Again on the typification of the generic name Notholaena R. Brown

Abstract

Summary R. TRYON (1987) has recently enlarged the circumscription of the fern genus Paraceterach and has transferred to it also Acrostichum marantae, the type of the generic name Notholaena. This treatment is based on the assumption that the latter name has to be typified by Pteris trichomanoides according to the first lectotypification of it by JOHN SMITH in 1875. However, this lectotypification is questionable and therefore in 1980 R. and A. TRYON made the proposal to conserve Notholaena with Pteris trichomanoides as its type. The proposal was examined by the Special Committee for Pteridophyta but was rejected. In spite of it, Tryon has carried on adopting Smith's typification, even in the above-mentioned paper dealing with Paraceterach. Nowhere, whether intentionally or not it is difficult to say, does Tryon mention the rejection of the proposal to conserve Pteris trichomanoides as type of Notholaena. However, this rejection is important since it sanctions that Smith's first typification may be superseded. Therefore the traditional lectotypification of Notholaena by N. marantae made by CHRISTENSEN in 1906, stands as in the past, when it was nearly unanimously adopted. In this case, if Paraceterach and Notholaena were considered as a single genus, its name ought to be Notholaena. However, in the author's opinion, they represent two distinct genera. When the generic name Notholaena is typified by N. marantae, the species provided as a rule with farinose fronds ascribed to Notholaena by R. and A. TRYON (1982) cannot be included in this genus. They are regarded as belonging to two distinct genera: Chrysochosma, described by KüMMERLE in 1914, and Argyrochosma, established by WINDHAM in 1987. Twentythree species are here ascribed to Chrysochosma and the following new combination are established: Chr. affinis, Chr. aliena, Chr. angusta, Chr. aschenborniana, Chr. aurantiaca, Chr. californica Chr. candida var. copelandii, Chr. cubensis, Chr. ekmanii, Chr. galapagensis, Chr. galeottii, Chr. grayi, Chr. greggii, Chr. lemmonii, Chr. lemmonii var. australis, Chr. leonina, Chr. neglecta, Chr. rigida, Chr. rosei, Chr. schaffneri, Chr. Schaffneri var. nealleyi, Chr. trichomanoides, Chr. weatherbiana.