Validation of the Name Veratrum hybridum (Liliales, Melanthiaceae): The Correct Name for Crisped Bunch-Flower

2012·3 MB·English

by  Wendy B Zomlefer

Name
Veratrum hybridum
Validation of the Melanthiaceae):
(Liliales,
Name
The
Bunch-Flower
Correct Crisped
for
Novon
126
MELANTHIUM.
Cor 6-p*tala
perfif.
157.
;
tm mutant
tentia, ia Capful*
color
,
apice divaricate.
#
demum
imprimis
Petalis ungulculatts albis ob-
fcuro-rubris fcminibus femi
evtitis*
virginicum duabus
petalis planis.'fnaculis
flavis
plerumque
herma-
notatis, floribus
1.
phroditis.
hybridum petalis plicato-undulatis
itoroaculatls,
2.
mafcuHset
floribus fcemineismixtis.
maculis
monoicum petalis plants* 2 luteis _
flo-
3.
;
t
^Uc/LnJkiitr* toijttu -nbns majo-^f/7
inferioribus 'raafculis
ribus, panicuiis lateralibus fupe-
•
;
racemo
rioribus foemineis
terminali.
Figure 1. Description of Melanthium hybridum in the facsimile edition of Flora Caroliniana (Walter, 1946: 125), showing
with glands) and not the adjective modified by stability of nomenclature (Art. 14.2, McNeill et al.,
owners) of an original copy of Flora Caroliniana. 2012), was approved by the Nomenclature Committee
The establishment of Melanthium hybridum as the for Vascular Plants (Barrie, 2011; Brummitt, 2011;
correct name for the crisped bunch-flower generates McNeill et al., 2011). The voted acceptance of this
Melbourne
an unresolved nomenclatural issue, relative to the proposal at the International Botanical
name now
Melanthium Congress establishes the Veratrum as
circumscription of L. (two to four
species) versus Veratrum L. (17 to 45 species). The conserved over Melanthium (Barrie, 2011; Brummitt,
2011; McNeill 2012). This necessitates the
two genera have a complex taxonomic and nomen- et al.,
name Melanthium hybridum
transfer of the
clatural history, and Veratrum has been variously to
Veratrum, as previously attempted by the monographer
Melanthium submerged
defined with totally or in part
Zimmerman who name
and
accepted Walter’s
summaries in Zimmerman, 1958; Bodkin, 1978; (1958),
(cf.
circumscribed a broadly defined, monophyletic Vera-
Zomlefer 2003). Recent molecular analyses
et al.,
trum. However, his recombination (Kupchan et
al.,
show Melanthium
that recognition of the traditional
1961: was not validly published (Gandhi, 2007,
11)
makes
Veratrum paraphyletic, supporting a recom-
online), because the reference to the basionym is
mendation submerge Melanthium within Veratrum
to
incomplete, lacking a citation of publication, page, and
(Zomlefer 2003). However, although these
s.l. et al.,
McNeill The complete
date (Art. 33.4, et al., 2012).
two Linnaean generic names have equal
priority
new
reference for this combination provided below,
is
Thunberg
(Linnaeus, 1753), (1797) first cited
Zimmerman
giving James Hall (1924-1992) credit for
Veratrum as the synonym of Melanthium, thereby
his studies on Veratrum and including recognition of
establishing the priority of Melanthium over Veratrum
name
bunch-
the priority of Walter’s for the crisped
McNeill 2012). Therefore, combi-
(Art. 11.5; et
al.,
(Zimmerman, Kupchan
flower 1958; 1961).
et
al.,
nations witnin Veratrum based on Melanthium are
valid and legitimate, but are incorrect. Veratrum hybridum (Walter) H. Zimmerman ex
J.
A
proposal (Zomlefer et al., 2010) to continue the Zomlefer, comb. nov. Basionym: Melanthium
widespread usage of Veratrum, which would best serve hybridum Walter, FI. Carol. 125. 1788. Lei-
127