Botanic al Mishum Leaflfts 



Summkr 1985 



Vol. 30, No. 3 



A NOTE ON THE IDENTITY AND TYPIFICATION 

 OF GLOSSORHYNCHA KEYSSERI SCHLTR. 



Walter Kittredge 



The purpose of this article is to clarify the identity of two 

 closely related species of the genus Glossorhyncha which have 

 been confused in recent literature. 



During the course of an investigation into the subgeneric lim- 

 its of the genus Glossorhyncha s.L, it was necessary to examine 

 the type specimens of the nomenclatural types of the genera 

 belonging to the subtribe Glomerinae. While studying the type 

 of one of these genera, Giulianettia tenuis Rolfe, it became 

 apparent that there were two distinct species combined by van 

 Royen within the circumscription of G. tenuis in his Alpine 

 Flora of New Guinea. Through a study of the original descrip- 

 tions in this group it became evident that the second species had 

 already been described as Giulianettia Keysseri by Schlecter in 

 1919. This latter species was subsequently transferred to Glos- 

 sorhyncha by van Royen and neotypified in his flora. His choice 

 of Womersley NGF 24808 for the neotype of (7. Keysseri is 

 unfortunate because it does not agree with the details of Schlec- 

 ter's original description. The flowers of G. Keysseri were de- 

 scribed as having recurved sepals 13 mm. long and a lip blade 

 broadly rhombic, 3X3 mm. with a filiform spur. The clinan- 

 drium was stated to be low and obtuse, while the bracts were 

 noted as being equal in length. The plant was characterized as 

 having a slender growth habit, van Royen's neotype does not 

 exhibit any of these characters. Womersley's plant is very stout 

 with much larger flowers. The sepals are not recurved, the lip 

 blade is larger, 7X6 mm. with a stout spur, and the clinandrium 

 is high and strongly crenulate. In addition, the inner bract is 

 much longer than the outer one. Consequently, van Royen's 

 choice of a neotype for G. Keysseri must be rejected since it was 



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