Myrciaria tenella (DC.) O. Berg

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 : 55

35. Myrciaria tenella (DC.) O. Berg (1854–1856: 328).

Basionym:— Eugenia tenella De Candolle (1828: 272) .

Type:— BRAZIL. C. Martius 47 (holotype: BR; isotypes: MO [313601], P [K000001445]) . ( Fig. 5O )

Trees 2– 6 m. Twigs pubescent, the indumentum whitish. Leaves with petioles 1–2 mm long, pubescent, channeled; blades elliptic or lanceolate, 1–2.5 × 0.5–1.2 cm, glabrous, chartaceous, discolorous; glands inconspicuous; base cuneate; apex acute; midvein adaxially flat; lateral veins few visible, not arched, 10 to 26 pairs, intra-marginal vein 0.5 mm or less from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence glomerules clustered in axils, the axis inconspicuous; bracts deltate, 0.5 × 0.5 mm, glabrous, caducous after anthesis; pedicels absent; bracteoles deltate, 0.5 × 0.5 mm, glabrous, caducous after anthesis; flower buds ovate, 1.5 × 1.5 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, glabrous, ovate, 1 × 1 mm, not reflexed; the fruit falling as a unit together with the calyx, corolla and hypanthium; ovary 2- locular. Immature fruit globose, 0.5 cm diameter, glabrous, surface with glands marked, no mature fruits examined.

Note:— Myrciaria tenella may be recognized by its elliptic or lanceolate leaves with acute leaf apex, the few visible lateral veins, the inflorescence glomerules clustered in leaf axils, and the fruit falling as a unit together with the calyx, corolla and hypanthium. This species is related to M. floribunda , from which it is distinguished by leaves 1–2.5 × 0.5–1.2 cm (vs. 4.4–7.3 × 2.8–3 cm), leaf apex acute (vs. long-acuminate) and petiole with 1–2 mm (vs. 2–4 mm).

Distribution and habitat:— Known from Argentina, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Haiti, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela and widely distributed in Brazil (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. tenella was found growing in secondary and “terra firme” forests.

Phenology:— Flowering in May and August and fruiting in August.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Colônia Três Satubas , 16 May 1979 (fl.), I J. Jangoux & R. P . Bahia 639 (MG). Rio Alto Turiaçú, Nova Esperança , 07 December 1978 (fl.), I J. Jangoux & R. P . Bahia 288 ( MG!) . Rio Gurupi , 13 August 1958 (fl., fr), R.L. Fróes 34525 ( IAN!) . Monção, Guajá, Rio Turiaçu , 3°07’12” S, 46°04’48” W, 24 April 1887 (st.), W.L. Balée 3343 ( NY!) ; 3°07’12” S, 46°04’48” W, 25 June 1987 (st.), W.L. Balée 3486 ( NY!) ; 3°07’12” S, 46°04’48” W, 29 June 1988 (st.), W.L. Balée 3514 ( NY!) ; Lago do Junco, Fazenda Bacaba , 4°25’48” S, 44°58’12” W, 05 October 1980 (fr.), D.C. Daly D493 ( NY!) . São Luís, Base do Carbral , 06 January 1988 (st.), R. Nina 39 ( SLUI!) ; Reserva Florestal do Sacavém , 2S°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 07 May 1992 (fr.), F.H. Muniz 276 (UEC, image) ; Rio Anil , 2°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 10 May 1949 (fl.), R.L. Fróes 24211 ( IAN!) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. A. Fruits in Myrcia amazonica. B. Flowers in Myrcia bracteata. C–D. Flowers and fruits in Myrcia cuprea. E–F. Flowers and immature fruits in M. eximia. G–H. Flowers in Myrcia guianensis. I–J. Flowers bud and immature fruits in Myrcia multiflora. K–L. Flowers bud and immature fruits in Myrcia selloi. M–N. Flowers and fruits in Myrcia splendens. O. Flowers in Myrciaria tenella. P. Fruit in Psidium guineense.