Myrcia splendens (Sw.) De Candolle (1828: 244)

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 : 53

31. Myrcia splendens (Sw.) De Candolle (1828: 244) .

Basionym:— Myrtus splendens Swartz (1788: 79) .

Type:— HISPANIOLA, Olof Swartz s.n. (type: S [ S-R-3706 ], image) . ( Fig. 5 M-N)

Trees 2– 13 m. Twigs pubescent, the indumentum yellowish. Leaves with petioles 2–4 mm long, glabrous or pubescent, channeled; blades elliptic, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3–12.8 × 1.3–3.8 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent adaxially and pubescent abaxially, the indumentum yellowish, chartaceous, concolorous; glands inconspicuous; base cuneate or rounded; apex acute or acuminate; midvein adaxially flat; lateral veins slightly visible, not arched, 21 to 34 pairs; intra-marginal vein 1 mm or less from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence terminal or subterminal, pyramidal panicle, flowers lax, the axis 4.9–8.5 cm long, pubescent, the indumentum yellowish, the first branching 2.5–3.9 cm long; bracts lanceolate, 1 × 2 mm, pubescent, caducous after anthesis; pedicels 1–4 mm long, pubescent; bracteoles not seen, caducous before anthesis; flower buds globose, 1–4 × 1–4 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, five, orbicular, 0.5–1 × 2.1–3 mm, densely pubescent adaxially and pubescent or sparsely pubescent abaxially, not reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary 2-locular. Immature fruit ellipsoid, 0.5–1 × 0.4–0.7 cm, pubescent, surface with glands marked.

Note:— Myrcia splendens may be recognized by its elliptic, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate leaves, which are adaxially glabrous or puberulent and abaxially pubescent with yellowish indumentum, and its ellipsoid fruits, which are pubescent and have the surface marked with glands. This species is morphologically related to M. sylvatica , from which it is distinguished by its adaxially flat midvein (vs. adaxially sulcate) and channeled petiole (vs. unchanneled).

Distribution and habitat:— Known from northeastern Tropical America, including all Brazilian states (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. splendens was found growing in secondary and lowland forests.

Phenology:— Flowering in May, June, August and October and fruiting in January.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: between Viana & Bandeirante, back road from Viana to Pinheiro , 3°00’00” S, 45°10’00” W, 17 October 1980 (fl.), D.C. Daly & D. G. Campbell 637 ( IAN!) . Rio Maracassumé , 01 January 1958 (fr.), R.L. Fróes 34418 ( IAN!) . Anajatuba, São Benedito , 2°57’20” S, 44°48’25” W, 30 May 2008 (fl.), A. Araújo 48 ( IAN!) . Grajaú, estrada do Arame , 5°49’10” S, 46°08’18” W, 15 May 1983 (fr.), M.F.F. da Silva 1145 (INPA, image) . São Luís, 8º Batalhão da Polícia Militar , 2°29’49” S, 44°16’43” W, 15 June 2018 (fl.), G.S. Amorim 509 ( MAR!) ; Estação Ecológica do Rangedor , 2°29’54” S, 44°15’55” W, 30 October 2010 (fl.), S.M. Santos s.n ( MAR!) ; Granja Federal , 2°31’47” S, 44°18’10” W, 12 May 1949 (fl.), R.L. Fróes 24253 ( IAN!) . Palmeirândia , [s.l], 2°38’43” S, 44°53’42” W, 16 August 2011 (fl.), M. Ribeiro PM25 ( 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.