Abstract
We propose a nomenclatural revision of the names associated with the current circumscription of Fritzschia (Melastomataceae, Marcetieae). Lectotypes are designated for Comolia tetraquetra, Fritzschia anisostemon, F. caespitosa (≡ Marcetia caespitosa), F. punctulata, F. sessilis (≡ Melastoma sessile), Tetrameris excoriata, and T. violacea, and a neotype is designated for Fritzschia erecta. Three heterotypic synonyms are proposed under F. sessilis. In addition, Fritzschia caespitosa is proposed as a new combination based on the misunderstood name Marcetia caespitosa. Fritzschia recubans is treated as an excluded name proposed by Glaziou in his suppressed work “Plantae Brasiliae centralis a Glaziou lectae”. However, the gathering cited by Glaziou actually corresponds to Pleroma cleistoflorum. Finally, we clarify the circumstances involving type specimens of Fritzschia formerly housed at LE that were destroyed during their return following a loan.
References
- Bebber, D.P., Carine, M.A., Wood, J.R.I., Wortley, A.H., Harris, D.J., Prance, G.T., Davidse, G., Paige, J., Pennington, T.D., Robson, N.K.B. & Scotland, R.W. (2010) Herbaria are a major frontier for species discovery. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107: 22169–22171. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1011841108
- Browne, P. (1756) The civil and natural history of Jamaica: in three parts. Printed for the author, and sold by T. Osborne and J. Shipton in Gray’s-Inn, London, 503 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.10826
- Candolle, A.P. (1828) Melastomaceae. In: Candolle, A.P. (Ed.) Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis, sive enumeratio contracta ordinum, generum, specierumque plantarum huc usque cognitarum, juxta methodi naturalis normas digesta. Vol. 3. Sumptibus Sociorum Treuttel et Würtz, Parisiis [Paris], pp. 99–202.
- Chamisso, A. (1834) De plantis in expeditione speculatoria romanzoffiana et in herbariis regiis berolinensibus observatis. Melastomaceae americanae. Linnaea 9: 368–402.
- Cogniaux, A. (1885) Melastomaceae. Tribus II. Tibouchineae Baill. In: Martius, C.F.P. & Eichler, A.G. (Eds.) Flora brasiliensis. Vol. 14. Frid. Fleischer, Monachii et Lipsiae [Munich & Leipzig], pp. 205–510.
- Cogniaux, A. (1888) Melastomaceae. Addenda et emendanda. Vol. XIV, partis III. In: Martius, C.F.P., Eichler, A.G. & Urban, I. (Eds.) Flora brasiliensis. Vol. 14. Frid. Fleischer, Monachii et Lipsiae [Munich & Leipzig], pp. 589–616.
- Delprete, P.G. (2024) Supplement to the Rubiaceae in the Flora dos Estados de Goiás e Tocantins, Brazil: Nomenclatural revision, typifications, new records, new identifications, and new combinations. Webbia 79: 53–182. https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-15948
- Glaziou, A.F.M. (1908) Plantæ Brasiliæ centralis a Glaziou lectæ. Liste des plantes du Brésil Central recueillies en 1861-1895. Mémoires publiés par la Société Botanique de France 1: 201–296. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.4336
- Grace, O.M., Pérez-Escobar, O.A., Lucas, E.J., Vorontsova, M.S., Lewis, G.P., Walker, B.E., Lohmann, L.G., Knapp, S., Wilkie, P., Sarkinen, T., Darbyshire, I., Lughadha, E.N., Monro, A., Woudstra, Y., Demissew, S., Muasya, A.M., Díaz, S., Baker, W.J. & Antonelli, A. (2021) Botanical Monography in the Anthropocene. Trends in Plant Science 26: 433–441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2020.12.018
- Hedrick, B.P., Heberling, J.M., Meineke, E.K., Turner, K.G., Grassa, C.J., Park, D.S., Kennedy, J., Clarke, J.A., Cook, J.A., Blackburn, D.C., Edwards, S.V. & Davis, C.C. (2020) Digitization and the future of natural history collections. BioScience 70: 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz163
- Knapp, S., Lamas, G., Lughadha, N.E. & Novarino, G. (2004) Stability or stasis in the names of organisms: the evolving codes of nomenclature. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 359: 611–622. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2003.1445
- Mansano, V.F. & Pederneiras, L.C. (2016) Proposal to add Glaziou’s “Plantae Brasiliae centralis a Glaziou lectae” to the list of suppressed works in Appendix VI. Taxon 65: 1181–1182. https://doi.org/10.12705/655.28
- McNeill, J. (2000) Naming the groups: developing a stable and efficient nomenclature. Taxon 49: 705–720. https://doi.org/10.2307/1223972
- McNeill, J. (2014) Holotype specimens and type citations: general issues. Taxon 63: 1112–1113. https://doi.org/10.12705/635.7
- Merrill, E.D. (1943) Destruction of the Berlin Herbarium. Science 98: 490–491. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.98.2553.490
- Meyer, L., Ladle, R.J., Trad, R.J., Frazão, A., Frateles, L., Lessa, T., Pinto, R.B., Freitas, T.M.S., Tessarolo, G., Guedes, J.J.M., Castro-Souza, R.A., Medeiros, H., Jardim, L., Neves, D.R.M., Rosado, B.H.P., Lohmann, L.G., Hortal, J., Diniz-Filho, J.A.F. & Stropp, J. (2026) Taxonomic uncertainty: causes, consequences, and metrics. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.12.006
- Moraes, P.L.R. (2023) Redux Sellow: Revealing Sellow’s collections from the Herbier Impérial du Brésil at the Paris Herbarium. Phytotaxa 596: 1–216. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.596.1.1
- Naudin, C. (1845) Description de genres nouveaux, et rectification de quelques anciens genres appartenant à la famille des Mélastomacées. Additions a la flore du Brésil Méridional. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique sér. 3, 3: 169–192.
- Naudin, C. (1849) Melastomacearum quӕ in Musӕo Parisiensi continentur. Monographicӕ descriptionis et secundum affinitates distributionis tentamen. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique sér. 3, 12: 196–284.
- Naudin, C. (1850) Melastomacearum quӕ in Musӕo Parisiensi continentur. Monographiӕ descriptionis et secundum affinitates distributionis tentamen (sequentia.). Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique sér. 3, 14: 118–165.
- Pacifico, R., Almeda, F. & Silva, D.N. (2018) Fritzschia rupestris (Melastomataceae: Marcetieae): A new endangered species from the Cadeia do Espinhaço, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Systematic Botany 43: 793–800. https://doi.org/10.1600/036364418X697508
- Rocha, M.J.R., Guimarães, P.J.F., Michelangeli, F.A. & Batista, J.A.N. (2017) [2018] Taxonomy of Marcetieae: A new neotropical tribe of Melastomataceae. International Journal of Plant Sciences 179: 50–74. https://doi.org/10.1086/694932
- Romero, R., Versiane, A.F.A. & Woodgyer, E.M. (2022) Miscellaneous taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on Microlicia D.Don (Melastomataceae). Phytotaxa 559: 99–131. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.1
- Saint-Hilaire, A. (1833) Notes sur les plantes caractéristiques indiquées dans ce volume. In: Saint-Hilaire, A. (Ed.) Voyage dans le District des Diamans et sur le littoral du Bresil. Vol. 1. Librairie-Gide, Paris, pp. 365–398.
- Seco, R.C. (2006) Estudos taxonômicos no gênero Comolia DC. (Melastomataceae—Melastomeae) no Brasil. Master’s thesis. Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil, 113 pp.
- Silva, D.N. (2018) Revisão taxonômica do gênero Fritzschia Cham. (Marcetieae: Melastomataceae). Undergraduate thesis. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 109 pp.
- Silva, D.N. (2021) Revisão taxonômica do gênero Comolia DC. (Marcetieae, Melastomataceae). Master’s thesis. Escola Nacional de Botânica Tropical, Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 273 pp.
- Silva, M.F.O., Guimarães, P.J.F. & Michelangeli, F.A. (2014) Nomenclatural and taxonomic novelties in the tribe Melastomeae (Melastomataceae). Phytotaxa 186: 222–228. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.186.4.6
- Silva, D.N., Rocha, M.J.R., Jesus, J.C. & Guimarães, P.J.F. (2019) First record of Fritzschia Cham. (Melastomataceae, Marcetieae) in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Check List 15: 753–758. https://doi.org/10.15560/15.5.753
- Silva, D.N., Rocha, M.J.R., Maia, V.H., Guimarães, E.F. & Guimarães, P.J.F. (2021) Checklist, typifications, and nomenclatural notes on Comolia (Melastomataceae, Marcetieae). Phytotaxa 497: 247–262. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.497.3.4
- Silva, D.N., Fernandez, E.P., Verdi, M., Gonella, P.M. & Guimarães, P.J.F. (2026) Conservation efforts reveal two remarkable new species of Marcetieae (Melastomataceae) from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Botany Letters 173: 31–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2025.2571935
- Silva, D.N. & Guimarães, P.J.F. (2026) A remarkable and little-known new species of Fritzschia (Melastomataceae, Marcetieae) from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Phytotaxa 767: 85–92. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.767.1.10
- Silveira, F.S. & Miotto, S.T.S. (2023) A taxonomic headache due to a ‘Frankenstein type’: solving the identity and typification of a Mimosa species. Acta Botanica Brasilica 37: e20220313. https://doi.org/10.1590/1677-941x-abb-2022-0313
- Sprengel, C. (1825) 1556. Melastoma. In: Linnaei, C. (Ed.) Systema vegetabilium. Vol. 2, Ed. 16. Sumtibus Librariae Dieterichianae, Gottingae [Göttingen], pp. 295–305.
- Stafleu, F.A. & Cowan, R.S. (1976) Taxonomic literature: A selective guide to botanical publications and collections with dates, commentaries and types. Vol. 1 [A-G], 2 ed. Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema, Utrecht, 1136 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.48631
- Teixeira, L.J., Araújo, M.D.F., Deccache, L.S.J. & Fraga, C.N. (2025) When nomenclature and morphology unravel an enigma: the true identity of Ouratea crassinervia (Ochnaceae). Plant Ecology and Evolution 158: 237–247. https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.135902
- Thiers, B. (2025) Index Herbariorum: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. Available from: https://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (accessed 15 December 2025)
- Thomson, S.A., Pyle, R.L., Ahyong, S.T., Alonso-Zarazaga, M., Ammirati, J., Araya, J.F., Ascher, J.S., Audisio, T.L., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., Bailly, N., Baker, W.J., Balke, M., Barclay, M.V.L., Barrett, R.L., Benine, R.C., Bickerstaff, J.R.M., Bouchard, P., Bour, R., Bourgoin, T., Boyko, C.B., Breure, A.S.H., Brothers, D.J., Byng, J.W., Campbell, D., Ceríaco, L.M.P., Cernák, I., Cerretti, P., Chang, C.H., Cho, S., Copus, J.M., Costello, M.J., Cseh, A., Csuzdi, C., Culham, A., D’Elía, G., d’Udekem d’Acoz, C., Daneliya, M.E., Dekker, R., Dickinson, E.C., Dickinson, T.A., van Dijk, P.P., Dijkstra, K.D.B., Dima, B., Dmitriev, D.A., Duistermaat, L., Dumbacher, J.P., Eiserhardt, W.L., Ekrem, T., Evenhuis, N.L., Faille, A., Fernández-Triana, J.L., Fiesler, E., Fishbein, M., Fordham, B.G., Freitas, A.V.L., Friol, N.R., Fritz, U., Frøslev, T., Funk, V.A., Gaimari, S.D., Garbino, G.S.T., Garraffoni, A.R.S., Geml, J., Gill, A.C., Gray, A., Grazziotin, F.G., Greenslade, P., Gutiérrez, E.E., Harvey, M.S., Hazevoet, C.J., He, K., He, X., Helfer, S., Helgen, K.M., van Heteren, A.H., Hita Garcia, F., Holstein, N., Horváth, M.K., Hovenkamp, P.H., Hwang, W.S., Hyvönen, J., Islam, M.B., Iverson, J.B., Ivie, M.A., Jaafar, Z., Jackson, M.D., Jayat, J.P., Johnson, N.F., Kaiser, H., Klitgård, B.B., Knapp, D.G., Kojima, J., Kõljalg, U., Kontschán, J., Krell, F.T., Krisai-Greilhuber, I., Kullander, S., Latella, L., Lattke, J.E., Lencioni, V., Lewis, G.P., Lhano, M.G., Lujan, N.K., Luksenburg, J.A., Mariaux, J., Marinho-Filho, J., Marshall, C.J., Mate, J.F., McDonough, M.M., Michel, E., Miranda, V.F.O., Mitroiu, M.D., Molinari, J., Monks, S., Moore, A.J., Moratelli, R., Murányi, D., Nakano, T., Nikolaeva, S., Noyes, J., Ohl, M., Oleas, N.H., Orrell, T., Páll-Gergely, B., Pape, T., Papp, V., Parenti, L.R., Patterson, D., Pavlinov, I.Y., Pine, R.H., Poczai, P., Prado, J., Prathapan, D., Rabeler, R.K., Randall, J.E., Rheindt, F.E., Rhodin, A.G.J., Rodríguez, S.M., Rogers, D.C., Roque, F.O., Rowe, K.C., Ruedas, L.A., Salazar-Bravo, J., Salvador, R.B., Sangster, G., Sarmiento, C.E., Schigel, D.S., Schmidt, S., Schueler, F.W., Segers, H., Snow, N., Souza-Dias, P.G.B., Stals, R., Stenroos, S., Stone, R.D., Sturm, C.F., Štys, P., Teta, P., Thomas, D.C., Timm, R.M., Tindall, B.J., Todd, J.A., Triebel, D., Valdecasas, A.G., Vizzini, A., Vorontsova, M.S., de Vos, J.M., Wagner, P., Watling, L., Weakley, A., Welter-Schultes, F., Whitmore, D., Wilding, N., Will, K., Williams, J., Wilson, K., Winston, J.E., Wüster, W., Yanega, D., Yeates, D.K., Zaher, H., Zhang, G., Zhang, Z.Q. & Zhou, H.Z. (2018) Taxonomy based on science is necessary for global conservation. PLoS Biology 16: e2005075. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2005075
- Triana, J.J. (1872) [1871] Les Mélastomacées. The transactions of the Linnean Society of London 28: 1–188. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1871.tb00222.x
- Turland, N.J., Wiersema, J.H., Barrie, F.R., Gandhi, K.N., Gravendyck, J., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D.L., Herendeen, P.S., Klopper, R.R., Knapp, S., Kusber, W.-H., Li, D.-Z., May, T.W., Monro, A.M., Prado, J., Price, M.J., Smith, G.F. & Zamora Señoret, J.C. (2025) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Madrid Code). Regnum Vegetabile 162. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226839479.001.0001
- Wilson, R.L. (2017) Report of the General Committee: 18. Taxon 66: 742–744. https://doi.org/10.12705/663.15
