Introduction

The recent recognition of Rockhausenia D.J.N.Hind (Compositae: Senecioneae: Senecioninae) (Hind 2022), containing all the traditionally accepted wernerias not included in the nomenclaturally superfluous Xenophyllum V.A.Funk, has meant that any species of Werneria Kunth described since, inevitably requires a transfer to Rockhausenia. One such is Werneria praetermissa J.Calvo (Calvo 2021), from Argentina (Jujuy, Salta) and Bolivia (Tarija).

Herbarium material of Werneria praetermissa has frequently been identified as Werneria villosa A.Gray (= Rockhausenia villosa (A.Gray) D.J.N. Hind) (see Calvo et al. 2020 and Freire & Ariza Espinar 2014, cf. Calvo 2021); Calvo (2021) has admirably illustrated, discussed, and provided key differences between the two. The most obvious differences are that W. villosa possesses yellow ray limbs (usually with red stripes abaxially) and yellow disc floret corollas, compared with the white ray limbs (usually with purplish to deep pinkish stripes abaxially) and off-white to pale yellow disc floret corollas of W. praetermissa. Both species are sympatric in part of the range of W. praetermissa in Argentina (Salta) but the distribution of W. villosa extends throughout the Andes of Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Tarija) and to Peru (north to Piura), and southwards into Argentina (Salta).

The following new combination is proposed:

Rockhausenia praetermissa (J.Calvo) D.J.N.Hind, comb. nov.

http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77300581-1

Werneria praetermissa J.Calvo, Nordic J. Bot. 39 (11-e03340): 2 (2021). Type: ‘Argentina, Salta: Sta Victoria, camino a Sta Victoria, abra Colorada, 22°19'S, 64°55'W, 4500 m a.s.l., 28 Feb 1966, E. de la Sota 4205 (holotype: LP s.n.; isotype: LIL n.v.).’

DISTRIBUTION. Argentina (Jujuy, Salta), Bolivia (Tarija).