South Pacific Cleistocalyx Transferred to Syzygium (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

Evidence from both morphological and molecular phylogenetic data support the view that the circumscissile calycine calyptra, the sole defining character of Cleistocalyx, has multiple origins within Syzygium s. l. and is therefore an invalid basis for generic circumscription. Accordingly, the Fijian Cleistocalyx are transferred to Syzygium, and the new combinations Syzygium decussatus, S. eugenioides and S. seemannii, are made. Syzygium myrtoides is reinstated, and Cleistocalyx ellipticus, C. longiflorus, C. kasiensis and C. seemannii var. punctatus are reduced to the synonymy of S. seemannii. The distribution of S. seemannii is extended to Vanuatu.