A species of Myrcia (Myrtaceae) bearing distinctive star-shaped fruits has been observed in the Vale Natural Reserve in Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brazil, for the last 20 years, and was informally named star myrtle (Portuguese: araçá-estrela). During ongoing taxonomic studies of Myrcia from this region it became apparent that the star myrtle was a new species to science, here described as Myrcia stellaris. This species resembles M. racemosa, but differs mainly in glabrous branchlets, inflorescence rachises, hypanthia, and outer surface of sepals (vs. covered with trichomes in M. racemosa) and fruits with five longitudinal ridges (vs. without ridges in M. racemosa). Further investigations expanded the distribution of M. stellaris based on a specimen collected in the municipality of Castelo. The new species is illustrated and information on habitat, phenology, affinities, and conservation status are provided.

在过去的 20 年里，在巴西圣埃斯皮里图(Espírito Santo)的林哈雷斯(Linhares) 的淡水河谷自然保护区观察到了一种具有独特星形果实的桃金娘 (Myrtaceae) ， 并非正式地命名为星桃金娘 (葡萄牙语：araçá-estrela )。在对该地区正在进行的Myrcia分类学研究中，很明显，星桃金娘是科学界的一个新物种，这里被称为Myrcia stellaris。这种与M.总状，但不同之处主要在无毛小枝，花序穗轴，hypanthia，和萼片（相对于在覆盖有毛状体的外表面M.鹃）中，用5个纵向脊（相对于水果没有在脊部M.总状）。根据在 Castelo 市收集的标本，进一步的调查扩大了M. stellaris的分布。对新物种进行了说明，并提供了有关栖息地、物候、亲缘关系和保护状况的信息。