Astropanax abyssinicus

Lowry Ii, Porter P., Plunkett, Gregory M., Gostel, Morgan R. & Frodin, David G., 2017, A synopsis of the Afro-Malagasy species previously included in Schefflera (Araliaceae): resurrection of the genera Astropanax and Neocussonia, Candollea 72 (2), pp. 265-282 : 268

A1. Astropanax abyssinicus (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Seem. in J. Bot. 3: 177. 1865.

÷ Aralia abyssinica Hochst. ex A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 336. 1848. ÷ Schefflera abyssinica (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. III(8): 38. 1894. ÷ Sciodaphyllum abyssinicum (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Miq. in Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 1: 26. 1863. ÷ Heptapleurum abyssinicum (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Vatke in Linnaea 40: 191. 1876.

Lectotypus (designated here): ETHIOPIA. Prov. Tigray: Mt. Scholoda, 11.VI.1837, fr., Schimper 283 ( P [ P00466317 ]!; isolecto-: BM [ BM000902775 , BM000902776 ]!, BR [ BR08860958 ]!, FI!, HAL [ HAL0117394 ] image seen, HOH [HOH-009899, HOH-009890] images seen, JE [ JE00000511 ] image seen, K [ K000350399 ]!, L [ L0008492 , L0008493 , L0008494 , L0008495 ]!, M [ M00095801 , M00104947 , M00104948 ] images seen, MPU [ MPU023965 , MPU023966 ] images seen, NY [ NY00274565 ]!, OXF!, P [ P00466316 , P00466318 ]!, TUB [ TUB003050 , TUB003051 , TUB003052 , TUB003053 ] images seen, WAG [ WAG00000241 ] image seen) .

= Paratropia elata Hook. f. in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 7: 196. 1864. ÷ Astropanax elatus (Hook. f.) Seem. in J. Bot. 3: 177. 1865. ÷ Sciodaphyllum elatum (Hook. f.) Seem. in J. Bot. 3: 267. 1865. ÷ Heptapleurum elatum (Hook.f.) Hiern in Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 30. 1877. ÷ Schefflera hookeriana Harms in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. III(8): 38. 1894 [non S. elata (Buch.-Ham.) Harms]. Lectotypus (designated here): CAMEROON. Southwest Region: Mt. Cameroon, II.1862, bud, Mann 1181 (K [K00350377]!; isolecto-: K [K00350376, K00350378]!).

= Schefflera acutifoliolata De Wild. in Rev. Zool. Bot. Africaines 8: 14. 1920. Lectotypus (designated here): DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Prov. Nord-Kivu: Ruwenzori , Lamia, ± 2000 m, s.d., fl., Bequaert 4310 (BR [ BR00886094 ]!; isolecto-: BR [ BR00886078 ]!).

Diversity and distribution. – Astropanax abyssinicus occurs in mid- to high-altitude humid forest, gallery forest, and forestgrassland transition areas, from 1,450 to 2,800 m elevation, and ranges from Ethiopia south to Zambia and Malawi in eastern Africa, as well as in disjunct populations well to the west in Cameroon ( BAMPS, 1974b; APD, 2017).

Notes. – Aralia abyssinica was based on three specimens at P, one of which has an original label in Richard’s handwriting and has therefore been chosen as the lectotype .

Among the three specimens at Kew on which Hooker based Paratropia elata , two bear original labels, one of which has a leaf and the other a full inflorescence in bud. We have selected the second of these as the lectotype.

Schefflera acutifoliolata was based on two specimens at BR, one of which is more complete, comprising an inflorescence and leaf, and has therefore been selected as the lectotype .