European Journal of Taxonomy 113:

http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2015.113

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2015 • Jongkind C.C.H.

Research article

Eugenia sapoensis Jongkind from Liberia and Eugenia breteleri

Jongkind from Gabon, two new forest species (Myrtales: Myrtaceae)

Card C.H. JONGKIND

Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium

Email: careliongkind@kpnmaiI nl

Abstract. Two new forest species, Eugenia sapoensis sp. nov. and Eugenia breteleri sp. nov., from

Liberia and Gabon respectively, are described and illustrated here. Both are shrubs with comparatively

large red fruits. They resemble each other, but E. breteleri differs from E. sapoensis in having twigs with

conspicuously peeling bark, 6-8 pairs of main lateral nerves, versus 4-6 pairs, and fruits with a peduncle

of 3-5 mm rather than 1- 2 mm long. Eugenia breteleri grows up to 3 m high while E. sapoensis does

not grow higher than 1.4 m.

Key words. Eugenia , Myrtaceae, Africa, Liberia, Gabon

Jongkind C.C.H. 2015. Eugenia sapoensis Jongkind from Liberia and Eugenia breteleri Jongkind from Gabon,

two new forest species (Myrtales: Myrtaceae). European Journal of Taxonomy 113: 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/

eit.2015.113

Introduction

Eugenia is a genus of about 1000 species (WCSP 2014) but it is with ca. 60 species not very species rich

in Africa (van der Merwe et al. 2005), and even less so in the forests of the Guineo-Congolian Region

(sensu White 1979). Including the new species, there are ten Eugenia species currently recognized for

Liberia and the same number for Gabon. Only one species, Eugenia gabonensis Amshoff, is known

from both countries.

The Myrtaceae flora publications for different parts of the Guineo-Congolian Region, like the Flore du

Gabon , are at least 46 years old. Herbaria house large collections of Eugenia specimens from this Region

that can not be identified to species with the existing floras. Lurthermore, there are many unresolved

taxonomic and nomenclatural issues within the genus (Verdcourt 1999). These facts show that new

studies of Eugenia of the Guineo-Congolian Region are urgently needed. Preparing the still missing

Myrtaceae part of the Flore du Cameroun could be a good start. Recently, several phylogenetic studies

on Eugenia have been published (e.g. van der Merwe et al. 2005, Mazine et al. 2014) to clarify the

relationship between the clades, regrettably they did not include any of the species that occur in forests

of Central and West Africa in their research.

During recent fieldwork a small Eugenia shrub with large pinkish red fruits was collected in the forest

near the Sapo National Park in Liberia. It is named here Eugenia sapoensis sp. nov. Most Eugenia

species in this region have smaller fruits that are often very dark reddish or dark purplish at maturity

European Journal of Taxonomy 113 : 1-9 ( 2015 )

as in the case of Eugenia calophylloides DC. (Fig. 1). Most species are larger too, up to medium-sized

understory trees, and are flowering and fruiting much more profusely. The new species could not be

keyed out with the Flora of West tropical Africa (Heine 1963) or with the Flore du Gabon (Amshoff

1966). The closest other species from the Guinea-Congolian Region seems to be E. kameruniana Engl,

from Cameroon. This species is also a small forest shrub with large bright red fruits, but has leaves

about 1.5-2 times the size of those of the new species and a narrow cordate, not attenuate, leafbase. No

comparable Eugenia species is known from Liberia and neighbouring countries. Searching through the

herbaria a Eugenia shrub from the forest of south-western Gabon with comparable fruits and general

leaf shape was found. This shrub still differs from E. sapoensis sp. nov. in having more main lateral

nerves and twigs with conspicuously peeling bark. It is also larger than its Liberian relative and the

peduncle of the fruit is longer. It is named here E. breteleri sp. nov. The flowers of this new species are

not yet known, but the calyx lobes still present on the fruits suggest that the flowers are likely to be small

like in E. sapoensis sp. nov.

Considering the large geographical gap and the differences observed between the two new species, it

is more likely that they are the result of parallel evolution and not necessarily closely related. Most

Eugenia species in the tropical African forest seem to be restricted to a relatively small area.

In several publications the taxonomical importance of the seed and embryo of African Eugenia species

was shown (van Wyk 1980, van Wyk & Botha 1984). No differences could be found on this point

between our new species. Both new species, and Eugenia kameruniana Engl., should, based on their

seed and embryo, be placed in Eugenia “Group X” as described by Van Wyk & Botha. This supports

the statement that this group has a wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa (van der Merwe et al. 2005)

All material cited here for the two new species was collected after the floras for these countries were

published.

Fig. 1. Eugenia calophylloides DC. Branchlet with leaves and fruits. From Jongkind 8311. Photographed

by the author.

JONGKIND C.C.H., Two new forest species of Eugenia (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) from Africa

Table 1. Main differences between Eugenia sapoensis sp. nov., Eugenia breteleri sp. nov. and

E. kameruniana.

E. sapoensis

E. breteleri

E. kameruniana

Feaf length

7-12 cm

5.5-10 cm

12-17 cm

Base of leaf

attenuate

narrowly cordate

Pairs of main laterals

4-6

6-8

6-10

Bark of twigs

smooth

conspicuously peeling

Petal length

2 mm

6 mm

Materials and Methods

Normal practices of herbarium taxonomy have been applied to study the available herbarium material

from BR, K, P, and WAG. E. sapoensis sp. nov. has recently been studied in the field on several occasions.

Preliminary assessments of the IUCN Red List categories of threat were performed using the IUCN

criteria and the RBG Kew website http://geocat.kew.org .

Results

Eugenia shrubs from the forests of Liberia and Gabon, that could not be identified with the existing

floras, are described as two new species endemic to Liberia and Gabon, respectively. They can be easily

separated from the already known species from these countries by their relatively big red fruits and

small leaves (Table 1).

Class Equisetopsida C.Agardh (Agardh et al. 1825)

Subclass Magnoliidae Novak ex Takht. (Takhtajan 1967)

Superorder Rosanae Takht. (Takhtajan 1967)

Order Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl (Berchtold & Presl 1820)

Family Myrtaceae Juss (Jussieu 1789), nom. cons.

Genus Eugenia L. (Linnaeus 1753)

Eugenia sapoensis Jongkind sp. nov.

um:lsid:ipni.org:names:77144646-1

Figs 2, 3

Diagnosis

A shrublet related to E. kameruniana Engl., but with smaller (7-12 cm) leaves with an attenuate and not

cordate leaf base.

Etymology

This species is named after the Sapo National Park, the oldest national park in Fiberia.

Type

FIBERIA. Sino County, ca. 50 km east of Greenville, fl. fr. 14 Mar. 2014, Jongkind, Mulbah, Harris,

Charleson & Forkpah 12439 (holo-: BR; iso-: K, WAG).

Description

Branching shrublet about 0.8-1.4 meter high. Twigs smooth, glabrous, brown, often shiny. Feaves

opposite, entire, glabrous, petiolate; petiole < 3 mm long; lamina papery, with many translucent

secretory cavities, 7-12 cm long and 2.3-5.5 cm wide, apex long acuminate, base attenuate, 4-6 pairs of

European Journal of Taxonomy 113 : 1-9 ( 2015 )

Fig. 2. A-C. Eugenia sapoensis sp. nov. A. Branchlet with fruit. B. Cross section of the fruit and single

large seed. C. Lateral view of embryo (r = radicular protuberance). D-E. Morphology of the seed of

Eugenia “Group X” as described by van Wyk (1980). D. Seed with part of the thin testa removed showing

the surface of the embryo beneath (h = hilum). E. Lateral view of embryo (r = radicular protuberance).

A-C from Jongkind 9351 ; D & E from van Wyk & Botha (1984: 66). Photographed by the author.

JONGKIND C.C.H., Two new forest species of Eugenia (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) from Africa

main lateral nerves meeting in a conspicuous sub-marginal nerve, looping 2.5-6 mm from the margin,

midrib impressed above. Inflorescences strongly reduced, axilar and terminal, with 1 or 2 flowers, bracts

tiny, early caducous. Flowers inconspicuous, glabrous, green and whitish; peduncle ca. 1 mm long,

green; calyx lobes and petals ca. 2x2 mm, both 4 in number; stamens ca. 20, 1-1.5 mm long; anthers

ca. 0.5 mm long; style not seen. Fruit single or with two together, subglobose, 1.2-2 cm in diameter,

glabrous, green to bright pinkish red, surface dotted with many secretory cavities, 1- or (rarely) 2-seeded;

pulp sweet, whitish; seed subglobose to kidney-shaped, very pale, with a slight dip in the surface near

the hilum, testa smooth and thin but very strong; cotyledon kidney-shaped, fused for the larger part,

covered with many secretory cavities; peduncle 1-2 mm long; calyx lobes ca. 2 mm long and wide,

rounded, glabrous, not or hardly larger than in flower but more coriaceous. Seedling with the first 3—4

pairs of leaves only a few mm long.

Distribution and habitat

Undergrowth of evergreen lowland forest; 40-165 m altitude. Only known from the Sino River basin

in Liberia.

Additional specimens examined

LIBERIA. Sino County, close to the Sino River, 90-100 m alt., 10 Mar. 2009, Jongkind, Bilivogui

& Dorbor 8925 (K, WAG); not far from the west bank of the Sino River, 90-100 m alt., fr. 1 Febr.

2010, Jongkind, Bilivogui & Dorbor 9351 (K, MO, WAG); in the South of Sapo National Park, fr.,

22 Nov. 2010, Jongkind, Bilivogui & Daniels 9820 (K, WAG); near Nidwe River, fr., 25 Nov. 2010,

Jongkind, Bilivogui & Daniels 9860 (K, WAG); west of Greenville, not far from the sea, fr., 20 Sept.

2013, Jongkind, de Wet & Sambolah 12089 (BR); east of Greenville-Zwedru road, fr., 24 Sept. 2013,

Jongkind, de Wet & Sambolah 12128 (BR); east of Greenville-Zwedru road, 26 Sept. 2013, Jongkind,

de Wet & Sambolah 12159B (BR).

European Journal of Taxonomy 113 : 1-9 ( 2015 )

Conservation status

The “Extent of Occurrence” (EOO) is 1,858 km 2 and the “Area of Occupancy” (AOO) is 32 km 2 , both

count as “Endangered”. Only one of the specimens was collected in the National Park. I have walked

long distances within the EOO area often without finding one single plant of this species, it is really not

co mm on. Considering all the economical development planned in this part of Liberia, “Endangered” is

the appropriate status.

Comment

The 2 tiny mature flowers collected seem to be lacking a style and could be male flowers, but they are

too few to ascertain whether this is not caused by insects or other damage. It is still too early to tell if

this species shows the cryptic dioecity seen in many other African species in Eugenia (van der Merve

et al. 2005: 22).

Eugenia breteleri Jongkind sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77144645-1

Figs 3, 4

Diagnosis

A shrublet related to E. sapoensis Jongkind, but larger, twigs with conspicuously peeling bark, leaves

with 6-8 pairs of main lateral nerves and fruits with a longer (3-5 mm) peduncle.

Etymology

Named after F. J. Breteler who was responsible for the organisation of the two expeditions that led to the

discovery of the new species.

Type

GABON. Between Rabi-Kounga and Yeno, ff, 15 May 1992, Breteler, Jongkind, Nzabi & Wieringa

11457 (holo-: WAG; iso-: LBV).

Description

Shrublet E3-3 meter high, glabrous. Twigs with bark conspicuously peeling in thin strips. Leaves

opposite or tri-verticillate, entire, petiolate; petiole 1.5-5 mm long; lamina papery, drying slightly

reddish, glabrous, 5.5-10 cm long and 2-4.5 cm wide, apex long acuminate, base attenuate, with 6-8

pairs of main lateral nerves with several smaller, parallel ones in between, meeting in a conspicuous sub¬

marginal nerve up to 4 mm from the margin, midrib impressed above. Inflorescences strongly reduced,

axillar or terminal, with up to five flower buds, bracts filamentous, ca. 1.5 mm long, early caducous,

immature flower buds almost glabrous with a few hairs on the edge of the calyx. Fruits single, glabrous,

10-25 mm in diameter, 1-seeded, surface with many secretory cavities; seed sub-globose; embryo

kidney-shaped, cotyledons fused for the larger part, covered with many secretory cavities; peduncle 3-5

mm long; 4 calyx lobes 1-1.5 mm long, longer than wide, rounded, glabrous.

Distribution and habitat

Undergrowth of evergreen lowland forest in the Rabi-Kounga area in south-west Gabon.

Note

On the label of Breteler 10319 the flowers are described as white when open, but on the specimens only

small flower buds are found.

JONGKIND C.C.H., Two new forest species of Eugenia (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) from Africa

Additional specimens examined

GABON. Rabi-Kounga, fl.bud, 2 Nov. 1991, Breteler, Jongkind & Schoenmakerl0319 (BR, K, LBV,

MO, P, WAG); Between Rabi-Kounga and Yeno, fr., 20 May 1992, Breteler, Jongkind, Nzabi & Wieringa

11546 (LBV, WAG).

Conservation status

Based on the only 3 specimens the “Extent of Occurrence” (EOO) is 95 km 2 and the “Area of Occupancy”

(AOO) is 12 1cm 2 , the first counts as “Critically endangered” (CR) and the second as “Endangered”

Fig. 4. Eugenia breteleri sp. nov. A. Branch with leaves. B. Detail of leaf from below showing secretory

cavities. C. Fruit (from pickled specimen) with style and part of the calyx still present. D. Cross section

of fruit and single seed. A & B from Breteler 11457, C & D from Breteler 11546. Drawing by Hans de

Vries.

European Journal of Taxonomy 113 : 1-9 ( 2015 )

(EN). I expect that in this case the limited number of specimens might for a large part show the lack of

botanical exploration in this, still densely forested, part of Gabon. For the moment “Vulnerable” (VU)

could be more appropriate.

Discussion

Eugenia sapoensis sp. nov. and E. breteleri sp. nov. can be easily separated from all other earlier described

species from the forest area where they are found. With the large geographical gap between the two new

species, it is more likely that they are the result of parallel evolution and not necessarily closely related.

Most Eugenia species in the tropical African forest seem to be restricted to a relatively small area.

There are still more undescribed Eugenia species in these forests, and also already in herbaria, but

these are closer to earlier described species and more difficult to delimitate. A problem is that a lot of

the known species are still incompletely known, especially those from Cameroon. For some species

the fruits, and for others the flowers have not yet been collected. Due to this lack of material, it is

momentarily impossible to create a practical key to the Guineo-Congolian Eugenia species. This key

can only been prepared after the older Eugenia names available for this floristic Region have found their

place as synonyms or as more clearly delimited species.

Acknowledgements

The expeditions that made it possible to collect E. sapoensis in and around the Sapo National Park were

funded by Fauna and Flora International. The author wishes to thank the staff of the Fiberian office of

FFI for their help in making the expeditions successful. The author is also grateful to Hans de Vries for

the line drawing.

References

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[Fund],

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national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris.

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Verdcourt B. 1999. The genus Eugenia in East Africa. Kew Bulletin 54: 41-62. http://dx.doi.org/

10.2307/4111022

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Africa. Journal of South African Botany 46: 115-119.

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taxonomic value of the seed. South African Journal of Botany 3: 63-80.

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Nationale Plantentuin van Belgie 49: 11-55. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.2307/3667815

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Manuscript received: 31 July 2014

Manuscript accepted: 24 December 2014

Published on: 23 February 2015

Topic editor: Thomas Janssen

Desk editor: Natacha Beau

Printed versions of all papers are also deposited in the libraries of the institutes that are members of the

EJT consortium: Museum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France; Botanic Garden Meise, Belgium;

Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium; Natural History Museum, London, United

Kingdom; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium; Natural history Museum of

Denmark, Copenhagen, De nm ark