Typification of Solanum (Solanaceae) species described by Martín de Sessé y Lacasta and José Mariano Mociño

• Main Author: Sandra Knapp
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 2008-06-01
• Series: Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid
• Subjects: typification; historic collections; exploration; mexico; central america
• Online Access: http://rjb.revistas.csic.es/index.php/rjb/article/view/243

Lectotypes, neotypes or epitypes are confirmed or designated here for 16 of the 22 names coined by Martín Sessé y Lacasta and José Mariano Mociño that were described as members of the large genus Solanum (Solanaceae): Solanum bifidum, S. cordovense, S. declinatum, S. dichotomum, S. diphyllum, S. lanceifolium, S. lanceolatum, S. lineatum (both homonyms), S. longifolium, S. mexicanum, S. nutans, S. sarmentosum, S. scandens, S. tlacotalpense and S. uniflorum. A brief introduction assesses the importance of the Sessé & Mociño expedition (the Real Expedición Botánica a Nueva España) to the botany of their time, and identifies difficulties in identifying and neotypifying or lectotypifying names coined by them. More than half of the names coined by Sessé and Mociño have no material associated with them. The currently accepted name for each taxon is given, and taxa of uncertain status are indicated. Each typification is accompanied by a discussion of the reasoning behind the choice of specimen, and all newly designated types are illustrated.