Revised taxonomy and nomenclature of Acalypha sect. Communes (Euphorbiaceae), a complex group of species widespread in the north of the Southern Cone.

摘要

The application of the species names included in the previously invalidly published "Acalypha sect. Communes", mostly around the widely cited A. communis, has been confusing almost since their publication. After a thorough study of the literature, from which we recorded 56 scientific names associated to this section, as well as the study of ca. 1500 herbarium specimens, including nomenclatural types, we propose a deep nomenclatural and taxonomic reorganization of this group. Acalypha sect. Communes is validly published and circumscribed to include five species: Acalypha communis, A. variabilis, A. vellamea, A. senilis and A. hassleriana. Regarding A. communis, we delimit its taxonomic status and propose five subspecies: A. communis subsp. communis, subsp. apicalis, subsp. paraguariensis, subsp. saltensis and subsp. tracheliifolia, four of them new combinations. Twenty-two lectotypes and three neotypes are designated, and 20 new synonyms are proposed. A key based on morphological characters to the species and subspecies of this section is also provided.