Abstract
Syngonanthus weddellii var. gracilis Moldenke, (1973) was described very briefly based on a single collection. A careful analysis reveals that this variety has dimerous flowers, free petals of the pistillate flower and bifid stigmatic branches. It is therefore misplaced in Syngonanthus Ruhland (1900). We transfer it to Paepalanthus Mart. (1834) at the species level, as it is distinct from morphologically similar species: Paepalanthus flaccidus (Bong.) Koern. (1863), Paepalanthus trichophyllus (Bong.) Koern. (1863), and Paepalanthus strictus Koern. (1863). The epithet gracilis is no longer available, hence, we have coined the name Paepalanthus rectifolius. We also provide a full description, illustrations, a distribution map, and pertinent comments.
Highlights
Paepalanthus Mart. (1834) is one of the largest genera of Eriocaulaceae, comprising ca. 400 species (Giulietti and Hensold 1990, Stützel 1998). It is differentiated from Syngonanthus Ruhland (1900), which encompasses ca. 130 species, primarily by its completely free petals of the pistillate flower (Ruhland 1900, 1903)
Harold Norman Moldenke published hundreds of new Eriocaulaceae taxa, most of them based on the specimens of his personal herbarium, hosted in the LL herbarium, and on the specimens deposited in the NY herbarium
Many of these descriptions are quite short, especially those from taxa below the species level. The identification of such taxa is problematic, relying obligatorily on the analysis of the type specimens. Recent analysis of these specimens leads to the conclusion that Syngonanthus weddellii var. gracilis Moldenke (1973) is misplaced within Syngonanthus and should be considered a distinct species in Paepalanthus
Summary
Paepalanthus Mart. (1834) is one of the largest genera of Eriocaulaceae, comprising ca. 400 species (Giulietti and Hensold 1990, Stützel 1998). 130 species, primarily by its completely free petals of the pistillate flower (Ruhland 1900, 1903). Gracilis Moldenke (1973) is misplaced within Syngonanthus and should be considered a distinct species in Paepalanthus. Spathes 2.5–3.5 cm long, abaxial surface pubescent as the leaves, oblique opening, apex acute.
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