Syzygium veal W.K. Soh, H.V.Sam & J.Parn., 2024

Soh, Wuu Kuang, Sam, Hoang Van & Parnell, John A. N., 2024, Three new species of Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae) from Cambodia and Viêtnam, Adansonia (3) 46 (4), pp. 29-36 : 35

Syzygium veal W.K. Soh, H.V.Sam & J.Parn. , sp. nov.

( Fig. 3 )

A species which is morphologically allied and similar to Syzygium borneense (Miq.) Miq. in the secondary veins which are widely spaced (5-15 mm apart), about 10 per side and sunken above, the inflorescence with a compact head of 7-9 flowers and the obconic hypanthium with indistinct pseudostalk but differs in the sessile leaf ( S. borneense : petiole 7-10 mm long), cordate leaf base ( S. borneense : leaf base attenuate) and relatively large hypanthium ( S. veal sp. nov.: 3.5-4.5 × 3-4 mm; S. borneense : 1.5-2 × 1.5 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Cambodia • Pursat, Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary , c. 5 km south-southwest of Phnom Krachau peak; 12°8’27.78”N, 102°54’31.46”E; 1200 m a.s.l.; 19.I. 2011 (Cardamons Preliminary Dendroclimatological Expedition); Thomas, Ly, Siraat & Buckely 36; holo-, P [ P00848517 ]!, iso-, E [ E00726509 ]!).

ETYMOLOGY. — Named after the habitat of the species ‘veal’ in Khmer which refers to seasonally dry and sandy savannah.

DISTRIBUTION. — Endemic to Cambodia, so far known only from the type locality in Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary.

HABITAT. — High elevation grassland, growing at the margin of thickets in open grassland area at 1200 m elevation.

PHENOLOGY. — Collected in flower and early fruiting in January.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — Data Deficient (DD) ( IUCN 2012). The species is only known from one collection from Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary. Further field observations on the population size, the Extent of Occurrence and/or Area of Occupancy, and the quality of habitat are needed.

DESCRIPTION

Small tree, 3 m tall, glabrous. Twig terete, c. 3-4 mm diameter, stout, surface smooth, whitish to brownish, not contrasting to leaf colour. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, brownish, (1.5)4-8.8-10.5 × 3-6.8 cm, 1.3 to 1.7 times as long as wide, obovate, base cordate, apex rounded, retuse or shallowly emarginate; midrib sunken above, raised below; secondary veins 9-10 per side, widely spaced, (4-) 5-15 mm apart, 45-70 degrees from midrib, prominent, sunken above, raised below; tertiaries prominent, reticulate; intramarginal veins (1.5-) 2-5 mm from margin, slightly looped; leaf sessile, petiole indistinct, less than 1 mm long, keeled abaxially, leaf scar 3-4 mm diameter. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, 1.4-2 cm long, paniculate, first order branching; axes c. 1.4 cm long; bracts and bracteoles caducous; flowers sessile, hypanthium not glaucous, not fibrous, 3.5-4.5 × 3-4 mm, obconic, pseudostalk indistinct; sepals 4, free, 0.4 × 1 mm, broadly triangular; petals 4, coherent, 2 × 2.2 mm, orbicular; stamens white in vivo, outer stamens c. 3.5 mm long; anther sacs parallel, connective gland conspicuous; style 2.5-3 mm long, ovules c. 15 per locule, irregularly radiating. Fruit immature, 4.5 × 3.5 mm, ellipsoid.

REMARKS

Allied to Syzygium borneense (Miq.) Miq. The sanctuary is notable for its large diversity of habitats, including several types of forests. The interior of the sanctuary is largely unexplored by scientists, but small-scale surveys suggest that many rare, unique and even endemic species are present.

Figures

FIG. 3. — Syzygium veal W.K. Soh, H.V.Sam & J.Parn., sp. nov.: A, flowering branch; B, fruiting branch; C, flower bud; D, longitudinal section of mature flower; E, leaf venation. Thomas et al. 36. Scale bars: A, B, 1 cm; C, D, 2 mm; E, 5 mm. Drawn by Wuu Kuang Soh.