Psidium or Myrcia? — The problematic lectotypification of Mitranthes O.Berg (Myrteae, Myrtaceae)

• Published in: Kew bulletin Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 171 - 174
• Main Authors: Proença, Carolyn E. B., Lucas, Eve J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01-06-2023
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Original Article; Plant Ecology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; nomenclature; Pfeiffer; taxonomy
• ISSN: 0075-5974; 1874-933X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12225-023-10079-y

Summary
The genus
Mitranthes
(Myrteae, Myrtaceae) was described with five species, but no indication of a generic type. These five species are now known to belong to the independent generic lineages
Psidium
and
Myrcia
of the tribe Myrteae. This paper traces the taxonomic and nomenclatural history of
Mitranthes
, showing that the most appropriate type species is currently accepted in
Psidium.
As a result,
Mitranthes
should correctly be treated as a synonym of
Psidium
and its recent synonymisation in
Myrcia
must be discounted.