Abstract
SUMMARY A discussion of the taxonomy and nomenclature of the West African representatives of the genera Aspilia, Blainvillea and Wedelia (COMPOSITAE— Helianthoideae), while drawing attention to misconceptions which have confused the proper understanding of the constituent taxa in the past, leads to a re-assessment of the value of certain morphological features and results in the following conclusions:— 1. The genus Wedelia is not indigenous in West Africa being represented only by the introduced Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc. 2. The genus Blainvillea is represented by the single indigenous species Blainvillea gayana Cass. 3. The critical distinction between Aspilia and the other two genera rests in the fertility of the ray florets, i. e. the capacity of these florets to develop mature achenes rather than the mere presence of styles and stigmas. The existence of species of Aspilia which possess « functionless » styles and stigmas is of interest in relation to the evolution of sterility in that genus. In on...
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