Myrcia neospeciosa A.R. Lourenço & E. Lucas

28. Myrcia neospeciosa A.R. Lourenço & E. Lucas View in CoL (in Lourenço et al. 2018: 79).

Replacing name for Calyptranthes speciosa Sagot (1885: 187) View in CoL .

Type:— FRENCH GUIANA. M. Mélinon 488 ( type: P [00723171], image) . ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 F-G.)

Trees 6– 8 m. Twigs glabrous. Leaves with petioles 13–25 mm long, pubescent, unchanneled; blades ovate-lanceolate, oblong, rarely elliptic, 14.5–31.4 × 6–10 cm, glabrous adaxially and pubescent abaxially, the indumentum brownishred, chartaceous, discolorous, more lustrous adaxially; glands not seen; base rounded; apex acute or long acuminate; midvein adaxially impressed or sulcate; lateral veins slightly visible, not arched, 30 to 38 pairs; intra-marginal vein 1 mm or less from the margin, nearly straight, very close the margin, margin revolute. Inflorescence axillary, pyramidal panicle, flowers lax, the axis 2.3–3 cm long, pubescent, the indumentum brownish-red, with two lateral branches, opposite, 3.7–6.6 cm long; bracts not seen, caducous before anthesis; pedicels 3 mm long or sessile, pubescent; bracteoles not seen, caducous before anthesis; flower buds not seen; calyx-lobes completely fused, opening by calyptra, not reflexed, caducous in fruit; ovary not seen. Immature fruit subglobose to globose, 0.6–0.8 × 0.7–0.9 cm, pubescent, surface smooth.

Note:— Myrcia neospeciosa may be recognized by its ovate-lanceolate or oblong, rarely elliptic leaves, which are more lustrous adaxially; the nearly straight intra-marginal vein, which is 1 mm or less from the margin; the calyxlobes, which are completely fused and opening by calyptra; and the subglobose or globose fruits, which are pubescent and have a smooth surface.

Distribution and habitat:— Known from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and northeastern and northwestern Brazil ( Acre, Amapá, Maranhão, Pará and Rondônia states) (POWO 2020, Flora do Brasil 2020). In Amazonian Maranhão, M. neospeciosa was found growing in “terra firme” forest.

Phenology:— Fruiting in December.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Maranhão: Rio Maracassumé , 03 July 1958 (st.), R.L. Fróes 34439 ( IAN!) .

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Pará : Ilha de Marajó. Rio Anajas, 1°00’00” S, 50°10’00” W, 28 October 1987 (fr.), H.T. Beck 209 (INPA, image). GoogleMaps Amazonas: Manaus, Reserva Florestal Adolfo Ducke, Próx. picada da Petrobrás, 2°52’59” S, 59°58’00” W, 06 August 1997 (fr.), M.A.D. Souza 395 (INPA, image) GoogleMaps .