Confirming the identity of two enigmatic "spiny solanums" (Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum, Solanaceae) collected by Jean-Baptiste Leschenault in Java.
Taxonomic revision of the tropical Asian species ofSolanumrevealed two names,Solanum pokaDunal andSolanum graciliflorumDunal, whose identities were uncertain and whose application has always been tentative. Material collected in Java at the beginning of the 19thcentury by Jean-Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour and used to describe these taxa has not been found, despite extensive searches in European herbaria. We here stabilise use of these names by comparing herbarium specimens and drawings of original material made by the artist Toussaint François Node-Véran. Detailed descriptions with synonymy, preliminary conservation assessments and specimen citations are provided for both species. Lectotypes are designated for all names (including synonyms) and epitypes designated forSolanum pokaandSolanum graciliflorumto stabilise usage.
Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Xavier
X
Aubriot
Herbier de l'Université de Montpellier, Service du Patrimoine Historique - DCSPH - CC99010, 163 rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090 Montpellier, France.
Caroline
C
Loup
Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Sandra
S
Knapp
Exploration; Indonesia; Jean-Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour; Montpellier; Nicolas Baudin; Toussaint François Node-Véran; typification