Limonium parvibracteatum, Pignatti, 1971

Ferrer-Gallego, P. Pablo, Laguna, Emilio & Crespo, Manuel B., 2021, Remarks on the types of three accepted names in Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) described from the eastern Iberian Peninsula, Phytotaxa 487 (3), pp. 283-292 : 290

Limonium parvibracteatum

The protologue of Limonium parvibracteatum includes a comment “Diese neue Art wurde während einer Exkursion in Begleitung von Herrn H. Metlesics (Wien) am nordöstlichen Hang des Peñon de Ifach bei Calpe (zwischen Valencia und Alicante) an der Ostktüste Spaniens gefunden” [This new species was found in the course of an excursion accompanied by Mr. H. Metlesics (Vienna) on the northeastern slope of Peñon de Ifach, near Calpe (between Valencia and Alicante) on the eastern coast of Spain], followed by a diagnosis in German, a description in Latin, a brief comment regarding the epithet “Dieser Name wurde wegen der auffällig kurzen Hüllblätter gewählt.” [This name was chosen because of the remarkably short bract], the provenance “Habitat in Hispania ad Peñon de Ifach prope Calpe in Regno Valentino”, and finally the type: “ Holotypus: Peñon de Ifach, 27 August 1965, Pignatti ( TSB)” ( Pignatti 1971: 367) .

The holotype at TSB was cited by Erben (1978: 546) “Typus: “Calpe al Peñón de Ifach lata NE”, 27.8.1965, Pignatti (TSB)!” and Crespo & Lledó (1998) “ Holotypus: Herb. Pignatti (TSB, Inst. Hort. Bot. Univ. Trieste)”. We studied a xerocopy of that voucher, which M. Erben kindly forwarded. It bore a label reading “ Limonium parvobracteatum [sic] mihi typus”, which clearly identified it as the holotype of the name. However, this specimen is currently lost (A. Tilia pers. comm.). In the herbarium of the “La Sapienza” University of Rome at RO, there is a relevant material of Limonium parvibracteatum (annotated sub “ L. bracteatum ”) that was collected by S. Pignatti on the same day and in the same location as the missing holotype.

This specimen at RO, numbered 842 (ex TSB number 6315), is mounted on three herbarium sheets. The first sheet bears a complete and well-developed plant, with leaves and flowers, and a printed label: “ DUPL. EX.: [printed] / 842 [manuscript] / HERB. UNIVERSITATIS TERGESTINAE ( TSB) / TRIESTE ( ITALIA) / LIMONIUM bracteatum / FLORA ESPANA / Calpe (Alicante) al Peñon / falde lato NE / 27.VIII.1965 / nº 322 / leg. et det. S. Pignatti”. The second sheet bears two plants but no label. The third sheet contains four complete plants but no label. The three sheets are annotated with the printed number “6315” .

We have not found any other original specimen in any of the consulted herbaria. Accordingly, we designate the specimen RO as lectotype of the name Limonium parvibracteatum . This material matches the traditional concept and current usage of the name (see Erben 1993, Crespo & Lledó 1998) and represents a good type.

Limonium parvibracteatum Pignatti (1971: 367) .

“Habitat in Hispania ad Peñon de Ifac prope Calpe in Regno Valentino”

Lectotype (designated here):― SPAIN. Alicante , Calpe , al Peñon falde lato NE, S. Pignatti 322, 27 August 1965, RO (number 842 [ex TSB number 6315] [three sheets]) ( Fig. 3–5 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lectotype of Limonium parvibracteatum (RO number 842 [ex TSB number 6315] [sheet 1]). Image by courtesy of the herbarium RO, reproduced with permission.

FIGURE 4. Lectotype of Limonium parvibracteatum (RO number 842 [ex TSB number 6315] [sheet 2]). Image by courtesy of the herbarium RO, reproduced with permission.

FIGURE 5. Lectotype of Limonium parvibracteatum (RO number 842 [ex TSB number 6315] [sheet 3]). Image by courtesy of the herbarium RO, reproduced with permission.