Search

In this study, we analysed leaf cuticle characters of 61 collections from 13 Cryptocarya species recognised in Brazil, of which 11 are considered endemic, and one Costa Rican collection of an unidentified species. Most Cryptocarya species studied have predominantly undulate anticlinal epidermal walls on the adaxial surface, butterfly-shaped stomatal ledges and the stomatal complex protruding and arching over the stomatal slit with a rim resembling two kidneys facing each other (reniform rims). Analysis of a matrix of six leaf cuticle qualitative characters and 19 states, most of them illustrated here for the first time by light and scanning electron microscopy, allowed us to distinguish these taxa. Based on these characters, two Brazilian Cryptocarya species can be easily separated from the others by their predominantly straight anticlinal epidermal walls adaxially and the almost flat surface appearance of the stomatal complex.

The names Galinsoga megapotamica and G. uniflora (Asteraceae) are investigated. Specimens from Kurt Sprengel’s private herbarium, currently at the Paris Herbarium (P), are designated as lectotypes. These names are currently recognized under Hymenoxys and Helenium, respectively. Galinsoga megapotamica is proposed as a new heterotypic synonym of Hymenoxys tweediei, having nomenclatural priority over the latter, therefore I here propose its nomenclatural transfer as Hymenoxys megapotamica comb. nov. (≡ G. megapotamica). Similarly, Galinsoga uniflora is proposed as a new heterotypic synonym of Actinea heterophylla and Helenium radiatum (≡ Cephalophora radiata). Although Actinea heterophylla has nomenclatural priority over both G. uniflora and C. radiata, the epithet heterophyllum is unavailable in Helenium due to H. heterophyllum published by Candolle. Since Galinsoga uniflora is the next earliest legitimate name at the same rank, its final epithet is to be used instead, under Art. 14.1 of the ICN, thus a new combination is proposed: Helenium uniflorum comb. nov. (≡ G. uniflora). Additionally, lectotypes for the names Conyza oblongifolia, Hymenoxys tweediei and Onoseris stricta are designated, and remarks about the provenance of Friedrich Sellow’s collections related to Sprengel’s names in Asteraceae are also provided.

The names Erigeron dubius, E. montevidensis, E. resinosus, and E. filiformis (Asteraceae) are investigated. Specimens from Kurt Sprengel’s private herbarium, kept at the Paris Herbarium (P), are designated as lectotypes. Erigeron dubius and E. resinosus are currently recognized under Hysterionica, whereas E. montevidensis and E. filiformis are treated under Neja. Based on the original material, Erigeron dubius and E. resinosus are proposed as new heterotypic synonyms of Hysterionica nidorelloides, having equal nomenclatural priority over the latter, therefore I here propose a nomenclatural transfer as Hysterionica resinosa comb. nov. (≡ E. resinosus). Erigeron montevidensis is proposed as a new heterotypic synonym of Neja filiformis, whose basionym is E. filiformis. Additionally, lectotypes for the names Neja gracilis and N. linearifolia are designated.

In the present communication, after checking fossil plant names in the International Fossil Plant Names Index (IFPNI 2014–onwards), the homonymy of two fossil and extant species names of Ocotea Aublet (1775: 780) has been detected and resolved. Ocotea alata van der Werff (1991: 416) (extant) is replaced by a new name O. loretensis nom. nov., because of the earlier homonym O. alata Givulescu (1975: 173) (fossil leaves), according to Article 53.1 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). Similarly, O. morona-santiagoensis nom. nov. is proposed to replace the later illegitimate homonym O. pilosa van der Werff (2020: 220) (extant) non O. pilosa Givulescu (1975: 172) (fossil leaves). An additional homonym was found in extant Litsea Lamarck (1792: 574) that is preoccupied by a fossil. However, since it is currently recognized as a taxonomic synonym of Litsea tomentosa Blume (1826: 566), there is no need to create a nomen novum for it.

Three South-American new species belonging to Cinnamomum, Mezilaurus, and Williamodendron, are described and illustrated from specimens collected in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. The new species are Cinnamomum baitelloanum, Mezilaurus sessiliflora, and Williamodendron itamarajuensis. Their putative relationships within the respective genus are discussed.

In this work we propose the recognition of two well defined morpho-types of Pteridium from eastern South America: P. arachnoideum subsp. arachnoideum s. str., wide-spread from north-eastern Brazil southwards to north-eastern Argentina and Uruguay, and P. arachnoideum subsp. campestre, comb. et stat. nov., endemic to north-eastern Brazil. Inevitably, we propose a narrower circumscription for P. arachnoideum subsp. arachnoideum , being restricted to eastern South America and characterized by free lobes between the distal segments, veins abaxially lanose with lax arachnoid hairs, and laminar tissue between the veins abaxially without farinose appearance, glabrous and visible (total absence of gnarled hairs). This morphological pattern is constant and stable in all 191 specimens studied (including living specimens), and geographically related. Plants from western South America and Central America, previously ascribed to P. arachnoideum s.l., shall be better reclassified into at least one other subspecies—for which no published name is current available. This is morphologically distinct and geographically segregated from P. arachnoideum subsp. arachnoideum s. str. by the South American Dry Diagonal. Based on stomatal guard-cells length, the two morpho-types from eastern South America are presumably diploid. We provide lectotypifications for the two taxa, complete and new synonymies, descriptions, illustrations, light microscopy images, distribution maps, and detailed information about the Pteridium specimens gathered in Brazil by Maximilian, the Prince of Wied, in the early 19 th Century. We also indicate overlooked morphological characteristics with taxonomical value within the genus.

The manuscripts of Diarium Surinamicum by Daniel Rolander practically remained ignored and unpublished for over 240 years, till the recent publication of its translation into English, which occurred in 2008. In this, the names of species described and/or cited by Rolander were faithfully retained, hence preserving the indication of them without authorship, for the vast majority. In the present work, all the names of plants that were treated by Rolander in his journal, about 664, including by tradition the fungi and algae, are contextualised in relation to the authorship, reference to the publication of the protologue, pagination of citations/descriptions in the manuscripts and in the published translation, indication of probable misidentifications with possible alternative names, vernacular names, and related literature. Additionally, we searched for the vouchers collected by Rolander, scattered in several herbaria, which have been linked to the probable names and descriptions in the diary. Given the considerable time till the publication of these names, and by the lack of indication of their nomenclatural types in the English version, the great majority of the new species described by Rolander, which would have priority if published in due time, became invalid names according to the ICN. Nevertheless, the list of Rolandrian species here presented, from his work that has finally taken a place in the history of natural sciences, shows that he was also a competent botanist, besides being a skilled entomologist, having recognised and detailedly described many of the Surinamese plants hitherto unknown to science.

In 1775, Jacob Alm defended the Linnaean dissertation Plantae Surinamenses under the precidency of Carolus Linnaeus. In this account of Surinamese plants preserved in alcohol, given to Linnaeus by the King Gustavus III of Sweden, 148 species were treated, 117 of them with species names determined. Fifteen other species were indicated as new, but were neither described nor named, and 16 species were identified only to genus level. Here, the taxonomic identity and nomenclatural status of those names are updated and discussed. Five of the 117 names and also 11 of their synonyms, a species name described by Rottboll and ten described by Linnaeus filius are lectotypified. Two new combinations and a new name are proposed, and two new synonyms are established.