 16 August 2007 (fr), V.V. Vervloet 3222 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 150–200 m, 18542,53S, 40440,5W, 3 July 2007 (fr), V.V. Vervloet 2734 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 18523,2S, 40485,1W, 15 August 2007 (fr), V.V. Vervloet 3176 (MBML!, SPF!) . Mun. Alfredo Chaves , 800–1000 m, 8 May 1985 (fr), G.Martinelli 10903 ( RB!) . Mun. Divino de São Lourenço, Parque Nacional do Caparaó , 1000–1350 m, 20 July 2006 (fr), A.P.Fontana 2252 ( RB!) . Mun. Itarana , 786 m, 20 ° 0’4,86”S, 40 ° 54’3,9”W, 26 February 2003 (fr), J.A.Lombardi 5213 ( BHCB!) . Mun. Linhares , 27 November 1973 (fl), R.S.Pinheiro 2310 (ICN!, MICH!) ; Floresta Nacional de Goytacazes , 15 October 2011 (fl), G.S. Siqueira 669 (CVRD!, SPF!) ; Reserva Natural Vale , 14 April 2005 (fr), D.A.Folli 5048 (CVRD!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 2 April 2007 (fr), D.A. Folli 5540 (CVRD!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 8 March 1989 (fr), G.L. Farias 255 (CVRD!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 31 m, 19 ° 11’30,8”S, 39 ° 57’9,3”W, 17 November 2011 (st), M.F. Santos 746 (K!, RB!, SPF!) . Mun. Santa Maria de Jetibá , 700 m, 19 November 2002 (fl), L. Kollmann 5760 (BHCB!, MBML!) ; ibidem, 700 m, 17 February 2003 (fl), L. Kollmann 5994 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 40 ° 41’46”S, 20 ° 2’43,5”W, 17 January 2005 (fr), R.N.C. Teixeira 42 (SPF!, VIC!) ; ibidem, 40 ° 42’27”S, 20 ° 1’35,5”W, 10 September 2005 (fr), R.N.C. Teixeira 132 (SPF!, VIC!) . Mun. Santa Teresa , 850 m, 11 March 1999 (fl), L.Kollmann 2146 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 9 August 2001 (fr), L. Kollmann 4299 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 13 September 2005 (fr), R.C. Britto 67 (MBML!, SPF!) ; Estação Biológica de Nova Lombardia , 19 ° 55’0”S, 40 ° 36’0”W, 13 February 1999 (fl), E.M. Nic Lughadha 197 (K!, RB!, SP!, SPF!) ; Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia , 2 July 2005 (fr), F.Z. Saiter 209 (MBML!, SPF!) ; Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi , 850 m, 20 February 2002 (fl), L.Kollmann 5596 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 23 January 2003 (fl), R.R. Vervloet 1748 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 12 February 2003 (fl), R.R. Vervloet 1802 (MBML!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 9 April 2002 (fr), V.V. Vervloet 79 (MBML!, SPF!) . Minas Gerais: Mun. Faria Lemos , 870 m, 25 September 2005 (fr), L.S.Leoni 6296 (BHCB!, GFJP!) . Paraná: Mun. Bocaiúva do Sul , 19 May 2005 (fr), J.M. Silva 4334 (BHCB!, MBM!) ; Serra São Miguel , 8 June 1988 (fr), G.Hatschbach 52136 (BHCB!, G!, ICN!, MBM!, RB!, SPF!, UB!) . Mun. Campina Grande Sul , 500 m, 29 January 1969 (fl), G.Hatschbach 20947 (C!, MBM!) . Mun. Guaraqueçaba , 600 m, 22 February 1985 (fl), Y.S.Kuniyoshi 4844 (C!, G!, MBM!) . Mun. Morretes , 850 m, 30 July 1968 (fr), G.Hatschbach 19760 (C!, M!, MBM!) . Mun. Quatro Barras , 900 m, 4 August 1966 (fr), G.Hatschbach 14566 ( UEC!) ; ibidem, 950 m, 31 March 1971 (fl), G. Hatschbach 26605 (MBM!, UEC!) . Rio de Janeiro: Parque Nacional Itatiaia, 8 May 1948 (fl), C.Mello s.n. (RB 66513!); Mun. Casimiro de Abreu, Reserva Biológica União , 22 ° 26’10,9”S, 42 ° 1’34,2”W, 9 January 2012 (st), M.F.Santos 787 (K!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 22 ° 26’10,9”S, 42 ° 1’34,2”W, 9 January 2012 (st), M.F. Santos 788 ( SPF!) . Mun. Itatiaia , 9 February 1942 (fl), W.D.Barros 592 ( RB!) . Mun. Nova Friburgo, 1890 (fl), Glaziou 18239 (C!, K!, LE!, NY!, P!); Macaé de Cima , 1123 m, 22 ° 26’7”S, 42 ° 31’19,8”W, 29 September 2011 (st), M.F.Santos 710 (RB!, SPF!) ; Reserva Ecológica de Macaé de Cima , 1100 m, 1 June 1990 (fr), S.V.A. Pessoa 518 ( RB!) ; ibidem, 1100 m, 22 ° 0’0”S, 42 ° 3’0”W, 8 June 1989 (fr), H.C. Lima 3609 (K!, NY!, SPF!, UEC!) ; ibidem, 1100 m, 22 ° 0’0”S, 42 ° 3’0”W, 6 March 1989 (fl), M. Peron 758 (BHCB!, F!, K!, MO!, NY!, RB!, UEC!) ; RPPN Bacchus , 1416 m, 22 ° 22’32,7”S, 42 ° 30’7”W, 30 September 2011 (st), M.F.Santos 712 (K!, SPF!) . Mun. Nova Iguaçu, 5 October 1993 (fl), S.J. Silva Neto 300 (BHCB!, ESA!, K!, RB!). Mun. Rio das Ostras , Reserva Biológica União , 11 August 1997 (fr), P.P.Oliveira 50C (BHCB!, SP!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 15 July 1998 (fl), P.P. Oliveira 50A (BHCB!, SP!) ; ibidem, 19 September 1997 (fr), P.P. Oliveira 50B (BHCB!, SP!) ; ibidem, 16 July 1998 (fl), P.P. Oliveira 50E (BHCB!, SP!) ; ibidem, 10 August 1998 (fl), P.P. Oliveira 50F (BHCB!, SP!) ; ibidem, 16 June 1998 (fl), P.P. Oliveira 50G ( BHCB!) ; ibidem, 16 May 1998 (fl), P.P. Oliveira 50H (BHCB!, SP!) ; ibidem, 22 May 1997 (fl), P.P. Oliveira 50D (BHCB!, SP!, SPF!) . Mun. Rio de Janeiro, 25 November 1927 (fr), Pessoal do Horto Florestal s.n. (RB 103074!); Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, 17 May 1928 (fl), Pessoal do Horto Florestal (Antenor) s.n. (RB 103074!); Parque Nacional da Tijuca , 451 m, 22 ° 58’19”S, 43 ° 15’14,9”W, 26 September 2011 (st), M.F. Santos 705 (K!, RB!, SPF!) . São Paulo: Mun. Bananal, Parque Nacional da Bocaina , 100–1150 m, 5 April 1980 (fl), G.Martinelli 6706 ( RB!) . Mun. Barra do Turvo, 28 February 2004 (fl), E.Barbosa 931 (B!, C!, ESA!, G!, HUEFS!, MBM!, SPF!, UB!, W!). Mun. Cananéia, Ilha do Cardoso , 3 December 1990 (fl), F.Barros 2009 (SP!, SPF!) ; ibidem, 3 December 1985 (fl), H.F. Leitão-Filho 17997 (IBGE!, SPF!, UEC!) . Mun. Cunha , 1200 m, 23 ° 15’0”S, 44 ° 56’0”W, 11 July 1980 (fr), A.Custódio Filho 257 (SP!, SPF!) ; Reserva Estadual de Cunha , 11 July 1980 (fr), F.R. Martins 12378 (SPF!, UEC!) . Mun. Itanhaém, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar–Núcleo Curucutu , 30–100 m, 24 ° 2’51,7”S, 46 ° 49’5,7”W, 16 April 2001 (fr), F.M.Souza 182 ( ESA!) . Mun. Jacupiranga, Parque Estadual de Jacupiranga , 24 ° 57’44,5”S, 48 ° 24’53,6”W, 14 February 1995 (fl), R.R.Rodrigues 33447 (SP!, UEC!) . Mun. São Luís do Paraitinga, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar–Núcleo Santa Virgínia , 23 January 2004 (fl), N.M.Ivanauskas 5048 ( ESA!) . Total: 67 specimens .

Figures

FIGURE 4. A. Myrcia plusiantha, with cataphylls (arrow indicating the scar) present at all internodes; note sympodial branching (Santos 705 [SPF]). B. Myrcia nitida, with cataphylls (arrow indicating the scar) present only at the basal internode of a new branch; note monopodial branching (Harley CFCR 4530 [SPF]) C. Myrcia ascendens, without cataphyll—they are rarely formed in this species; note monopodial branching (Santos 829 [SPF]). D. Sympodial branching of Myrcia mutabilis (Santos 716 [SPF]). E. Monopodial branching of Myrcia rupestris (Santos 640 [SPF]). F. Monopodial branching of Myrcia ascendens (Santos 829 [SPF]). G. Bifid vegetative bud in Myrcia insigniflora (Santos 682 [SPF]). H. Leaf of Myrcia subcordata against light showing the venation (Santos 681 [SPF]). Scales: A, D and F=2 cm; C and H=1 cm.

FIGURE 5. Inflorescence of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia. A. Myrcia bicolor, sympodial branching at the base of the inflorescence, with terminal dichasia (Ávila 388 [SPF]). B. Myrcia tenuifolia, multiple branches at the base, including also vegetative branches (Santos 1223 [ICN]). C. Myrcia rupestris, inflorescence with one branch per axillary node, terminal dichasia present (Santos 640 [SPF]). D. Pyramidal inflorescence of Myrcia plusiantha (Barbosa 931 [SPF]). E. Corymbiform inflorescence of Myrcia densa (Santos 813 [SPF]). F. Umbelliform inflorescence of Myrcia mucugensis (Kral 75641 [SP]). Scales: C=1 cm; F=5 mm.

FIGURE 19. Distribution of Myrcia cataphyllata (triangles), Myrcia nitida (squares) and Myrcia plusiantha (circles). Continuous lines represent South American country and Brazilian state boundaries. The grey gradient represents elevation.

FIGURE 40. Images of representative specimens of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia species: Myrcia plusiantha (Barbosa 931 [SPF]).

FIGURE 41. Images of representative specimens of Myrcia sect. Sympodiomyrcia species: Myrcia plusiantha (Nic Lughadha 197 [SPF]).