Syzygium maneauense Craven & Damas, 2021

Craven, L. A., Damas, K. Q. & Cowley, K. J., 2021, Studies in Papuasian Syzygium (Myrtaceae): 2. The furfuraceous species of subg. Syzygium, Blumea 66 (1), pp. 57-81 : 73

24. Syzygium maneauense Craven & Damas , sp. nov. — Fig. 2 : 3.2; Map 7

From Syzygium furfuraceum Merr. & L.M.Perry it differs in having the leaf lamina broadly elliptic with the acumen recurved (broadly oblong or sometimes obovate and the acumen flat in S. furfuraceum ); the hypanthium dull-glossy, not furfuraceous and weakly furrowed or 2-costate (dull,furfuraceous and not furrowed or costate in S. furfuraceum ); calyx a rim of tissue c. 0.5 mm long with 2 triangular lobes c. 1.25 mm long (calyx a rim with 4 well evident lobes 1‒1.25 mm long in S. furfuraceum ); and 35‒40 stamens (115‒120(‒150) in S. furfuraceum ). — Type: Brass 22687 (holo LAE !; iso A, L both n.v.), Papua New Guinea, Milne Bay Province, Maneau Range, N slopes of Mt Dayman, in mossy forest gully, alt. 2200 m, 30 May 1953.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the locality, Maneau

Range.

Tree to 12 m tall. Vegetative branchlet compressed, rounded, c. 4 mm diam; bark dull-glossy, smooth, slightly glandular-verru- cose, persistent. Leaf lamina broadly elliptic, 15‒16 by c. 10 cm wide, 1.5‒1.6 times as long as wide; base obtuse or rounded; apex roundly acuminate; acumen recurved; margin revolute; subcartilaginous; primary and secondary venation generally similar with all or nearly all secondaries joining the intramarginal vein; primary veins c. 16 on each side of the midrib, in median part of lamina at a divergence angle of 70‒80° and 10‒12 mm apart; intramarginal vein present, weakly arched, 3‒4 mm from margin, secondary intramarginal vein present. Petiole 8‒10 mm long. Reproductive seasonal growth unit with a reproductive zone only. Inflorescence leafless, cauline, paniculate, up to 7.5 by 9 cm, major axis c. 4 mm thick at the midpoint, bark furfuraceous; bracts caducous; bracteoles subtending each flower, caducous. Flower buds with the apex rounded to obtuse. Flowers green. Hypanthium dull-glossy, striate-glandular, furfuraceous, visibly gland-dotted, weakly furrowed or weakly 2-costate; usually stipitate; goblet-shaped or narrowly obconic, 4.5‒5 by c. 4 mm, stipe 0‒0.5 mm long. Calyx is a rim of tissue c. 0.5 mm long with 2 triangular lobes c. 1.25 mm long (including the rim). Petals 5, calyptrate (coherent and falling as a cap). Staminal disc ascending ( Fig. 2 : 3.2). Stamens 35‒40, c. 7.5 mm long. Style 7‒9 mm long. Placentation axile-basal; placenta a small cushion. Ovules c. 9 per locule, ascending, arranged irregularly. Flowers and fruit not seen.

Distribution — Papua New Guinea.

Habitat & Ecology — Mossy forest gully. Altitude 2200 m.

Notes — 1. Flowers at anthesis have not been seen, the re- corded androecial details being observed in buds supplemented with a few old stamens persistent on flowers past anthesis.

2. The species is known from the type collection only.

Figures

Fig. 2 Staminal disc types in Syzygium species. Series 1: Flat; series 2: descending; series 3: ascending; series 4: raised.