Reinterpretation of the nomenclatural type of Pseudobombax heteromorphum (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) reveals an overlooked new species from Bolivia

By

Carvalho-Sobrinho, Jefferson Guedes de
Queiroz, Luciano Paganucci de
Alverson, William Surprison

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2013

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

21

Pages

53-61

Subjects

Bombax , Chiquitano dry forest , new species , seasonally dry neotropical forest , Tabebuia , typification

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.21.5213

 

Abstract

In the course of a taxonomic revision of Pseudobombax Dugand, one of us (JGCS) frequently has observed herbarium specimens of Bombacoideae that comprise a mixture of different Angiosperm families. In particular, P. heteromorphum (Kuntze) A.Robyns, a frequent name in checklists of the Bolivian flora, is based on type material of Bombax heteromorphum Kuntze that is clearly a mixture of Pseudobombax flowers and Tabebuia Gomes ex DC. (Bignoniaceae) leaves. We herein designate as the lectotype of B. heteromorphum the flowers of an herbarium sheet deposited in NY and as epitype a complete specimen (leaves, flowers, and fruit) in HUEFS. We consider Bombax heteromorphum to be a synonym of P. longiflorum (Mart.) A. Robyns, a species widespread in Neotropical seasonally dry forest of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. Furthermore, we describe a new species, P. pulchellum Carv.-Sobr., apparently endemic to seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) in Bolivia (Chiquitano dry forest), based on specimens commonly but incorrectly identified as P. heteromorphum. We also comment on the morphology, distribution, and conservation status of this new species.