A new species of Myrcia s. lat. (Myrtaceae) from the eastern Amazon

Abstract Myrcia spiciformis , a new species from the eastern Amazon, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by twigs with dense rufous pubescence, a spiciform panicle, pedicels absent or up to 3 mm long, and flowers with 4–5 sepals. The staminal ring is glabrous and the hypanthium is pubescent. Morphologically, M . spiciformis is related to M . coumete . The new species is endemic to the Amazon Biome, with records from Maranhão and Pará states, where it grows in both non-flooded upland ( terra-firme ) and seasonally flooded ( várzea ) forests. It is provisionally assessed as Endangered (EN) according to the IUCN Red List criteria, due to restricted distribution of the species and vegetation loss resulting from anthropogenic pressure in the occurrence area.