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Published: 2026-03-31
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New taxonomic status and first report of the little-known Silene nigrescens var. latifolia (Caryophyllaceae) in India with lectotypification of Lychnis nigrescens

Plant Reproduction and Cytogenetics laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir,180006, India
Himalayan Diversity and Taxonomy Laboratory, Garhwal University Herbarium, Department of Botany & Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, 246174, Uttarakhand, India
Plant Reproduction and Cytogenetics laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir,180006, India
Department of Botany & Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, 246174, Uttarakhand, India
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
lectotype new record nomenclatural change status novum Western Himalaya Eudicots

Abstract

Bouquet’s Silene nigrescens subsp. latifolia, a little-known taxon of the carnation family, is reported here as a noteworthy addition to the flora of India, based on recent collections from Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. A detailed morphological description, original photos, and an identification key for the infraspecific taxa of S. nigrescens group, are provided. A new taxonomic status (from subspecies to variety) is also proposed for Bouquet’s taxon latifolia. A lectotype (stored at K) is designated for the name Lychnis nigrescens (basionym of Silene nigrescens).

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How to Cite

Singh, S., Kumar, A., Sharma, U., Sharma, N., Mehta, J.P. & Iamonico, D. (2026) New taxonomic status and first report of the little-known Silene nigrescens var. latifolia (Caryophyllaceae) in India with lectotypification of Lychnis nigrescens. Phytotaxa 750 (1): 24–32. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.750.1.2