Massonia calvata, , Baker, 1878

Martínez-Azorín, Mario, Clark, Vincent Ralph, Pinter, Michael, Dold, Anthony P., Crespo, Manuel B., Barker, Nigel P., Pfosser, Martin & Wetschnig, Wolfgang, 2014, Massonia dentata (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from the Nuweveldberge, and typification of the Sneeuberg endemic M. calvata (southern Great Escarpment, South Africa), Phytotaxa 175 (4), pp. 201-215 : 212

Typification of Massonia calvata

The original description of Massonia calvata ( Baker 1878) includes the following information: “Leaves 2, […] face when young tuberculato-hispid, when older smooth and glabrous” an uncommon behavior reflected in the specific epithet. Furthermore, the flowers were described as “Perianth white, 1/ 3 in. long; segments lanceolate, equaling the tube. Filaments as long as the perianth-segments; anthers minute, oblong.” A single herbarium specimen was cited in the protologue, Bolus 749! collected in the “ Cape Colony, eastern district”. Baker (1897) added further data as follows: “leaves […] glabrous when mature, slightly tuberculato-hispid when young, […] perianth white, ½ in. long […] Central Region: mountains near Graaff Reinet, 4400-5500 ft., Bolus, 749!”. The study of the type collection Bolus 749 (K 000257142!, K 000257143!) provides further information. The label of the herbarium sheet K 000257142! shows: “Rec. 12/70; H. Bolus Austro-Africanae; Nº 749, Flor Junio, Alt. 4400 ped; Massonia between echinata v sanguinea; In montibus prope Graaff Reinet; Foliis junioribus tuberculato-hispidis; M. calvata Baker in Journ. Bot. 1878/321”. Moreover, a hand written annotation in pencil reads “ 4400 ft; large specimens on Sneeuberg (sic.) 5500 ft ”. Furthermore, a solid line in pencil separates the much larger plants in the upper part of the sheet from the lower much smaller plants, this agreeing with the information given in pencil about two different collections. A second herbarium sheet exists under the number Bolus 749 (K 000257143!). The label of this collection says: “ Massonia cf. versicolor ; near Graaff Reinet; nº 749 Bolus 7/76; M. calvata, Baker ”. It is evident therefore that the collection Bolus 749 includes plants collected from at least two different localities and elevations and most probably collected at different times. According to Art. 40.2 of the ICN (Melbourne Code; McNeill & al., 2012), typification of one taxon is achieved “by reference to an entire gathering, or a part thereof, even if it consists of two or more specimens”, and assuming that a specimen is “a gathering, or part of a gathering, of a single species or infraspecific taxon made at one time, disregarding admixtures” (Art. 8.2). Therefore we select below a lectotype among the original material of the species (K 000257142!, K 000257143!). Our selection confirms that this name applies to a previously overlooked species endemic to the Sneeuberg Centre of Floristic Endemism ( Clark et al. 2009).

Massonia calvata Baker (1878: 321) . Type (designated here):— South Africa. Eastern Cape: In montibus prope Graaff Reinet , June , alt. 4400 ped, Bolus 749 (lectotype, K 000257142!, only the small specimens placed in the lower portion of the sheet separated by a solid pencil line and corresponding to “alt. 4400 ped”).