Star myrtle, a new Myrcia (Myrtacae) from Espírito Santo, Brazil

• Published in: Brittonia Vol. 73; no. 3; pp. 304 - 310
• Main Authors: Gaem, Paulo Henrique, Scaravelli, Fernanda Savioli, Valdemarin, Karinne Sampaio, Lucas, Eve, Mazine, Fiorella Fernanda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brazil; Conservation status; Fruits; habitats; Life Sciences; Myrcia; Myrtus communis; New species; Original Research; phenology; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Ecology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Ridges; Sepals; Trichomes; Brazil; Biodiversity conservation; Myrteae; forest
• ISSN: 0007-196X; 1938-436X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12228-021-09667-8

A species of  Myrcia (Myrtaceae) bearing distinctive star-shaped fruits has been observed in the Vale Natural Reserve in Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brazil, for the last 20 years, and was informally named star myrtle (Portuguese: araçá-estrela ). During ongoing taxonomic studies of Myrcia from this region it became apparent that the star myrtle was a new species to science, here described as Myrcia stellaris . This species resembles M. racemosa , but differs mainly in glabrous branchlets, inflorescence rachises, hypanthia, and outer surface of sepals (vs. covered with trichomes in M. racemosa ) and fruits with five longitudinal ridges (vs. without ridges in M. racemosa ). Further investigations expanded the distribution of M. stellaris based on a specimen collected in the municipality of Castelo. The new species is illustrated and information on habitat, phenology, affinities, and conservation status are provided.