Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss.

Hassan, Walaa A., Al-Shaye, Najla A. & Iamonico, Duilio, 2023, A critical inventory of the family Amaranthaceae s. str. in Saudi Arabia, Phytotaxa 626 (4), pp. 223-246 : 239

10.1 Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss., Ann. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 2: 132. 1803 ≡ Achyranthes lappacea L., Sp. Pl. 1: 204.

1753.

Lectotype (designated by Townsend 1979: 135): — Herb. Hermann 1: 2, No. 103 [BM000621230! (lower specimen), image of the lectotype available at https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ef4647f3-8c75-4c8b-9ed2-1f4d6eb7c112/1691020800000].

Infraspecific variation of Pupalia lappacea :— This species is highly variable from the morphological point of view and five varieties are currently accepted, viz. var. argyrophylla C.C.Towns. , var. glabrescens C.C.Towns. , var. lappacea, var. orbiculata (B.Heyne ex Wall.) C.C.Towns. , and var. velutina (Moq.) Hook.f. The taxa differ from each other on habit, leaf shape, indumentum, and number of setae in the sterile flowers ( Townsend 1979). The flora of Saudi Arabia includes one variety only , var. velutina (Moq.) Hook.f.

10.1a. Pupalia lappacea L. var. velutina (Moq.) Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 724. 1885 ≡ Pupalia velutina Moq. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 332. 1849.

Lectotype (designated by Townsend 1979: 138, here corrected according to Art. 9.10 of ICN): — INDIA. Herbarium Wallich List no. 6935 (K000814943!, image of the lectotype available at https://plants.jstor.org/stable/viewer/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000814943?logge din=true).

Typification of the name Pupalia velutina : — Moquin-Tandon (1849: 332) cited, after the description, a syntype (“In India ad ripas Irrawaddi (Wall.!). Desmochaeta velutina Wall. ! list n. 6935”). The name “Desmochaeta velutina” appears in Wallich’s (1829) Numerical list as a nomen nudum and, therefore, it is invalid according to Arts. 38.1 and 38.2 of ICN. Townsend (1979: 138) reported for var. velutina “Type: Burma, Wallich 6935A (holotype W n.v. [non vidi]; isotype K-W)”. However, not only Moquin-Tandon (1849: 332) did not cite a holotype (but a syntype according to Art. 9.6 of ICN); Wallich’s original material is deposited at K with duplicates in many other herbaria, W included (HUH Index of Botanists 2013c). According to Art. 9.10 of ICN, Townsed’s use of the term isotype for the K specimen is an error, to be corrected to the term lectotype. We traced Wallich’s specimen (no. 6835) at K (K000814943).

Chorology:― Native to Africa (most of the countries), the Arabian Peninsula, India, and some islands of south-eastern Asia ( POWO 2023).

Occurrence in Saudi Arabia :― ʿAsīr ( Alwadie 2005), Jazan ( Collenette 1999), Makkah.

Specimina visa selecta:— SAUDI ARABIA . Jazan, Fayfa , 06 march 2012, s.c. KFSU329 (PNUH!) ; Makkah, Inter lapides et rupes montis Sedder Arab. Felicis , 28 february 1836, Schimper 901 ( HBG503191 !) ; ibidem ( HBG503150 !) ; ibidem ( TUB000282 !) ; ibidem (G00689213!).