Kalanchoe sect. Alatae

Smith, Gideon F., 2023, A reassessment of combinations previously proposed or published for Kalanchoe subg. Alatae (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae), and its valid publication at the rank of subgenus, Phytotaxa 585 (1), pp. 61-66 : 62-63

Nomenclature of Kalanchoe sect. Alatae

Raymond-Hamet (1933: 542–548) discussed the taxonomic affinities of the two species today accepted as Kalanchoe porphyrocalyx (Baker 1883: 142) Baillon (1885: 469) ( Fig. 1 ) and Kalanchoe uniflora ( Stapf 1908: 258) Hamet (1910: 52) ( Fig. 2 ), and inter alia stated the following about them: “Mais si jadis, alors que nous ne connaissions pas encore les magnifiques matériaux récoltés par M. Perrier de la Bathie, matériaux dont l’étude a modifié beaucoup de nos idées sur la classification du genre Kalanchoe , nous avons proposé de ranger le K. uniflora dans notre groupe 9, c’est-à-dire dans le groupe constitué par les espèces de l’ancien genre Bryophyllum qu à tort, croyons-nous, Berger (3) [1930] a récemment rétabli, nous croyons aujourd’hui qu’il convient de créer, pour les K. uniflora et K. porphyrocalyx , une section nouvelle, la section Alatae que nous caractériserons comme suit: Plantes glabres ou couvertes de poils simples dès la base, à feuilles subentièrs ou plus ou moins crénelés. Calice à segments plus longs que le tube. Corolle à segments plus brefs que le tube, largement ovés. Etamines insérées au-dessous du milieu du tube de la corolle. Carpelles connés atténués en styles un peu plus longs ou un peu plus brefs qu’eux. Ecailles sublinéaires ou longuement ovées-sublinéaires. Graines ailées.” [English: “But at one time, when we did not yet know the beautiful materials collected by Mr Perrier de la Bâthie, the study of which changed many of our ideas on the classification of the genus Kalanchoe , we proposed the inclusion of Kalanchoe uniflora in our group 9, that is, in the group consisting of the species of the old genus Bryophyllum that we believe Berger (3) [1930] has recently mistakenly re-established. We believe today that it is appropriate to create, for Kalanchoe uniflora and Kalanchoe porphyrocalyx , a new section, the section Alatae that we will characterise as follows: Plants glabrous or basally covered with simple hairs, with leaves subentire or more or less crenulate. Calyx with segments longer than the [calyx] tube. Corolla with segments shorter than the [corolla] tube, more or less ovate. Stamens inserted below the middle of the corolla tube. Carpels connate, attenuate into styles a little longer or a little shorter than the carpels. Scales sublinear or elongated-oval-sublinear. Seeds winged.”] (Raymond-Hamet 1933: 547–548).

Smith (2021: 179) generously regarded the cited statement of Raymond-Hamet (1933: 547–548) as applying to the genus Kalanchoe , i.e., that Kalanchoe sect. Alatae Raymond-Hamet (1933: 547) was validly published. However, Raymond-Hamet (1933: 542–548) was unclear whether he intended the new section as belonging in Bryophyllum, in Kitchingia , or in Kalanchoe . Even though Raymond-Hamet (1933: 547–548) unambiguously accepted the section; explicitly stated and accepted the rank of section; and also provided sufficient descriptive text, the lack of definite association with a particular genus name makes “[Bryophyllum / Kitchingia / Kalanchoe ] sect. Alatae ” RaymondHamet (1933: 547) not validly published.

Under Turland et al. (2018: Art. 38.1(a )), Smith (2021: 179) validly published the combination Kalanchoe sect. Alatae Raymond-Hamet ex Smith (2021: 179) when he provided reference to a previously and effectively published description, i.e., that of Raymond-Hamet (1933: 547), apart from himself amplifying Raymond-Hamet’s description as quoted above. Smith (2021: 179) furthermore effectively typified Kalanchoe sect. Alatae ( Turland et al. 2018: Art. 40.1 and 40.6) with Kitchingia uniflora Stapf (1908: 258) , of which the currently accepted name is Kalanchoe uniflora (Stapf) Hamet (1910: 52) .

Kalanchoe sect. Alatae was therefore validly published as the name of a new taxon by Smith (2021: 179), i.e., not as a new combination, because the designation “[Bryophyllum / Kalanchoe / Kitchingia ] sect. Alatae ” was not validly published by Raymond-Hamet (1933: 547–548).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Kalanchoe porphyrocalyx. A. Close-up of foliage and flowers. B. Corolla segments viewed from the mouth, i.e., from above. Note the burgundy red sepals. Both photographs by Gideon F. Smith.

FIGURE 2. Kalanchoe uniflora. A. Growing epiphytically with the thin stems typically descending. B. Flowers and leafy stems in lateral view. Both photographs by Gideon F. Smith.