Catalogue of the Benjamin Balansa Moss Collections from Paraguay in Herbarium Genavense (G)

Abstract

Price, M. J. (2012). Catalogue of the Benjamin Balansa moss collections from Paraguay in Herbarium Genavense (G). Candollea 67: 153–179. In English, English and French abstracts.One of the most significant bryophyte collections from Paraguay is that of the Frenchman Benedict (Benjamin) Balansa. His collections were distributed to, amongst other institutions, B, BM, G, H-BR, L, NY and PC. In Geneva, Balansa collections can be found in the historical herbaria of Boissier, Reuter-Barbey, Barbey-Boissier and the non G-DC De Candolle collection which were all incorporated into the municipal herbarium (G) of the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève. The French bryologist Emile Bescherelle worked on the majority of the Balansa moss collections from Paraguay, describing 73 new species from amongst this material. With the purchase of Bescherelle's herbarium by the BM, Balansa's original Paraguay specimens came to reside there. A total of 390 specimens are present in G for 158 Balansa collection numbers, including 22 specimens for 15 previously unpublished Balansa numbers. The 158 collection numbers and 390 specimens in G cover 88 specific and infraspecific names that represent 67 currently accepted taxa and eight nomina nuda. Of the 390 specimens, 160 are types including 3 lectotypes, 28 isolectotypes, 19 isotypes and 110 syntypes. For each taxonomic entry, the place of publication, the collection number, current name, and for the types the type status and typification, if found, are provided. A complete list of the published Balansa collection numbers for the Paraguay mosses, including their current name, the name under which they were published and the place of publication, is also given herein.