Eugenia earhartii Acev.-Rodr.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 1993. Additions to the Flora of Saint John, United States Virgin Islands. Brittonia. 45 (2): 130-137.
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Family
Myrtaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex 1.5-3 m altus; folia sessilia, rigido-coriacea, basi cordata, apice rotundata; inflorescentiae cauliflo- rae, fasciculatae; pedicelli 4.5-12 mm longi; hypan- thium 11 mm latum; fructus purpurei, globosi vel ob- lati, 2-3 x 1.5-2 cm.
Description - Shrub 1.5-3 m tall, many-branched from base, glabrous; bark grayish, thick, peeling off in irregular flakes. Branches reddish and slightly flattened when young, becoming grayish and terete. Leaves rigid coriaceous to brittle, ascending, ovate to widely elliptic, 3.5-8.5 x 2-6.2 cm, not punctate or obscurely punctate, the venation brochidod- romus, midvein stout, yellowish, plane on upper surface, prominent beneath, secondary veins inconspicuous, alternate, straight with a diverging angle of 200 to 30?, forming a submarginal loop, the margins strongly revolute, yellowish, the base cordate, clasping the stem, the apex rounded; petioles swollen, 1-2(-4) mm long. Racemes cauliflorous, appearing fasciculate; pedicels 4.5- 9 mm long, thickened. Hypanthium 5-6 mm wide, glabrous, the sepals rounded, 3-4 mm long, ciliate at margins; stamens numerous, glabrous; style elongated, glabrous. Berry globose to oblate, 1.5-2 x 2-3 cm, turning from green to purple, one-seeded.
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Discussion
TYPE: UNITED STATES VIRGIN IS- LANDS. Saint John: Reef Bay Quarter; vicinity of White Cliffs, 55 m elev., wind exposed, scrubby vegetation on rocky soil, 26 Aug 1987 (fl), Acevedo-Rodriguez, Reilly & Earhart 2030 (HOLOTYPE: US; ISOTYPE: NY).
Additional specimens examined: UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. Saint John: Coral Bay Quarter along eastem side of Minna Hill, thomy vegetation, ca. 200 m elev., 13 Jan 1990 (fr), Acevedo-Rodriguez & Alemdn 3204 (NY, US); Reef Bay Quarter along trail from Europa Bay to White Cliffs, 55 m elev., deciduous forest, 6 Feb 1991 (fr), Acevedo-Rodriguez & A. Siaca 5233 (US); 6 Oct 1982 (fl), Woodbury 523 (Virgin Is- lands National Park Service herbarium, at St. John Research Center).
Eugenia earhartii resembles E. cordata (Sw.) DC. and E. sessiliflora Vahl, however, it differs in a number of significant char- acteristics listed below. Differences between E. earhartii and E. cordata include leaf texture and margins, inflorescence, floral mor- phology, and shape of fruit. The leaves of E. earhartii are rigid-coriaceous, with strongly revolute margins, while those of E. cordata are mostly coriaceous, with plane or revolute margins. The inflorescences in E. earhartii are cauliflorous while those of E. cordata are axillary. In E. earhartii, the flowers are long-pedicellate (4.5-9 mm) and have a hypanthium 5-6 mm wide, while those of E. cordata are sessile and have a hypanthium ca. 1.5 mm wide. Fruits of E. earhartii are globose to oblate, purple, 2-3 cm wide, while those ofE. cordata are ovoid, bright red, 8-10 mm wide.
Eugenia earhartii differs from E. sessili- flora in leaf shape, inflorescence, floral morphology, and color of fruit. It resembles E. sessiliflora in its rigid-coriaceous leaves. Leaves of E. earhartii, however, are ovate to widely elliptic with inconspicuous secondary veins and a cordate base, while those of E. sessiliflora are elliptic with prominent secondary veins and a rounded base. Inflorescences of E. earhartii are strictly cauliflorous while those of E. sessiliflora are axillary as well. The flowers of E. earhartii are pedicellate while those of E. sessiliflora are sessile. Fruits of E. earhartii are purple while those of E. sessiliflora are orange-red
Eugenia earhartii is known only from the southeastern side of the island of Saint John. There is a large population of E. earhartli in deciduous forest to scrubby areas, along the uphill portion of the trail from Europa Bay to White Cliffs. A few more individuals are known to occur along the eastern side of Minna Hill.