Syzygium novotnyi 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 : 74-75

28. Syzygium novotnyi Craven & Damas , sp. nov. — Fig. 2 : 1.5; Map 7

From Syzygium furfuraceum Merr. & L.M.Perry it differs in having the leaf lamina 6‒9 by 2‒4 cm and lacking a secondary intramarginal vein (8.5‒19.5 by 3‒10.3 cm and with a secondary vein in S. furfuraceum ); the inflorescences on branchlets below the leaves or on branches (cauline in S. furfuraceum ); the hypanthium not furfuraceous (furfuraceous in S. furfuraceum ); and 7‒9 ovules per locule (15‒26 in S. furfuraceum ). — Type: NGF (Coode, Sands & Lelean) 46098 (holo CANB!;iso LAE !, BRI, K,L,all n.v.), Papua New Guinea, New Ireland Province,Namatanai Subprovince,Danfu River area,inland from Manga, ridge top on limestone, alt. c. 275 m, 9 Feb. 1970.

Etymology. The specific epithet honours Vojtech Novotny (1964‒), a Czech entomologist with a special interest in insect-plant relationships. Vojtech established the New Guinea Binatang Research Center, Madang, a non-profit body dedicated to the training of Papua New Guineans in biology and biodiversity research and to the development of educational and nature conservation programs with a focus on better equipping villagers to manage their forest lands.

Tree to 24 m tall; bark red to pinkish brown, flaking in thick scales. Vegetative branchlet terete, rounded, 2‒4 mm diam; bark dull, furfuraceous, not glandular-verrucose, peeling in relatively thin strips, or flaking in relatively large pieces. Leaf lamina obovate or rarely elliptic, 6‒9 by 2‒4 cm, 2.2‒2.6 times as long as wide; base obtuse or sometimes cuneate; apex acute to short acuminate; acumen flat; margin flat; coriaceous; primary and secondary venation generally similar with all or nearly all secondaries joining the intramarginal vein; primary veins 30‒35 on each side of the midrib, in median part of lamina at a divergence angle of 60‒70° and 2‒4.5 mm apart; intra- marginal vein present, strongly or weakly arched, 0.5‒1 mm from margin, secondary intramarginal vein absent. Petiole 5‒6 mm long. Reproductive seasonal growth unit with a reproductive zone only. Inflorescence leafless; on branchlets below the leaves or on branches, paniculate, up to 8 by 9 cm, major axis c. 2 mm thick at the midpoint, bark furfuraceous; bracts caducous; bracteoles caducous. Hypanthium dull or dull-glossy, smooth; not visibly gland-dotted; stipitate; stipitate-subglobose, 4.5‒5 by 4‒4.5 mm, stipe c. 0.5 mm long. Calyx reduced to a rim of tissue c. 0.2 mm long. Staminal disc flat ( Fig. 2 : 1.5). Placentation axile-basal; placenta is a small cushion. Ovules 7‒9 per locule, ascending, arranged irregularly. Open flowers and mature fruit not seen.

Distribution — Papua New Guinea.

Habitat & Ecology — Ridge top forest on limestone.Altitude c. 275 m.

Notes — 1. As noted above, flowers and mature fruit have not been seen; our material is in the post anthesis/early fruit stage of development. The calyx is reduced to a rim of tissue, as occurs in several other furfuraceous species.

2. This species may be closely related to S. frodinii but differs in its hypanthium shape and in having a more developed calyx.

3. 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.