Summary
In most taxonomic revisions of Stylosanthes Sw., Stylosanthes gracilis Kunth has been regarded as a variety or even a synonym of S. guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. This has created considerable confusion among scientists working with the latter species which is an agriculturally important tropical forage and cover legume. This study collected taxonomically relevant evidence, for evaluating S. gracilis as a valid species. Since the type specimen is lost, a collection from the same location as the original type is proposed here as a neotype.
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Notes
Original spellings are used throughout the text when relating taxonomic history.
Based on Humboldt’s trip report (Humboldt 1859), we deduce that the specimen was collected on 13 September 1799.
Hassler designated the specimen Hassler 2834 as type but did not mention in which herbarium it was deposited. According to an electronic search of Stylosanthes specimens in G, the herbarium holds a duplicate of Hassler 2834. This specimen might be the holotype but we could not confirm this.
In the article, referred to as Stylosanthes grandiflora. Since there is no Stylosanthes species with this epithet we assume a misspelling of Stylosanthes grandifolia which was described by Ferreira & Sousa Costa (1978).
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Acknowledgements
We thank the collection managers or curators of the herbaria B, BM, BOLV, CAR, CORO, GUYN, HERZU, IRBR, K, LPB, MER, MERC, MERF, MO, MY, MYF, NY, P, PH, PORT, TFAV, U, UOJ, US, USM, USZ, VEN for their collaboration. Special thanks to Dr Caroline Loup (P), Dr Gwil Lewis (K), Dr Roy Vickery (BM), Dr Thomas Raus (B) and Dr Jean-Noël Labat (P) for the help given to the first author during visits to the respective herbaria; to Prof. Orlando Guenni for the assistance and facilities provided during our field trip in Venezuela; to Prof. Bruno Manara for the illustrations; to the late Prof. Len ‘t Mannetje for his valuable advice; and last but not least, to the anonymous reviewers who made important suggestions for improving the final manuscript.
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Calles, T., Schultze-Kraft, R. Re-establishment of Stylosanthes gracilis (Leguminosae) at species level. Kew Bull 65, 233–240 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-010-9198-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-010-9198-z