Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. racemosus Moquin-Tandon (1849: 256)

Iamonico, Duilio, 2016, Nomenclature survey of the genus Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae). 5. Moquin-Tandon’s names, Phytotaxa 273 (2), pp. 81-114 : 99

22. Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. racemosus Moquin-Tandon (1849: 256)

Type: not designated.

Nomenclatural notes and taxonomic remarks:—The epiteth “ racemosus ” was choosen by Moquin-Tandon to highlight forms of Am.hypochondriacus with longer paraclades than the typical plants (“spici lateralibus elongatibus...”). No synonyms, specimens or provenance were cited in the protologue. Unfortunately, I have not been able to trace specimens that can be considered as original material and so elegible as a lectotype.As a consequence, a neotypification is required (Art. 9.7 of the ICN).

The neotype designation for the name Am. hypochondriacus var. racemosus is difficult for at least three reasons:

1) no specimens, which can be referred to Am. hypochondriacus var. racemosus and seen by Moquin-Tandon, were found;

2) no citations of Am. hypochondriacus var. racemosus were traced in literature (neglected name) excepting for some data bases (e.g., The Plant List 2013);

3) the Moquin-Tandon’s concept of the var. racemosus is difficult to understand since the characters highlighted (lenght and colour of paraclades) have not taxonomic value in Am. hypochondriacus (see e.g., Mosyakin & Robertson 2003, Iamonico 2015).

On the basis of the information given above, I prefer to avoid a neotype designation for Am. hypochondriacus var.

racemosus and I hope for a future rejection of this name of which use would cause a disadvantageous nomenclatural change (Art. 56 of the ICN).