Paepalanthus erectifolius Silveira, Fl. Serr. Min.: 51 (1908).

Type: BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: “In partis siccis in Serra do Cipó”, April 1905, Silveira 367 (holotype: R!).

= Paepalanthus speciosus var. glaber Ruhland in Engler, Pflanzenr. IV. 30 (Heft 13): 187 (1903). Type: Brazil. Minas Gerais: “Serra do Cip, dans le camp, 26 April 1892, Glaziou 19977 (lectotype, here designated: B!, duplicates: C!, P!), syn. nov.

= Paepalanthus speciosus var. angustifolius Ruhland in Engler, Pflanzenr. IV. 30 (Heft 13)): 187 (1903). Type: BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: “Serra do Cip, prov. Minarum, October, Mathieu Libon 534 (lectotype, here designated: C!), syn. nov.

= Paepalanthus speciosus var. chlorocephalu s Silveira, Fl. Serr. Min.: 50 (1908). Type: BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: “In campis siccis in Serra do Cipó”, April 1905, Silveira 370 (holotype: R!), syn. nov.

Ruhland (1903) described Paepalanthus speciosus var. glabrus based on eight collections. Careful fieldwork and herbarium analysis lead to the conclusion that these specimens correspond to several formerly described species. The collection Glaziou 19977 best fits the original description, and is thus designated here as the lectotype. Ruhland (1903) also briefly described Paepalanthus speciosus var. angustifolius based on two collections. The specimen Mathieu Libon 534 in C fits the original description most adequately and is therefore designated here as the lectotype.