Notes on Euphorbiaceae in the Mascarene Islands: I

Abstract

Summary. Species of three native Mascarene genera are discussed. Phyllanthus pileostigma, P. phillyreifolius Poir. vars. crassistigma, gracilipes and stylifer are described. The combination Lautembergia neraudiana is made. The relationships between Drypetes and Guya are discussed; Guya integrifolia (Vahl) Perrier (Lightfootia integrifolia Vahl) is shown to have been misinterpreted in the past and is reduced to the synonymy of Aphloia theiformis (Vahl) Benn. in Flacourtiaceae. In this paper, the genera Drypetes, Lautembergia and Phyllanthus are considered; a later paper will be concerned with Acalypha and Claoxylon. The work was done during the preparation of an account of Euphorbiaceae for the 'Flore des Mascareignes'. Thanks are due to the Directors or Curators of the Arnold Arboretum; Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris; Sugar Industry Research Institute, Mauritius; Herbier du Centre d'Enseignement Sup6rieur Scientifique (La Reunion), for sending material to Kew on loan during the course of the study and to the Directors of the British Museum (Natural History), Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques, Geneva and Mus6um National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris for permission for me to study specimens on my recent visits to those institutions. In addition to the standard herbarium abbreviations, REU is used as the abbreviation for the 'Herbier du Centre d'Enseignement Superieur Scientifique (La Reunion)'. All cited specimens have been seen unless otherwise indicated.