Malva hirsuta

Iamonico, Duilio & Guacchio, Emanuele Del, 2017, Typification of the names in Malva cretica s. l. (Malvaceae), Phytotaxa 295 (3), pp. 280-286 : 281

Malva hirsuta , and M. althaeoides var. hirsuta

The name Malva hirsuta , as applied to the taxa of our interest, appeared for the first time in the Prodromus of Flora Napolitana by Tenore (1812: XL), with an appropriate description but without any geographical locality or illustration. The name, however, is a later homonym of Malva hirsuta Aublet (1775: 704) and then illegitimate (Art. 53.2). Later, Tenore (1820: 106–107), having been noticed of Cavanilles’ works, regarded M. hirsuta as a mere synonym of M. cretica . Meanwhile, Candolle (1824: 432) arranged the Tenore’s name at varietal rank under M. althaeoides . Probably influenced by the Candolle’s treatment, Tenore (1831: 336) newly changed his concept of the taxon and adopted the combination “M. altheoides [sic!] B. hirsuta ”. In NAP a pertinent specimen is preserved, but it is represented by mixed heterotypic material, i.e. M. cretica var. cretica and M. cretica var. montana . Two labels occur on the sheet, but none of them is univocally associated to any fragment. The first label reports: “ Malva hirsuta Barrelier ”, and overwritten “ cretica ”. A later correction reports: “ Malva althaeoides var. hirsuta ”. On the bottom of the sheet, in Gussone’s handwriting, several localities are cited: “Capitanata = Basilicata = Bari”. On the other label, it is reported, in Giordano’s handwritting, “ Malva alceoides var.?” and “ cretica ” overwritten and barred in turn. The locality “Agropoli” (Campania, southern Italy) with some details is also added. The latter locality is that reported in the Tenore’s Sylloge (Tenore 1831). Therefore, the specimen is not adequate for the lectotypification. As we were not able to trace any further original material, we prefer do not typify this illegitimate name, and to treat instead the combination by Candolle (1824: 432) as a new taxon (Art. 58.1). This new taxon, i.e. M. althaeoides var. hirsuta DC. , can be easily lectotypified by a specimen preserved at G-DC (code 00218376) which is part of the material seen by Candolle (l.c.). The G specimen bears a plant, with morphological characteristics which match the diagnosis, and an original label in which the locality of collection (“ prope Agrigentum Sicilia ”) is the same reported in the protologue. It is here identified as M. cretica var. cretica .