et Amazonum’’ [1819] Martius s.n.—‘‘In silvis Japurensibus’’ [1820], 
Martius s.n. 
In the herbarium in Munich, there are four Martius 
specimens of Hevea nitida, but only three different labels 
for the four specimens. Since the collections are not num- 
bered, we cannot say whether or not Martius made three 
collections or merely one as has hitherto been presumed. 
After a study of the material in Munich, I am inclined 
to believe that there are two distinct collections; one, 
represented by three specimens, from the Rio Amazonas 
somewhere above the mouth of the Rio Negro (which 
section of the Amazon is known in Brazil as the Rio 
Solimoées): the other, represented by a single specimen, 
from the Rio Japura. We know that this highly local 
species is found on both rivers in localities where Martius 
collected: Sio Paulo de Olivenea (on the Solimoées); La 
Pedrera or Cupati (on the Japura). 
In 1980, Dr. Francis Macbride of the Field Museum 
photographed type specimens in Europe. His photo- 
graph No. 6631 represents a specimen of the second ‘‘col- 
lection’ cited above. In the middle of the last century, 
the type concept was not a guiding principle of taxonomy 
and Martius undoubtedly based his description on more 
than one specimen. If we are to choose atype, however, 
I should elect one of the two specimens which I have 
cited above as the first ‘‘collection.’’ One of these speci- 
mens seems to have been awarded more attention by 
Martius and Mueller than the others, for Martius wrote 
on it: ““Siphonia nitida Mart.”” and Mueller annotated 
it as ‘Hevea nitida J. Muell.”*” The other specimens are 
not so annotated. I*urthermore, for this specimen there 
are seeds and capsules in the fruit collection. For these 
reasons, then, I have labelled this specimen and not the 
one represented by Macbride’s photograph as the type. 
There isin the Munich Herbarium an unfinished draw- 
[81] 
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