Abstract
When working on the taxonomy of the species of Zornia Pers. occurring in Africa, one of us (E.M.-R.) realized that the epithet diphylla, hitherto widely used for African plants, could not rightly be applied to any African species of Zornia. In his paper on 'Zornia in Tropical Africa' (in Bol. Soc. Brot., ser. 2, 28: 79 (I954)) he states that we have 'most conclusively solved' the problem as to what is Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. This solution has been accepted by R. H. Mohlenbrock in 'A monograph of the Leguminous genus Zornia' (in Webbia 16: 67 (1961)), but not by M. S. van Meeuwen, H. P. Nooteboom & C. G. G. J. van Steenis (in Reinwardtia 5: 453 (i96I)) who continue to refer the Malaysian species to a pan-tropical species called Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers.! In view of this, we have decided to publish the facts and arguments on which our conclusions are based. The basionym of Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. is Hedysarum diphyllum L., of which the protologue in Linnaeus's 'Species Plantarum': 747 (I753) is as follows :
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
