Myrcia pistrinalis McVaugh

• Authority

  Maguire, Bassett. 1969. The botany of the Guayana Highland-part VIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 18: 1-290.

• Family

  Myrtaceae

• Scientific Name

  Myrcia pistrinalis McVaugh

• Description

  Species Description - Arbor parva 3-8-metralis fere glabra, gemmis appresse strigosis, hypanthiis paniculisque minutissime hispidulis; folia late elliptica, 10-15 cm longa, 5-6 cm lata (vel ramulorum lateralium 6-8 cm longa, 2.5-4.5 cm lata, 1.5-2.5-plo longiora quam latiora), breve acuminata, basi late acuta, marginibus in angulos adaxiales petioli 6-12 mm longi rubicundi decurrentibus; nervus medius supra 0.5-0.7 mm latus, in siccitate planus vel rugoso-convexus, vel basi canaliculatus; venae laterales utroque latere 6-10 (venulis minoribus interpositis exclusis); nervus marginalis inter laterales arcuatus, a margine 2-4 mm remotus; folia glandulis magnis pellucidis pauciusculis instructa, utrinque lucida, venulosa; paniculae 4-7 cm longae, subcorymbosae, pedunculis 2-4 cm longis, ramulis paucifloris 1-2 cm longis aggregatis, floribus subsessilibus vel lateralibus pedicellis 1-2 mm longis stipatis; alabastra turbinata 3-4.5 mm longa, hypanthio angusto basi attenuato, 1.5-2 mm longo, intus glabro, supra germen paullo producto, quam calyce immaturo angustiore; calycis lobi 5, subaequales. valde imbricati, late rotundati, carnosuli, usque ad 1.5 mm longi, 1.8 mm lati, extus glabri, intus minutissime hispiduli, inter se haud flssi; discus 2.5-3 mm latus; stylus 4.5-5 mm longus; petala alba 4-5 mm longa; stamina circa 100; fructus carnosus, pallide ruber ["carmine-red, pinkish white to the top"], ellipsoidaHs vel obovoideus, 1-1.7 cm longus, calyce suberecto coronatus; ovarium triloculare, loculis biovulatis. This is the plant placed by Amshoff under the name of "Aulomyrcia sp. aff. A. lucida Berg" (Fl. Suriname 3(2): 76. 1951). It was known to Amshoff only from Maguire's collection cited below. In appearance this species is much like Myrcia citrifolia, but it differs in the almost complete absence of pubescence; the pellucidpunctate leaves; the minute prickly pubescence of the hypanthium, the small branchlets of the panicle and the inner surface of the calyx-lobes; the short-pedicellate flowers and the apparently larger and longer fruit. Myrcia pistrinalis is known only from mountains of the interior of Suriname, mostly at elevations of 1000 m or more, whereas M . citrifolia is a widespread species chiefly known as an inhabitant of lowlands.

• Discussion

  Distribution and Ecology: Suriname. Wilhelmina Mts., Julianatop, elev 1230 m, open vegetation of shrubs and small trees on top, 3 Aug 1963 (bud), Schulz 10309 ( M I C H , type; U ) ; Bakhuis Mountains, on a summit at elev 1027 m, between the Kabalebo River and the left branch of the Coppename, 3 Mar 1965 (fr), Florschiitz & Maas 3107 ( M I C H ) , 3 Mar 1965 (sterile), Florschiitz & Maas 3113 (U); Tafelberg, mixed forest, base of cliffs, elev 420 m, 10 Sep 1944 (fl), Maguire 24693 (U).

• Distribution

  Suriname South America|