Ecclinusa nervosa (Sapotaceae, Chrysophylloideae), a New Species Discovered in Central Amazonia

A new tree species of Ecclinusa (Sapotaceae, Chrysophylloideae) from Central Amazonia is described and illustrated. It occurs in non-flooded upland forests (terra-firme) in the municipalities of Manaus, Presidente Figueiredo, and Rio Preto da Eva in Amazonas state, Brazil. Ecclinusa nervosa sp. nov. resembles E. ulei, E. parviflora, and the sympatric E. guianensis, as these species share overall similar foliage at first sight. However, it differs by the combination of the presence of intersecondary veins (vs. absent in all congeners, except in E. lancifolia) and flowers with a sparse tomentulose indumentum inside the sepals (vs. glabrous inside in all congeners, except in E. ramiflora and E. psilophylla) and shorter styles (≤ 0.7 mm long vs. > 0.7 mm long in the morphologically similar taxa). We compare the new species with similar taxa through diagnostic morphological features, geometric morphometrics, and infrared spectral analyses of dried leaves. Additionally, we provide information on habitat, distribution, phenology, and a preliminary conservation assessment. An identification key for Ecclinusa species from the Brazilian Amazonia is also presented.