(2812) Proposal to reject the name Primula sawyeri ( Dionysia sawyeri ) ( Primulaceae )

(2812) Primula sawyeri G. Watt, Rep. Bot. Coll. H. A. Sawyer S. W. Persia: 94. 1891 [Angiosp.: Primul.], nom. utique rej. prop. Typus: deest. The type of the name Watt (Rep. 1891) (≡ Dionysia (G. Watt) Wendelbo in Aarbok Univ. Bergen, Mat.-Naturvitensk. Ser. 1961(3): 64. 1961) is believed to have been early lost, but there little doubt about its identity, as I will show below. hitherto accepted application this (Wendelbo, l.c.) without erroneous. Watt's description reads [typed copy E]: “whole plant not more than 1 1.5 inches. Stem perennial tufted, subwoody. Leaves 1/4 inch long, elliptic obovate sessile entire with a fringe stout ciliae around apex. Calyx deeply 5-toothed, segments obtuse, and like leaves ciliate, 1/3 length corolla. Corolla tube thin, 1/2 length, yellow; limb pale purple yellow naked mouth, lobes obcordate […] In size appearance flowers very much resembles minute Himalayan species P. minutissima.” [Watt's Report was published Appendix A to: Sawyer, H.A., reconnaissance Bakhtiari country S.W. Persia. Simla.] collected Province Iran central Zagros mountains by H.A. “on rocks South Kar Kanun near sources Karun Kuh-i-Rang at an altitude 8,000 feet”. detailed map provided (in Geogr. J. (London) 4: 481–501. 1894), we find that locality upper Koohrang valley present dam (ca 32°27′N 50°06′E). This surrounding area visited repeatedly dedicated collectors during last 25 years, only one purple-flowered species, D. archibaldii Not. 120: 144. 1967), has ever encountered. Wendelbo, however, identified rare bachtiarica Bornm. & F.N. Alex. Bull. Herb. Boissier, ser. 2, 515. 1905), which still known from Alexeenkos's collections 1902–1903. based identification on “purple flowers” “ciliate leaf margins calyx lobes”, most facts speak strongly against his suggestion: (a) 1/6 corolla, 1/3. (b) Kuh-e Kallar, 100 km southeast sawyeri. Note also that, although Bornmüller assumed corolla colour purple, far certain. Alexeenko did record it, corollas are notorious for becoming bluish green, brownish or dark blue herbaria (the latter in, e.g., specimens mira [in 112: 500. 1959] diapensifolia Boiss. [Diagn. Pl. Orient. 1, 7: 65. 1846]). Further, strikingly anisophyllous, middle shoot 3–5 times longer terminal ones; cf. single measure given Watt. Identification likely: It No other within radius. (c) long. (d) (e) long [pale] tube, mouth lobes. (f) it minutissima Duby. Finally, less decisive, mature cushions ± equal size, outline (although revolute margin usually obscurely crenate), can appear ciliate hairs confined margin). part disagrees “calyx obovate”. they mostly oblong lanceolate, obtuse sub-acute. would possibly reached different conclusion, had him when he wrote 1961 monograph. However, made aware until 1966. (1) epithet has, high probability, priority over common Bazoft Districts. fairly widely cultivated botanic gardens amateurs, evidenced simple google images search “Dionysia archibaldii”. (2) names designate species. former thus consistently used (1961 present) taxon including type. Based these two reasons, suggest disruptive be disarmed being listed among suppressed names. ML, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6306-9353