Majure, L.C. 2014. Typifications and a nomenclatural change in some eastern North American Qpuntia (Cactaceae). Phytoneuron 2014-106: 1-2. Published 12 November 2014. ISSN 2153 733X
TYPIFICATIONS AND A NOMENCLATURAL CHANGE IN SOME EASTERN NORTH AMERICAN OPUNTIA (CACTACEAE)
Lucas C, MAJURE Department of Research, Conservation, and Collections esert Botanical Garden 1201 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, Arizona 85008 Imajure@dbg. org
ABSTRACT
Recent advances in our understanding of the evolutionary relationships of eastern North American Opuntia closely allied to Opuntia humifusa, i.e., the O. hwnifusa complex, have resulted in the necessity for a taxonomic revision of the group. Here I neotypify two species described by Rafinesque for which no type specimens exist, O. cespitosa and O. mesacantha. 1 also change the taxonomic status of a species described by J.K. Small, O. lata, to subspecific rank, with the new combination O. mesacantha subsp. lata (Small) Majure comb. et stat. nov. Opuntia macrartha Gibbes also is neotypified based on material collected by J.K. Small from around the type locality for that taxon, as is O. atrocapensis, for which no type has ever been located.
Members of the Opuntia humifusa complex, primarily of eastern North America east of the Mississippi River, have been included in numerous treatments (Britton & Rose 1920, 1923; Small 1903, 1913, 1919, 1933; Radford et al. 1968; Benson 1981; Doyle 1990; Pinkava 2003; Wunderlin & Hansen 2011). However, there still ite specific taxa within the group that have not been typified (eg., O. cespitosa Raf., O. Raf.; Rafinesque 1830) or for which the type specimens no longer exist (eg., O. miacrardia Gibbes) or have never been found (O. atrocapensis Small; see Benson 1982). This group is the subject of a taxonomic revision (Majure et al. in prep.) and has been studied in detail from a phylogenetic as well as morphological and cytogenetic standpoint (Majure & Ervin 2008; Majure & Ribbens 2012; Majure et al. 2012a & b, 2013; Majure et al. in prep.). These recent studies also have provided evidence for the recognition of subspecific taxa of two distinct ploidal levels (diploid and tetraploid; Majure et al. 2012b; Majure et al. in prep.) within the more widespread species, O. mesacantha. That nomenclatural change is also provided below.
Opuntia atrocapensis Small, Man. SE. Fl. 905. 1933. TYPE: not found. NEOTYPE (designated here): USA. Florida. Monroe Co.: sand dunes; Middle Cape Sable, 28 Nov 1916, J.K. Smail s.n. (US!).
Opuntia cespitosa Raf., Bull. Bot. Seringe. 216. 1830. TYPE: not designated by the author.
EOTYPE (designated here): USA. Kentucky. Woodford Co.: Hwy 60 N at jet. of Hwy 62,
just N of Versailes, 9 Jun 2008, £.C. Majure 3275 (neotype: FLAS!; isoneotype: US!). Note:
the specific epithet for this taxon is often spelled “caespitosa,” Rafinesque (1830), however,
first published the name as “cespitosa,” so that spelling is maintained here. Non Opuntia caespitosa Poepp., Reise Chile 356. 1835.
Opuntia mesacantha Raf. Bull. Bot. Seringe. 216. 1830. TYPE: not designated by the author. NEOTYPE (designated here): USA. Virginia. Hampton, 31 May 1878, /.W. Chickering, Jr. s.n. (US!).
Opuntia mesacantha subsp. lata (Small) Majure, comb. et stat. nov. Opuntia lata Small, Jour. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 1919. TyPE: USA. Florida. [Alachua Co.], pine-woods, 12 mi W of Gainesville, 13 Dec 1917, /.K. Small s.n. (holotype: NY!).
Majure: Typifications and nomenclature in Qountia 2
Opuntia macrartha Gibbes, Proc. Elliott Soc. Nat. Hist. 1: 273. 1859. TyPE: USA. South Carolina. within a few miles of Charleston, [1 Sept 1857, presumably collected by Gibbes], no repository cited. Gibbes’ collection was housed at, and 1 from, the Charleston Museum during the US Civil War (see Benson 1982). NEOTYPE (designated here): USA. South Carolina. Charleston Co.: Isle of Palms, near Charleston, 14 Feb 1916, JK. Smail s.n. (neotype: US!; isoneotypes: NY! US!).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank the curators of the New York Botanical Garden (NY) and the US National Herbarium (US) for specimen loans used in this study and K. Perkins, N. Williams, T. Linder for help with processing loans at the University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS). I also thank W. S. Judd for comments on a previous version of the manuscript.
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