A morphological analysis of Syzygium, with a focus on fibre bundles and description of a new subgenus

Sebastian Hatt* (Corresponding Author), Yee Wen Low, David F.R.P. Burslem, David J. Middleton, E. D. Biffin, Olivier Maurin, Eve J. Lucas

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Syzygium is a large genus (1200-1500 species) of Old World tropical trees, currently divided into five subgenera containing widely different numbers of species. Syzygium subgenus Perikion was defined by the presence of fibre bundles in the hypanthium wall, although until now this feature has not been investigated or images published. Furthermore, discovery of fibre bundles in certain species outside Syzygium subgenus Perikion calls for reassessment of the subgenus. In this paper, a morphological analysis is presented for all species previously associated with Syzygium subgenus Perikion or known to have fibre bundles. Results indicate the need for description of a new subgenus, Syzygium subgenus Oborapi, characterized by a distinctly goblet-shaped calyx, presence of fibre bundles in the hypanthium/mesocarp, prominent black lenticels on the abaxial leaf surface, ascending ovule orientation and species diversity centred on the Sunda Shelf. Fibre bundles are photographed and documented for the first time from a range of species and at different magnifications. A preliminary list of species is presented for Syzygium subgenus Perikion and Syzygium subgenus Oborapi, with recommendations for further investigation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)93-109
Number of pages17
JournalBotanical Journal of the Linnean Society
Volume202
Issue number1
Early online date1 Feb 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Bibliographical note

YWL was supported by a postgraduate scholarship research grant from the Ministry of National Development, Singapore awarded through the National Parks Board, Singapore (NParks; NParks’ Garden City Fund). YWL also benefited from additional research funding of the School of Biological Sciences (SBS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) awarded to Victor A. Albert and Charlotte Lindqvist. Yap Jing Xuan, Bazilah Ibrahim and Serena Lee assisted with herbarium materials at SING. We thank Ian Turner for continued support on questions of general and Syzygium-specific nomenclature. We gratefully acknowledge the thoughtful reviews of an anonymous reviewer and Dr Wuu Kuang Soh, both of which significantly enhanced the report presented here.

Data Availability Statement

The data underlying this article are available in the article.

Keywords

  • Myrtaceae
  • Oborapi
  • Perikion
  • plant morphology
  • plant taxonomy

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