Eugenia byssacea 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

  Eugenia byssacea McVaugh

• Description

  Species Description - Arbuscula, ramulis hornotinis, foliis subtus, floribusque floccosis (unde nomen specificum), pihs tenuissimis crispatis, ferrugineis vel veterioribus cinereis, dense obtectis; folia coriacea, elliptica, 4-6 cm longa, 1.5-2.5 cm lata, 2.4-2.7-plo longiora quam latiora, obtuse breviacuminata, basi acuta, marginibus paullo revolutis, basi in petiolum 6-10 mm longum teretiusculum 1 mm latum, gradatim decurrentibus; nervus medius supra impressus; venae laterales utroque 8-10 inconspicuae, subtus paullo elevatae, supra vix perceptibiles; nervus marginalis arcuatus, a margine 1-2 mm remotus; foha supra glabra, impohta, obscure impresso-punctata, subtus glabrescentia, cinerascentia; racemi perbreves 1-3 mm longi, 2-10-flori, plerumque a ramulorum annotinorum nodis aphyUis oriundi; pedicelli 2-5 mm longi floccosi, bracteis minutis induratis suffulti; bracteolae 0.7 mm longi vix connatae, late ovato-triangulares, extus pubescentes; alabastra 3-4 mm longa, hypanthio dense floccoso, campanulato, substipitato 2 mm longo; petalorum globo supra calycem abrupte expanso, calycis lobos multo superanti; calycis lobi 4 subaequales, obtusi, ovato-triangulares, 1.5 mm longi, sub anthesi patentes, extus pubescentes, intus glabri; petala flava (ex Bernardi), lata, glabra, 4 mm longa; discus 1.5-2 mm latus, centro hirsutulus; stylus circa 5 mm longus; stamina circa 100; ovarium biloculare, loculis 7-ovulatis; fructus non visus.

• Discussion

  This plant seems quite unlike anything else known from northern South America. It is contrasted in the key with other species having reddish cottony pubescence on the hypanthium and calyx; the flowers much resemble those of E. ramiflora, from which it is readily distinguished by the smaUer leaves with impressed midvein.