Myrcia minutiflora Sagot (1885: 185)

25. Myrcia minutiflora Sagot (1885: 185) View in CoL View at ENA .

Basionym:— Aulomyrcia minutiflora (Sagot)Amshoff (1948: 532) View in CoL .

Type:— FRENCH GUIANA. Maroni, E.M. Mélinon 442 ( lectotype designated by McVaugh [1969, p. 1-2]: P) . ( Fig 6 View FIGURE 6 A-B)

Shrubs 3 m. Twigs pubescent, the indumentum yellowish. Leaves with petioles ca. 4 mm long, pubescent, channeled; blades elliptic or broadly so, 7–9.5 × 2.9–4 cm, glabrous adaxially and sparsely pubescent abaxially, the indumentum yellowish, membranaceous or chartaceous, discolorous, darker adaxially than abaxially, glands conspicuous; base cuneate or rounded; apex long-caudate; midvein adaxially sulcate; lateral veins visible and prominent abaxially, arched, 7 to 11 pairs; intra-marginal vein 4–6 mm from the margin, margin flat. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, a thyrsoid, sometimes much-reduced, a single flower, flowers congested, the axis 2.9–4.2 cm, sometimes inconspicuous, glabrous, the first branching 0.9–1.7 cm long, with two lateral branches; bracts lanceolate 1.5 × 1.5 mm, glabrous, caducous after anthesis; pedicels 4 mm long, pubescent; bracteoles not seen, caducous before anthesis; flower buds globose, 1 × 1 mm, not constricted above ovary; calyx-lobes free, four, deltate, 0.5 × 0.5 mm, glabrous adaxially and pubescent abaxially, not reflexed, persistent in the fruit; ovary not seen. Immature fruit globose, 1 cm diameter, sparsely pubescent, surface smooth.

Note:— Myrcia minutiflora may be recognized by its discolorous, elliptic to broadly elliptic leaves with a longcaudate leaf apex; visible lateral veins and a prominent abaxially, arched, intra-marginal vein 4–6 mm from the margin; and a thyrsoid inflorescence, sometimes reduced to a solitary flower.

Distribution and habitat:— Known from, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and central, northeastern and northwestern Brazil ( Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Maranhão, Mato Grosso and Pará states) (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. minutiflora was found growing in disturbed forests.

Phenology:— Fruiting in September.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Monção, Basin of the Rio Turiaçu , 3°09’58” S, 45°56’17” W, 16 May 1985 (st.), W.L. Balée 883 ( NY!). Nova Olinda do GoogleMaps Maranhão, S. of Fazenda Guarany, Km 133 of Br 316, 2°46’12” S, 45°43’12” W, 21 September 1980 (fr.), D.C. Daly D162 ( NY!) GoogleMaps .

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas : Manaus-Itacoatiara, Reserva Florestal Ducke, 2°52’59” S, 59°58’00” W, 30 December 1997 (fl.), P.A.C.L. Assunção 759 ( NY!) GoogleMaps .