Revision of Eugenia and Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from the Comoros archipelago

Abstract

A taxonomic revision of all native Myrtaceae genera (Eugenia and Syzygium) of the Comoros is presented based on herbarium specimens and molecular and palynological evidence. Eight native species are recognised, seven of which are endemic to the archipelago. We describe the following five new native species: Eugenia choungiensis, E. pascaliana, Syzygium comorense, S. labatii, and S. tringiense. Eugenia anjouanensis is reduced to synonymy under E. comorensis. Lobed stigmas are reported for the first time in Eugenia and only the second time in Myrtaceae. Androdioecy is reported in Eugenia for the first time outside of continental Africa, and its reproductive system is discussed in light of our findings. Preliminary conservation assessments for each native species are calculated according to IUCN Red List criteria, with the majority being threatened with extinction. Recent fieldwork coupled with widespread habitat conversion in the vicinity of the only known specimen suggests strongly that S. humblotii is now extinct.

Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of a Medicinal Soap Made from Zingiber officinale and Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oils

“…Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. They are originated from the Maluku Islands in Indonesia and are generally used as spice [5]. Ginger and cloves have several uses on the skin due to their anti-microbial, antiinflammatory, antiseptic property and antioxidant property which implies the inhibition of harmful free radicals that cause skin damage [6].…”

Herbs and Spices—New Processing Technologies.Syzygium aromaticum: Medicinal Properties and Phytochemical Screening

“…>70% is also necessary condition for their growth [4]. In India cloves tree are harvested in deep black loamy soil of humid tropics and successfully grows in the red soils of midlands of Kerala and in the hilly territory of Western Ghats in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu [5]. The aromatic flower buds which has characteristic odors of this plant are known as cloves and are commonly used as a spice and several therapeutic areas to treat variety of disease and infections like nausea, vomiting, cough, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, stomach distension, and gastrointestinal spasm; relieve pain; cause uterine contractions; and stimulate the nerves [6].…”

New Species, New Combinations, and Lectotypifications in New Caledonian Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae)

“…In addition to its richness in the New World tropics, Eugenia also has substantial levels of diversity in the paleotropics, particularly in Madagascar (Snow, 2008(Snow, , 2011Biffin et al, 2010 ;Snow et al, 2012Snow et al, , 2015, southern Asia, the Comoros (Byng et al, 2016), and New Caledonia. Given known but unpublished taxa in preparation (e.g., Snow et al, 2015), which includes perhaps 50 additional undescribed species from Madagascar and New Caledonia, we estimate that up to 30 % of the diversity of Eugenia may occur in the paleotropics.…”

“…Given known but unpublished taxa in preparation (e.g., Snow et al, 2015), which includes perhaps 50 additional undescribed species from Madagascar and New Caledonia, we estimate that up to 30 % of the diversity of Eugenia may occur in the paleotropics. Critically from a phylogenetic perspective, the paleotropical diversity in Eugenia appears to reflect a significant part of the known morphological variation in inflorescence morphology, calyx lobe fusion and splitting, flower size, fruit size and testal morphologies, as well as some characters not (yet) known in the neotropics, such as dioecy (van Wyk & lowrey, 1988 ;Byng et al, 2016). Inferring the phylogeny of the genus will benefit from proportional sampling across the Old and New Worlds.…”