Two new species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from Sri Lanka, with lectotypification and recircumscription of Syzygium assimile

Abstract

Two new species of Syzygium Gaertn. from Sri Lanka, S. aureum Jayasinghe and S. hemachandrae Jayasinghe, are described. Syzygium aureumis distinguished from S.grande (Wight) Walp. in having a thick ring of nectarial glands near the rim of the hypanthium and in having subglobose fruits tinged with red at ripening. Syzygium hemachandrae differs from S. assimile Thwaites in having a longer petiole, an elliptic to ovate-elliptic lamina with fewer lateral veins, a cylindrical to subcylindrical peduncle at its basal parts and approximately quadrangular secondary axes. Syzygium aureum, which was previously misidentified as Syzygium firmum Thwaites (=S. grande), is restricted to the southwestern lowland rainforests, while S. hemachandrae is confined to the moist monsoon forests of the intermediate zone of eastern Sri Lanka. Both new species were found to be included amongst the syntypes of Syzygium assimile. We therefore designate a lectotype and recircumscribe Syzygium assimile.