Eugenia petrikensis

Eugenia petrikensis is a species of flowering plants belonging to the genus Eugenia and was described in 2012 by Neil Snow and coauthors. It is a large shrub with magenta-coloured flowers and was discovered from Toliara Province at the eastern shoreline of Madagascar. It is one of the seven novel species of Eugenia described from the region, in addition to E. guajavoides, E. manonae, E. stictophylla, E. roseopetiolata and E. stibephylla.[2] It is an endangered species according to the IUCN Red List. The specific epithet is derived from the name of the area, Petriky, from where it was discovered.

Eugenia petrikensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eugenia
Species:
E. petrikensis
Binomial name
Eugenia petrikensis
N.Snow & Randriat.[1]

The plant was among the Top 10 New Species discovered in 2012 selected by the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University out of more than 140 nominated species among more than 18,000 new species. The uniqueness is its rare occurrence, a large shrub with its beautiful bunch of flowers hanging on its branchlets. The selection was publicised on 22 May 2013.[3][4]

Nomenclature

Eugenia petrikensis is so named as it was found in the Petriky Forest (and also in the adjacent Ambinanibe Forest). The Malagasy name is ropasy lahiny. Ropasy is a contraction of rotra (a vernacular name for Eugenia) and fasika, which refers to sand; thus ropasy means "Eugenia that grows on sand". When more than one species of a genus is found in the region a second name is often added for distinction, such as lahiny for male or vaviny for female.[5]

Description

Eugenia petrikensis is a shrub growing up to 3 m with characteristic emerald green, slightly glossy foliage and beautiful, dense clusters of small magenta flowers.[2] The green leaves are coriaceous and evenly distributed along branchlets. The leaf venation is brochidodromous. The branchlets are moderately to densely sericeous on emergence but becoming sparsely so to nearly glabrous. Stipules are absent. Petioles are 3.0–4.5 mm, wrinkled, glabrous and yellowish-green. Leaf blades are elliptical with the base cuneate to rounded. Inflorescence is axillary or ramiflorous, consisting of monads or 3–flowered cymes, solitary, paired or generally in fascicles. Peduncles are 2–5 mm long, medium green, and glabrous or with a few scattered hairs. Calyx is 4-lobed, rounded to oblong, the apex broadly rounded and glabrous. Petals are 4 in number, ovate, magenta but hyaline on margins. Stamens are 20–30 in number arranged in 1 or 2 series. Fruits are globose, glabrous, and yellow in colour when ripe. Flowering time is from late October to February, and fruiting from December to March.[5]

Significance

Eugenia petrikensis is an unusual shrub found in the humid forest on sandy substrate of Madagascar. It occurs only in the littoral forest on the shoreline of the eastern region, which has had its span reduced from about 1,000 mi (1,600 km) to isolated portions due to human development.[6] This big shrub with its colourful flowers, a cluster of magenta, is already quite notable. In addition it is a rare endangered species found nowhere else on earth.[7]

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References
  1. IPNI Plant Name Query Results for Eugenia petrikensis, The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2013-06-06
  2. Varma S (23 May 2013). "Amazing top 10 new species include glowing cockroach, tiniest vertebrate and new monkey". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  3. Newswise (22 May 2013). "Scientists Announce Top 10 New Species". Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Newswise, Inc. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  4. Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (22 May 2013). "Top 10 new species of 2012". ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, LLC. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  5. Snow N, Rabenantoandro J, Randriatafika F, Rabehevitra D, Razafimamonjy ND, Cable S (2012). "Studies of Malagasy Eugenia (Myrtaceae)—III: Seven new species of high conservation concern from the eastern littoral forests" (PDF). Phytotaxa. 48: 39–60.
  6. Koebler J (23 May 2013). "Meet the 10 Coolest New Species Discovered in 2012". usnews.com. U.S.News & World Report LP. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  7. Vincent J (23 May 2013). "Arizona University unveils the top 10 species discovered in 2012". The Independent. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
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