Microlicia helvola (Spreng.) Triana (1872: 25)

Romero, Rosana, Versiane, Ana Flávia Alves & Woodgyer, Elizabeth M., 2022, Miscellaneous taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on Microlicia D. Don (Melastomataceae), Phytotaxa 559 (2), pp. 99-131 : 111-113

Microlicia helvola (Spreng.) Triana (1872: 25) .

≡ Rhexia helvola Sprengel (1825: 309) . ≡ Microlicia hypericoides Chamisso (1834: 389), nom. superf. et illeg.

BRAZIL, Sello [in the protologue]. Lectotype (designated here):— Brasilia [ BRAZIL] meridionalis. Tamboril , Sellow B.1181 c.1767 [sheet] ( K000530508 ! , isolectotypes BM!, BR0000005209927 !, BR0000005209590 !, G00343757 !, K000530509 !, K000530510 !, M0165701 !, P02297733 !, P02297734 !, W! 2 sheets) .

= Microlicia euphorbioides var. γ brevifolia Cogniaux (1883: 98). In Prov. Goyaz: Gardner 3161 [in the protologue]. Lectotype (designated here):—[ BRAZIL]. Prov. Goyaz [Goiás]: s.d., Gardner 3161 [sheet] ( BR0000005221752 !, isolectotypes BM000795943!, CAS0003506!, G00318503!, K0000530622!, K000530623!, NY00229455!, OXF!, P02428287!, P02428288!, P02428289!, P02428292!, SP001196!, W! 2 sheets), syn. nov.

Remaining syntypes:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: s.loc., s.d., P. Claussen s.n. (G00318527!, P05316407 !); ad Lagoa Santa, s.d., Warming s.n. (not found).

= Microlicia euphorbioides var. ζ macrocarpa Cogniaux (1883: 98). In prov. Piauhy ad Rio Preto: Gardner n. 2854 [in the protologue]. Lectotype (designated here):—[ BRAZIL]. Rio Preto Serra das Batalhas, s.d., Gardner 2854 [sheet] (K000530619!, isolectotypes P02428291!, W!), syn. nov.

Remaining syntypes:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Caxoeira [Cachoeira] do Campo, s.d., Claussen 28 (G00318583!); s.loc., s.d., Pohl s.n . (BR0000005521975!, W!).

= Microlicia helvola var. hirsuta Pilg. in Engler (1903 [1904]: 18). Brasilien [ BRAZIL]: Goyaz [Goiás], Fazenda do Paraizo, auf feuehtem Campo , Januar 1895, Glaziou n. 21293 [in the protologue]. Lectotype (designated here):—Bresil [ BRAZIL]. Goyaz [Goiás:] Fazenda do Paraízo, 19 January 1895, Glaziou 21293 [sheet] (K000530626!, isolectotypes BM000832638! in the right side, BR0000005210251!, BR0000005210589!, C10014898!), syn. nov.

= Microlicia souzae-limae Brade (1962: 249) . Type:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Rio Sacre , 21 November 1944, A. Souza Lima 7864 (holotype SP001201!, isotypes HB [fragment not found], IAC [not found]), see Versiane et al. (2020).

Notes:—In the protologue of R. helvola, Sprengel (1825) indicated a collection made by Sellow in Brazil. Duplicates of M. helvola , with a label from Herb. Reg. Berolinense (B), were examined in seven herbaria, but only the sheet at K has the numbers B.1181 c.1767 ( Fig. 7 ). Analysis of Sellow’s duplicates shows the same vegetative pattern, and it is certain that all collections, even Sellow B.1181 c.1767, are duplicates of the same collection from B, destroyed during World War II (see Hiepko 1987).

In describing M. hypericoides, Chamisso (1834) did not indicate the holotype, although he mentioned a Sellow collection. The collection at BR, G, and P has the handwritten identification “ M. hypericoides ” by Chamisso. Chamisso’s description of M. hypericoides is consistent with the Sellow specimen discussed above, and we conclude that M. helvola and M. hypericoides were described based on the same type. According to Article 11.4 ( Turland et al. 2018), M. hypericoides is considered a superfluous and illegitimate name.

Cogniaux (1883) described M. euphorbioides var. brevifolia based on three syntypes. The syntype Gardner 3161 is chosen as the lectotype because its vegetative and reproductive parts correspond to the protologue description, and it is in good condition. Furthermore, the syntype Warming s.n. has not been located. Microlicia euphorbioide s var. macrocarpa also was based on three syntypes, and Gardner 2854 is designated here as the lectotype since the vegetative and reproductive parts agree with the protologue description.The sheet Gardner 2854 from K (K000530579!) corresponds to M. acuminata .

When describing M. helvola var. hirsuta, Pilg. in Engler (1903 [1904]) referred to one collection made by Glaziou (Glaziou 21293) in Brazil. Probably it was deposited at B and destroyed during World War II (see Hiepko 1987). Therefore, the duplicates at K, BM, and BR are isotypes; the specimen from K is designated here as the lectotype and the remaining are isolectotypes.

The striate hypanthium, sparsely to densely villosous, with a concentration of setose trichomes on sepals, cylindrical and urceolate hypanthium, and bicolorous anthers are remarkable features and distinguish M. helvola from M. euphorbioides . Microlicia helvola can occur sympatrically with M. euphorbioides in some localities of Minas Gerais and Goiás states.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Sheet with the holotype of Microlicia hypericoides Cham. at K, considered as a synonym of Microlicia helvola (Spreng.) Triana. Note Cogniaux’s handwriting (red arrow). Source: ©Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, K000530508.Available in: https://plants.jstor. org/stable/viewer/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000530508.