(C) 2013 Christian Feuillet. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
For reference, use of the paginated PDF or printed version of this article is recommended.
Firensia Scop. was based on Cordia flavescens Aubl., a species described and illustrated from a mixed collection that Scopoli never transferred to Firensia. The genus included three additional species formally named by Rafinesque. Currently the four species are placed in three different families and none retained the epithet accepted by Scopoli or given by Rafinesque for reason of priority. A lectotype is designated for Cordia flavescens that places Firensia in the synonymy of Ocotea (Lauraceae).
Aublet, Boraginales, Combretaceae, Cordia, Lauraceae, French Guiana, Rafinesque, typification
In the preparation of the treatment of the Boraginaceae for the Flora of the Guianas, I got intrigued by the history of Firensia Scop. When
To solve the question of the generic and familial placement of Firensia, I studied the literature and type specimens. I looked also at printed photographs found in the cited herbarium collections, and examined scanned of specimens or photos of specimens posted online, available directly through the herbarium site, or through the sites of JSTOR or Europeana. Example: “photos F, MO!, US!; scan!”. The Internet address to the scans is given in a note below the species.
A few typifications had to be made. When the type collection was known, but not the holotype, the text says: “Type:... (lectotype... ; isotypes...)”. When the original description was associated with several collections of equal status or syntypes, a type collection and a lectotype were selected and the text says: “Lectotype...: ... (hololectotype...; isolectotypes...)”. In both cases the information on the date of lectotypification is given next to the word lectotype.
The name Cordia flavescens Aubl. was described and illustrated based on a mixture of fruiting branches of Ocotea commutata Nees (LAURACEAE) and flowers belonging in Cordia. Specimens by Aublet at BM and S represent only the Ocotea element (
Cordia flavescens Aubl. is the only species included in Firensia by
Nomenclature stability is satisfied: Firensia Scop. (1777) does not have priority over Ocotea Aubl. (1775), and the epithet flavescens cannot be transferred to Ocotea as the name Ocotea flavescens Rusby (1920) applies to a different species from Colombia. Aublet’s name becomes a synonym of Ocotea commutata (Nees) Mez.
Ocotea Aubl., Hist. Pl. Guiane 2: 780; 4: t. 310. 1775.
Type: Ocotea guianensis Aubl.
Firensia Scop., Intr. Hist. Nat. 157. 1777.
Type: Cordia flavescens Aubl.
The species once placed in Firensia have been named or identified as species of Cordia L., one by
The holotype of Oreodaphne commutata can be seen at http://ww2.bgbm.org/herbarium/view_large.cfm?SpecimenPK=47688&idThumb=253360&SpecimenSequenz=1&loan=0 , and the Paris isotypes at http://coldb.mnhn.fr/colweb/request.do?requestaction=exec; the lectotype of Cordia flavescens at http://plants.jstor.org/specimen/bm000993950 , and its Stockholm isotype at http://plants.jstor.org/specimen/s04-2350?history=true.
The hololectotype of Cordia collococca can be seen at [herb. LINN scan!; http://www.linnean-online.org/view/plants_alpha/cordia_callococca.html; accessed 22.01.2013].
For other synonyms, see
Sometimes the collection from French Guiana—J.B. Aublet s.n. (BM [scan!], LINN SM-374.5 [microfiche!], P-Rousseau 5: 181! [acquired by P only in 1953])—is cited as the type of Cordia nodosa and Cordia hirsuta. In fact it is unlikely that
Aublet s.n. can be seen at http://plants.jstor.org/specimen/bm000906214
Cordia hirsuta Fresen. 1857 is different from Cordia hirsuta Willd. 1798.
For other synonyms, see
For other synonyms, see
I want to thank Larry Kelly for reviewing the manuscript and Jim Miller for being the editor. My gratitude to the editorial team who indulge my poor handling of the interaction with the PhytoKeys website. I am indebted to the curators of the herbaria cited who made easy to get loans, or work in the collection in their care, or provided scans of types.