Lectotypification of two African species of Commelina (Commelinaceae), with the description of new taxa from Madagascar and Tanzania

Author: Faden R.B.

Source: Taxon, Volume 52, Number 4, 1 November 2003 , pp. 831-836(6)

Publisher: International Association for Plant Taxonomy

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Abstract:

Commelina scandens C.B. Clarke and Commelina purpurea C.B. Clarke were typified by syntypes that belong to different species. Accordingly, each species is lectotypified, and the taxonomic consequences of the lectotypifications are discussed. Commelina scandens is lectotypified by a specimen from Angola, with the result that the species is confined to continental Africa. A new subspecies, Commelina diffusa Burm.f. subsp. violacea Faden, is described for the Madagascan element in Clarke's C. scandens. Commelina purpurea is lectotypified by the syntype from Kenya, resulting in C. lugardii Bullock and C. kabarensis De Wild. being placed in synonymy under C. purpurea. The other element in Clarke's C. purpurea is described as a new species C. pseudopurpurea Faden.

Keywords: AFRICA; COMMELINA PURPUREA; COMMELINA SCANDENS; COMMELINACEAE; LECTOTYPIFICATION

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: United States National Herbarium, Department of Systematic Biology-Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Sm ithsonian Institution, MRC-166, P.O . Box 37012, Washington, D .C. 20013, U.S.A.

Publication date: 2003-11-01

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