Abstract
A new section of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) is described, segregate from Eugenia sect. Phyllocalyx. Phylogenetic studies suggest that Eugenia sect. Phyllocalyx as traditionally delimited is paraphyletic. To maintain the monophyly of each of the sections in Eugenia s.l., we herein opt to circumscribe a new section and recognize six taxa in sect. Speciosae, which has a distribution mostly in southeastern Brazil and northern South America. Nomenclatural notes are made and a taxonomic key is provided for the species of the section.
Highlights
Eugenia Linnaeus is a widespread tropical genus with about 385 species in Brazil (Govaerts et al 2014, Sobral et al 2015), most of which grow along the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest biome (Oliveira-Filho and Fontes 2000)
The genus Phyllocalyx was segregated from Eugenia by Otto Berg (1856) being characterized especially by peduncles with leaf-like bracts and showy sepals, proportionally larger than the flowers
Bünger et al have optimised morphological characters across the molecular tree, presenting useful results with which to distinguish the sections. Results indicated that these characters are uncommon in Eugenia s.l. and can be used to support placement of species inside a genus/subgenus/section (e.g. Berg 1857, Niedenzu 1893, McVaugh 1969, Mattos 1989)
Summary
Circumscription and synopsis of Eugenia section Speciosae Bünger & Mazine (Myrtaceae). Mariana de Oliveira Bünger, Fiorella Fernanda Mazine, Eve J. Academic editor: P. de Lange | Received 25 January 2016 | Accepted 4 February 2016 | Published 25 February 2016 Citation: Bünger MO, Mazine FF, Lucas EJ, Stehmann JR (2016) Circumscription and synopsis of Eugenia section Speciosae Bünger & Mazine (Myrtaceae).
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