A Taxonomic Revision of the Lathberry Clade of <i>Eugenia</i> (Myrtaceae)

Abstract— The Lathberry Clade includes seven species of Eugenia sect. Umbellatae (Myrtaceae) distributed from Puerto Rico through the Lesser Antilles. Members are trees and shrubs distinguished other Antillean by a combination dull twigs, glabrous leaves with raised midvein, glomerate or fasciculate inflorescences predominantly borne below on old wood, closely spaced ascending inflorescence bracts, spheroidal fruits turning red purple at maturity calyx lobes erect spreading often torn away, unique, large deletion in plastid psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region. We examined morphology, leaf venation, seed coat anatomy constructed phylogeny using non-coding nuclear genetic regions. taxonomic treatment key to species, distribution maps, extinction risk assessments. recognize sintenisii E. cordata var. caribaea (nom. nov.) Antilles place synonymize earhartii stirpiflora . Six lectotypes designated.