Syzygium chanelii, Tuiwawa, S. H., Craven, L. A., Sam, C. & Crisp, M. D., 2013

Tuiwawa, S. H., Craven, L. A., Sam, C. & Crisp, M. D., 2013, The genus Syzygium (Myrtaceae) in Vanuatu, Blumea 58 (1), pp. 53-67 : 57

2. Syzygium chanelii S.H.Tuiwawa & Craven, sp. nov. — Fig. 1

A S. concinno (A.C.Sm.) Craven & Biffin alabastris maturis late turbinatis, 4–5 mm longis, 2.4–4 mm latis, staminibus numerosioribus (c. 50–60) et filamentis 1–1.8 mm longis,et stylo 1–1.5 mm longo differt.— Typus: Gowers NH157 (holo K) , Vanuatu, 1974.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Mr. Chanel Sam, Cura- tor of the Vanuatu National Herbarium (PVNH) in Port Vila. Mr. Sam has an excellent knowledge of the flora of Vanuatu and has published on economic plants of the Southwest Pacific region ( Walter & Sam 2002).

Tree up to 30 m tall. Vegetative branchlets terete, up to 5 mm diam; bark dull, smooth, not glandular or verrucose, persistent. Leaf lamina up to 8 by 4.2 cm, elliptic; base symmetric, attenuate; apex acute, acumen recurved; margin flat; coriaceous; drying reddish brown above; primary vein (midrib) 1 mm wide; secondary veins closed, more than 20 each side of primary vein, c. 4 mm apart; intramarginal vein strongly arched, c. 2 mm from the margin at the lamina midpoint; secondary and tertiary intramarginal vein absent; oil dots present, not visible to the unaided eye in transmitted light, small, dense. Petiole c. 15 by 1 mm, adaxially strongly grooved. Inflorescence terminal, cymose panicle, 5.5–7.5 by 3–6 cm, c. 5–7 flowers per anthopodium; hypopodium c. 3 mm long; main inflorescence axis 1 mm wide, terete, dull, smooth; bracts deciduous, less than 0.5 mm long. Hypanthium stipitate, stipe up to 1.5 mm long; narrowly obconic or campanulate, c. 4 by 3 mm, dull, not visibly dotted glands, minutely wrinkled. Sepals fused into a calyptra, falling at anthesis. Petals not seen. Stamens many, more than 50, outermost stamens 1 mm long; filament free, colour not seen; anther sacs circular. Style up to 1.5 mm long. Fruit white when ripe, smooth, spheroidal, up to 2 by 2 cm. Seed with an intrusive tissue interlocking the cotyledons.

Distribution & Ecology — Vanuatu (Sanma province: Espiritu Santo; Tafea province: Aneityum, Erromango). The species occurs in kauri forest up to 180 m asl.

Vernacular name — Nette (Aneityum).

Uses — The species is reported to provide excellent timber.

Notes — 1. Flowers have been recorded in June and fruit in November.

2. Within Vanuatu, S. chanelii is readily distinguished by the combination of a calyptrate calyx and a hypanthium c. 4 mm long. In fruit it is unique among the Vanuatu species for which fruit are known in that the seed possesses an intrusive tissue that interlocks the cotyledons.

3. Differs from S. concinno (A.C.Sm.) Craven & Biffin in the following features: mature flower buds broadly turbinate and 4–5 by 2.4–4 mm, more numerous stamens (c. 50–60), filaments 1–1.8 mm long and style 1–1.5 mm long.

Figures

Fig. 1 Holotype of S. chanelii S.H.Tuiwawa & Craven.