Paramollugo nudicaulis (Lam.) Thulin

Thulin, Mats, 2017, Lectotypification of Paramollugo nudicaulis (Molluginaceae), Candollea 72 (1), pp. 31-34 : 32

Paramollugo nudicaulis (Lam.) Thulin in Taxon 65: 786. 2016.

Ξ Mollugo nudicaulis Lam., Encycl. 4: 234. 1797.

Lectotypus (designated here): MAURITIUS: sine loc., Commerson s.n. ( MPU [ MPU310690 ]!) ( Fig. 1 ) .

Notes. – A strange circumstance is that Paramollugo nudicaulis seems to be an exceedingly rare species on Mauritius. Apparently, the only specimen of it ever collected on Mauritius during the nearly 250 years that have passed since Commerson collected there seems to be Gueho 15575 (K), collected 23 February 1973 at Morne Brabant (SUKHORUKOv & KUSHUNINA, 2016). This opens for the possibility of some kind of confusion as regards the locality or collector of the specimen. According to DORR (1997), Commerson’s specimens “were labeled and distributed after his death and some confusion is known to have occurred with P. Sonnerat specimens”. The obvious alternative origin of the type specimen would be Madagascar, where both Commerson and Sonnerat collected extensively, but any statement in that direction would have to remain speculation.

Figures

Fig. 1. – Lectotype of Mollugo nudicaulis Lam. [Ξ Paramollugo nudicaulis (Lam.) Thulin].