A New Combination in Ampelocissus (Vitaceae), a Victim of Historic Deforestation in Nicaragua

Abstract

A neotype is selected for Vitisjavalensis Seemann, and V javalensis is transferred to Ampelocissus. Ampelocissus costaricensis Lundell is reduced to synonymy under Ampelocissus javalensis (Seemann) W. D. Stevens & A. Pool, comb. nov. Changes in vegetation of the Javalf gold and silver mines region (Santo Domingo/La Libertad) of Chontales, Nicaragua, the original published locality of V javalensis, are discussed. In 1869, Berthold Seemann described Vitis javalensis Seemann based on material observed in the Department of Chontales, Nicaragua in the vicinity of the Javali gold and silver mines. Living material was gathered and delivered to horticulturist William Bull of King's Road, Chelsea, England (Seemann, 1869). J. E. Planchon transferred Vitis javalensis to Cissus as Cissus javalensis (Seemann) Planchon, where it was included in his monograph of Ampelideae under Cissus.-Species pleraque dubiae as a nomen tantum (Planchon, 1887). Bull's retail list of new Plants, ann. 1870, p. 5, was cited in reference. In J. A. Lombardi's manuscript F1. Neotrop. Monogr. for Vitaceae-Generos Ampelocissus, Ampelopsis e Cissus (in press), Lombardi treats Cissus javalensis (Seemann) Planchon under Nomes duvidosos e taxa excluidos. A holotype, Seemann s.n., assumed to be at BM, was not located. In our efforts to prepare a written flora for Nicaragua, we are attempting to account for all names based on Nicaraguan material. Herbarium material of Vitis javalensis collected by Seemann was sought at the British Museum, where the primary set of Seemann's Nicaraguan material is housed, without success. Illustrations of Vitis or Cissus javalensis published by Seemann or Bull were also sought, again without success. Seemann described Vitis javalensis as a species with simple leaves with acute apices, cordate bases, mucronately-dentate margins, beautifully velutinous adaxial surfaces and purplish abaxial surfaces, and bright scarlet flowers. This description does not correspond to any Central American species of Cissus or Vitis. However Seemann's description is consistent with Lundell's description (Lundell, 1937) and specimens of Ampelocissus costaricensis Lundell, with the exception that the hairs of the leaves of the latter are better described as arach-