Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 718 No. 1: 16 Sept. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-09-16
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.1.3
Page range: 27-38
Abstract views: 464
PDF downloaded: 11

Taxonomic studies of Blachia (Euphorbiaceae) in China (I): B. chunii is synonymous with B. cotoneaster, not B. siamensis

Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China; Herbarium, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China
Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China; Herbarium, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China
Blachia Hainan morphology new synonymy taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

Blachia chunii (Euphorbiaceae), described from China, has been previously placed in synonymy with B. siamensis. Critical observations on herbarium specimens (including type material) and living plants in the wild revealed that B. chunii is actually identical with B. cotoneaster, not B. siamensis. We therefore reduce B. chunii to the synonymy of B. cotoneaster. Blachia siamensis should thus be excluded from the flora of China and B. cotoneaster is newly recorded for the flora of China. Illustrations of all three species, and a distribution map of B. cotoneaster and B. siamensis are also provided. Lectotypification is proposed for B. cotoneaster.

References

  1. Baillon, H. (1858) Etude générale du groupe des Euphorbiacées. V. Masson, Paris, 684 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.50439
  2. Beentje, H. (2010) The Kew Plant Glossary. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 160 pp.
  3. Chang, Y.T. & Li, P.T. (1988) Two new species of Euphorbiaceae from Guangdong. Guihaia 8: 53–55.
  4. Chayamarit, K. & van Welzen, P.C. (2005) Blachia Baill. In: Chayamarit, K. & van Welzen, P.C. (Eds.) Flora of Thailand, vol. 8 (1). The Forest Herbarium, Bangkok, pp. 126–127.
  5. Engler, A. (1911) Blachia Baill. In: Engler, A. (Ed.) Das Pflanzenreich IV (Heft 47). Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig, pp. 36–39.
  6. Gagnepain, F. (1924) Euphorbiacées nouvelles (Blachia, Dimorphocalyx et Erismanthus). Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France 71: 619–623. https://doi.org/10.1080/00378941.1924.10836959
  7. Gagnepain, F. & Beille, L. (1926) Euphorbiaceae. In: Lecomte, M.H. (Ed.) Flore Générale de L’Indo-Chine, vol. 5. Masson & Cie, Paris, pp. 229–673.
  8. Li, B.T. (2000) Validation of some Chinese species of angiosperms. Journal of South China Agricultural University 21 (4): 59–60.
  9. Li, B.T. & Gilbert, M.G. (2008) Blachia Baillon. In: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (Eds.) Flora of China, vol. 11. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp. 269–270.
  10. McNeill, J. (2014) Holotype specimens and type citations: General issues. Taxon 63: 1112–1113. https://doi.org/10.12705/635.7
  11. Turland, N.J., Wiersema, J.H., Barrie, F.R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D.L., Herendeen, P.S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W.-H., Li, D.-Z., Marhold, K., May, T.W., McNeill, J., Monro, A.M., Prado, J., Price, M.J. & Smith, G.F. (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code). Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashütten, 254 pp. https://doi.org/10.12705/Code.2018
  12. Zhang, R.Q. (2005) Validation of the name Blachia chunii (Euphorbiaceae). Taxon 54: 805. https://doi.org/10.2307/25065440

How to Cite

Zeng, Y.-P. & Zhou, X.-X. (2025) Taxonomic studies of Blachia (Euphorbiaceae) in China (I): B. chunii is synonymous with B. cotoneaster, not B. siamensis. Phytotaxa 718 (1): 27–38. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.1.3