Illegitimate Name Research Articles

Notes on Gunnera (Gunneraceae) in Brazil and Uruguay

Nomenclatural notes on the species of Gunnera that occur in Brazil and Uruguay are presented. More specifically, I designate a lectotype for the name G. herteri, the only species in Gunnera subg. Ostenigunnera, selected from among the collections of MVM, where Cornelius Osten’s personal herbarium is conserved. I also designate a lectotype for the name G. brasiliensis, a legitimate heterotypic synonym of G. manicata, which has been considered by some authors as an illegitimate, superfluous name. Furthermore, I provide an identification key to Gunnera in Brazil and Uruguay.

Lijndenia meeusei, the correct name for the species previously known as L. lutescens (Melastomataceae, Olisbeoideae)

Stone, R.D. (2018). Lijndenia meeusei, the correct name for the species previously known as L. lutescens (Melastomataceae, Olisbeoideae). Candollea 73: 257–259. In English, English and French abstracts. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2018v732a10Under the principle of priority, the new combination Lijndenia meeusei (H. Perrier) R.D. Stone (Melastomataceae, Olisbeoideae) is the correct name for the species previously known as Lijndenia lutescens (Naudin) Jacq.-Fél. Use of the superfluous name Lijndenia memecyloides R.D. Stone must therefore be abandoned.

A BRIEF REVIEW ON PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CARISSA SPINARUM L.

Carissa spinarum L. belongs the Apocynaceae family, which officially itself has 94 synonyms and misspelled, misapplied, invalid, and illegitimate names. The plant is known as “Magic Shrub” in some of the African countries, as it is a source of treatment for various diseases and disorders. The plant contains certain major bioactive constituents such as acids, glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins which are responsible for medicinal value. Traditionally, the plant is used for treatment of malaria, chest complaints, stomach-ache, diarrhea, worms, a cough remedy, eye cataracts, gastric ulcers, polio, cancer, hypertension, kidney complication and for treating herpes, infertility, diabetes, asthma, rheumatism, and infections such as gonorrhea, syphilis, sickle-cell anemia, hernia, rabies, typhoid fever, jaundice, sexual asthenia in males, measles, and as a cough expectorant. Apart from this, the plant is evaluated for various pharmacological activities by employing the animal models. The review has been written with the aim to provide a direction for further clinical research to promote safe and effective herbal treatments to cure a number of diseases.

Nomina nonnulla nova familiae rubiacearum florae mexicanae

Two species was described as new ones and published in the second edition of the monograph: Rubiáceas de México utilized illegitimate names, which turned to be invalid synonyms (Govaerts 2016). These are rectified in the following paper.

Arabis columnalis, a new synonym of Turritis glabra L. (Brassicaceae), and lectotypification

Arabis columnalis Nakai (1914: 271) was described by Nakai (1914) as endemic to Korea, based on a single gathering (T. Nakai 401) collected in Jirisan (Mt.) in South Korea (Fig. 1). In the protologue, Nakai (1914) mentioned that A. columnalis is different from A. perfoliata Lamarck (1783: 219) in having perennial roots of cylindrical shape. The latter binominal is a superfluous illegitimate name for Turritis glabra Linnaeus (1753: 666) (ICN Art. 11.3; McNeill et al. 2012) and hence is necessarily conspecific with T. glabra (Zhou et al. 2001, Warwick et al. 2006, Chang et al. 2014).

Watsonia vicschuettei (Iridaceae, Watsonieae), a replacement name for the illegitimate Watsonia palustris

A newly discovered South African species of Watsonia Miller (1758: 184), family Iridaceae Jussieu (1789: 57), was described as Watsonia palustris Goldblatt & Manning (2016: 151). During the process of digitizing Watsonia holdings in the Bews Herbarium (NU) we realised that this name is illegitimate according to Art. 53.1 of the ICN (McNeill et al. 2012). Watsonia palustris Goldblatt & J.C.Manning is a later homonym of W. palustris Persoon (1805:43), in itself a superfluous name for Dierama pendulum (Linnaeus f. 1781: 91) Baker (1877: 99). We present a replacement name for this taxon here.

On the neglected Scopoli’s name Senecio littoralis (Compositae) and its nomenclatural implications

The taxonomic identity of Scopoli’s Senecio littoralis is discussed in order to support that this neglected name should be synonymized under Dittrichia viscosa. On the other hand, the name Senecio falklandicus is retrieved as the priority name for a Falkland species widely accepted in the latest years under the illegitimate name S. littoralis described by Gaudichaud-Beaupré. The Scopoli’s name S. littoralis is neotypified and a new lectotype is designated for the name S. falklandicus according to ICN 9.19(b).

Early Land Plants Today: Index of Liverworts & Hornworts 2015–2016

A widely accessible list of known plant species is a fundamental requirement for plant conservation and has vast uses. An index of published names of liverworts and hornworts between 2015 and 2016 is provided as part of a continued effort in working toward maintaining an updated world checklist of these groups. The list herein includes 64 higher taxon names, 225 specific names, 35 infraspecific names, two infrageneric autonyms and 21 infraspecific autonyms for 2015 and 2016, including also names of fossils and invalid and illegitimate names. Thirty-three older names omitted in the earlier indices are included.

Two illegitimate superfluous names in Premna (Lamiaceae, Premnoideae)

When compiling Flora Yunnanica, Wu (1977) described six new species in the genus Premna Linnaeus (1771: 587), including P. laevigata Wu (1977: 440), P. oligantha Wu (1977: 434), P. punicea Wu (1977: 433), P. rubroglandulosa Wu (1977: 431), P. straminicaulis Wu (1977: 426), and P. velutina Wu (1977: 428). All these species were recognized in the account of Premna of Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (P’ei & Chen, 1982), and in its English updated edition, Flora of China (Chen & Gilbert, 1994). Unfortunately, P. laevigata C.Y.Wu and P. velutina C.Y.Wu are two illegitimate names according to Art. 53.1 of the ICN (McNeill et al. 2012) because they are later homonyms of P. laevigata Miquel (1858: 895) and P. velutina Gürke (1895: 338), respectively. The illegitimacy of the two names was later realized by Boufford & Bartholomew (2012) and Li et al. (2013), proposing the names P. wuii (noting this “wuii” as “wui”) Boufford & Bartholomew (2012: 1) to replace the name P. velutina C.Y.Wu, and P. menglaensis Li (2013: 58) to replace the name P. laevigata C.Y.Wu, respectively.

Nomenclatural changes and typifications of Arctotis species (Asteraceae, Arctotideae) from the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa

In preparation for the treatment of Arctotis L. (Asteraceae) in the e-Flora of South Africa project, the correct names, typifications and synonymies are clarified for 24 Arctotis species and two varieties indigenous to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Lectotypes are designated for 36 names and neotypes for two names. The names A. glabrata Jacq., A. paniculata Jacq. and A. spinulosa Jacq. are resurrected for poorly known, apparently geographically restricted species. Arctotis roodae Hutch. is the correct name at specific rank for the taxon previously known as A. campanulata var. puberula DC. Arctotis laciniata Lam. is the earliest legitimate name for an element of the A. aspera species complex, to which the name A. revoluta Jacq. has often been applied. The name A. revoluta Jacq. correctly applies to a distinct, unrelated species, for which a revised synonymy is presented. A lectotype is designated for the illegitimate name A. undulata Jacq., the earliest legitimate name for which is A. acaulis var. undulata Less.

Justicia segoviaensis, a new name for Justicia micrantha (Oerst.) V.A.W.Graham (Acanthaceae)

Justicia micrantha (Oerst.) Graham (1988: 603) is a Central American species originally described by Oersted as Chaetothylopsis micrantha Oersterd (1855: 163). However, it is illegitimate name under Art. 53.1 of the ICN (McNeill et al., 2012) because an earlier homonym Justicia micrantha Wall. ex Clarke (1885: 536) already exist for another Indian plant. Therefore, a new name, Justicia segoviaensis, is proposed here for the later homonym, J. micrantha (Oerst.) V.A.W. Graham.

Nomenclature of Caroxylon imbricatum s.lat. (Amaranthaceae / Chenopodiaceae), with a new combination at variety rank

A nomenclatural study of the names linked to the critical Caroxylon imbricatum is presented. The names Chenopodium baryosmon, Salsola foetida var. gaetula, S. foetida var. glabrescens, S. foetida var. hirtipetala, S. foetida var. scopiformis, and S. imbricata were studied. Salsola foetida Delile ex Sprengel is lectotypified on a specimen preserved at MPU, while for Chenopodium baryosmon we clarified the statement by Botschantzev (lectotype at BM). Isolectotypes of C. baryosmon are deposited at BM, BR, E, G, K, M, and LE. Salsola foetida Delile ex Moquin-Tandon is an illegitimate name and a homotypic synonym of C. barysmon (Art. 52.2 of the ICN). A taxonomic treatment of the C. imbricatum group is proposed, with two species recognised: C. imbricatum s.lat. (incl. var. imbricatum and var. hirtipetalum comb. nov.) and C. gaetulum.

A Nomenclatural Rectification in the Widespread East Asian Species ofDilutineuron(Bryophyta, Grimmiaceae)

Bednarek-Ochyra, H. & Ochyra, R. 2017. A nomenclatural rectification in the widespread East Asian species of Dilutineuron (Bryophyta, Grimmiaceae). — Herzogia 30: 362–369.A taxonomic and nomenclatural history of the two East Asian species, Dilutineuron anomodontoides and Racomitrium canaliculatum, is presented. The name of the latter species was validly published in 1905 and it antedates by three years the name of the former species which was validly published in 1908. Accordingly, a new combination, Dilutineuron canaliculatum, is proposed and this is the correct name for the widely distributed East Asian species known until now as D. anomodontoides. Racomitrium anomodontoides, R. bandaiense, R. bandaiense var. ramosum, R. fasciculare var. brachyphyllum, R. fasciculare var. erosum, R. fasciculare var. perrobustum, R. formosicum, R. nipponicum, and R. yakushimense are considered to be new synonyms of Dilutineuron canaliculatum. Racomitrium hedwigioides is an illegitimate name because it applied to the species including the type of the earlier name R. canaliculatum which was considered as R. hedwigioides var. canaliculatum.

Bronisław Błocki’s taxa of Salvia (Lamiaceae): clarification of their status and typification of names

Nine taxa of Salvia published by Bronisław Błocki (1854–1919), a famous investigator of the flora of Galicia (the territory of western Ukraine and southeastern Poland), are examined and discussed. For four validly published names types are designated, a lectotype for each S. dubia and S. ×andrzejowskii, a neotype for each S. ×kerneri and S. ×skofitzii. The illegitimate name S. dubia together with S. ×andrzejowskii should be treated as heterotypic synonym of the accepted name S. ×sylvestris. The name S. ×kerneri is proposed to be accepted for the hybrid S. dumetorum × S. nutans, with S. ×skofitzii as a heterotypic synonym.

Senecio subser. Polyphylli, a New Name for Senecio subsect. Radiati (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) from Southern South America

Senecio L. subsect. Radiati Cabrera, an illegitimate name, is replaced with the name Senecio subser. Polyphylli Giuliano, M. P. Hernandez & S. E. Freire, nom. nov.; the epithet of the replacement name refers to the type species of this subsection, S. polyphyllus Kunze ex DC. The epithet Radiati was previously published by Bentham to designate a series of Senecio.

A phylogenetic and morphological overview of sections Bohusia, Sanguinolenti, and allied sections within Agaricus subg. Pseudochitonia with three new species from France, Iran, and Portugal

The genus Agaricus was recently rearranged to accommodate numerous tropical taxa. Accordingly, the genus was split into six subgenera and 22 sections of which 12 are included in A. subg. Pseudochitonia. Preliminary data indicated that three putative new species belong to this subgenus. Our objectives were to describe these species, to determine to which sections they belong, and to experience the interest of some traditional traits in this new context. We morphologically described Agaricus coniferarum from France and Portugal, Agaricus iranicus from Iran, and Agaricus lusitanicus from Portugal. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, and tef1 sequence data of representatives of the 12 sections clearly indicated that A. coniferarum and A. lusitanicus are placed in Agaricus sect. Bohusia, while A. iranicus is in A. sect. Sanguinolenti. Incidentally, we replaced the illegitimate name Agaricus magnivelaris by Agaricus fiardianus. In a phylogenetic tree, based on all available ITS sequence data and focussing on six related sections, we examined the phylogenetic distribution of various characters. The intensity of red discolouration when the sporocarp is rubbed or cut appeared as a phylogenetically weak informative trait. We propose a determination key leading to a group of three hardly distinguishable sections (Bohusia, Nigrobrunnescentes, and Sanguinolenti).

Nomenclatural novelties and taxonomic changes for extant and fossil Populus (Salicaceae)

Several new names are proposed for extant and fossil Populus. P. hastifolia Doweld nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name for the extant P. lancifolia N. Chao, a later homonym of the fossil name P. lancifolia A. Braun. P. neimongolica Doweld nom. nov. is published for the illegitimate name P. platyphylla T. Y. Sun, a later homonym of P. platyphylla (Gopp.) Schimp. P. trinervifolia Doweld nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name for the extant P. trinervis Z. Wang & S. L. Tung, a later homonym of the fossil name P. trinervis J. W. Dawson, with an additional recombination of its regional variety: P. trinervifolia var. shimianica (Z. Wang & N. Chao) Doweld comb. nov. P. simonioides Doweld sp. nov. is proposed instead of the invalidly published P. sinensis H.-M. Li. The fossil name P. latior A. Braun is resurrected because a synonym, P. populina (Brongn.) Knobloch, which is in current use, was found to be a later illegitimate homonym of another fossil name P. populina Jarm. Both fossil names, P. latior A. Braun, P. lancifolia A. Braun and P. zaddachii Heer, are neotypified. A new combination, P. populifolia (Krasnow) Doweld comb. nov. is proposed for a distinctive Eocene-Oligocene fossil poplar, with the names for the fossil P. amplifolia Pimenova and P. germanica (Menzel) Walther (Menispermites germanicus Menzel) placed into synonymy on account of priority; in addition the species is lectotypified.

Diversity of arborescent lineages of Crotoneae (Euphorbiaceae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest

We conducted fieldwork and herbarium research to investigate the morphological diversity, taxonomy, and geographic distribution of arborescent lineages of tribe Crotoneae (Euphorbiaceae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest domain, a neotropical region considered one of the world’s hot spots of biodiversity. We found that arborescent lineages of Crotoneae are represented in the Atlantic Rain Forest by two genera (Croton and Brasiliocroton) and 23 species. Of this total, 70% of the species are endemic to the Atlantic Rain Forest. The genus Brasiliocroton, which is endemic to Brazil, includes two species, and Croton is represented by 21 species. We provide identification keys, update morphological description of key characters, include pertinent taxonomic comments, and illustrate most of the studied species with live photographs to facilitate taxonomic identification. The conservation status of each species is also evaluated. We establish five new synonyms, one superfluous name, and nine lectotypifications.

Moringa frequently asked questions

The moringa tree Moringa oleifera is increasingly being studied for numerous properties of applied interest. In the course of work on these properties, many questions arise from both scientists and potential consumers. Here I address some of the most common such questions. I explain that moringa's correct scientific name is Moringa oleifera Lam., and that Moringa pterygosperma is not a synonym but an illegitimate name. The wild range of Moringa oleifera is unknown but it might be native of lowland northwestern India. It is cultivated in all tropical countries, but it is probably best to avoid saying that it is “naturalized” because some uses of this word imply that the plant has become invasive. There are thirteen described species in the genus Moringa, but additional new species probably await description, especially in northeast Africa. Traditionally, leaves of Moringa oleifera, M. concanensis, and M. stenopetala are eaten, and the tubers of young M. peregrina are sometimes eaten roasted. All other species have local medicinal uses. Current commercial use so far emphasizes M. oleifera dried leaf meal in capsules, often touting protein content. Simple calculations show that capsules have negligible protein nutritional value. Such use in pill form rather than as a food leads to the frequent question of whether moringa has “side effects”. A review of studies shows that moringa has low levels of trypsin inhibitors, tannins, saponins, and lectins, meaning that there is no reason to expect that normal levels of consumption would lead to discomfort from these compounds. Nearly 40% of moringa calcium may be present in the form of oxalates, but current data suggest that these are insoluble, excreted, and do not contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Goitrogenic glucosinolates are probably absent, and if present are probably in very low concentrations. Moringa might have abortifacient potential, especially in concentrates. Given its usefulness and relative lack of antinutritional factors, there is global interest in growing moringa, so I examine its climate preferences. Moringa oleifera is a plant of the lowland dry tropics, growing best in places where annual low temperatures do not dip below 15°C, rainfall is less than 1500 mm and distributed in one or two rainy seasons, and below 500 m a.s.l. I conclude by underscoring the need for studies of all of these aspects across the entire diversity within M. oleifera and across the genus.

Acanthocladus dichromus, a new combination for a South American Polygalaceae

The effort to revise all Neotropical Polygala names has revealed the oldest valid epithet for the species known as Acanthocladus albicans to be Polygala dichroma Steudel, which has been overlooked for more than 175 years. This name was published as a replacement for the illegitimate name Polygala bicolor [Arrab.] Vellozo non Kunth. A new combination Acanthocladus dichromus, is provided here as well as the typification of the all names involved.