Two new species of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

This study describes two new species of Eugenia from Atlantic Forest remnants in the vicinities of Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil. The new taxa Eugenia delicata and E. superba are proposed based on a literature survey, examination of herbarium specimens and intensive field work in the study area. E. delicata is here assigned to E. sect. Eugenia, similar to E. xanthoxyloides but differing by narrow-elliptic cataphylls restricted to the apex of young twigs, falling with age, leaves in distichous arrangement, cracking easily at touch when dry, bracteoles widely-ovate, widely-deltoid or widely-trullate, superposed at the base and concealing the ovary, and mature fruits ellipsoid, subglobose or pyriform, orange when fresh, with juicy pulp and sour, aromatic taste. E. superba is here assigned to E. sect. Phyllocalyx, similar to E. magnibracteolata but differing by being a deciduous tree with trunk bark smooth, light-brown when flowering, reddish when fruiting, detaching thin, papery plates, leaf blades coriaceous with lateral veins barely visible abaxially, pedicels and flowers with light-brown to golden trichomes that are dense on the ovary and scattered in the calyx, and mature fruits suglobose, orange when fresh, with juicy and abundant pulp and a pleasant sweet and sour taste. Regarding the conservation statuses, E. delicata is assessed here as Endangered (EN), and E. superba as Critically Endangered (CR). As both species have edible fruits, we encourage their cultivation as ornamental and fruit trees to promote their ex-situ conservation.

Automated summary

This study describes two new species of Eugenia found in the Atlantic Forest near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Based on literature survey, examination of herbarium specimens and field work, the new taxa Eugenia delicata and E. superba are proposed. E. delicata belongs to E. sect. Eugenia, similar to E. xanthoxyloides but with distinct characteristics such as narrow-elliptic cataphylls, distichous leaf arrangement, easily cracking leaves, widely-ovate bracteoles, and ellipsoid mature fruits. E. superba belongs to E. sect. Phyllocalyx, resembling E. magnibracteolata but with differences in trunk bark, leaf blades, pedicels and flowers, and mature fruits. Both species are classified as endangered and critically endangered, respectively, and their cultivation for ex-situ conservation is encouraged.