(2946) Proposal to conserve the name <i>Iris latifolia</i> (Mill.) Voss ( <i>Iridaceae</i> ) against <i>I. latifolia</i> Heer (fossil <i>Iridaceae</i> )

(2946) Iris latifolia (Mill.) Voss, Vilm. Blumengärtn., ed. 3, 1: 982. 1895 (Xiphion latifolium Mill., Gard. Dict., 8: Xiphion No. 3. 16 Apr 1768) [Angiosp.: Irid.], nom. cons. prop. Typus: [icon] “Iris bulbosa flore diluto coeruleo” in Besler, Hort. Eystett. 2 (Classis Aestiva), Ord. 4, fol. 9, fig. 1. 1613. (H) Heer, Mioc. Balt. Fl.: 29. 15 Nov 1869 [Foss.], rej. non designatus. Due to an apparent lack of penetration the palaeobotanical literature systematic botany, recent addition names fossil plants comprehensive databases plant (i.e., IPNI, IFPNI, POWO, etc.) is revealing existence homonymy problems affecting current use extant diverse taxonomic groups (see Mill Taxon 51: 185–186. 2002; Ungricht & al. 53: 566–568. 2004). The present conservation proposal under Art. 14 ICN (Turland Regnum Veg. 159. 2018) deals with two homonyms genus L. earlier, applies a described from northern Europe second half 19th century, whilst later, Voss Mill.), renowned “English iris”. In accordance 53, later are illegitimate whether type or non-fossil (Art. 11 Note 5), and therefore former name legitimate latter one illegitimate. For those who prefer using Mill. for English iris, this has no relevance. Oswald [von] Heer (1809–1883), Swiss palaeobotanist entomologist, professor at University Federal Institute Technology (ETH) Zürich, (Mioc. Fl. [Beitr. Naturk. Preuss. 2]: 1869) based on leaf fragments collected eastern Prussian Samland, near Kraxtepellen (currently, Yantarnyj) Rauschen Svetlogorsk), Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. A holotype was not designated protologue, lectotypification known authors. original material consists six incomplete (and rather heterogeneous) fossilised leaves (Heer, l.c. 1869: t. 1–6), largest about 22 × 4 cm, that apparently gave rise specific epithet. diagnostic sentence “I[ris]. foliis firmis, latissimis, ensatis (?), irregulariter striatis” added, together brief description material. Images any other vegetative reproductive structure lacking protologue. One year (in Kongl. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. Handl., n. s., 8(7): 53–54, 8, 1–4a, 9. 1870) cited again Spitsbergen Svalbard Archipelago, Norway) Arctic Sea, illustrated some new including supposed (again heterogeneous), stems, (likely) seed part rhizome. Apart its mention classic German palaeobotany textbook by Schenk (Handb. Palaeont., Palaeophyt.: 364. 1885), within century only occasional references appear have been made much further information become available since. Moss Cole al., Mem. Geol. Surv. Ireland (Interbasaltic Rocks): 103–111. 1912) assigned doubt reed-like remains found Ballypalady, County Antrim (Northern Ireland). same applied Engelhardt (Alttert. Messel: 28. 1922) Messel, Darmstadt (Hesse, western Germany), Manum Norsk Polarinst. Skr. 125: 81, 91. 1962) rhizomes Spitsbergen, it also listed Budantsev Sveshnikova Trudy Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk SSSR, ser. Paleobot. 5: 81–112. 1964) series critical notes Tertiary flora Peninsula. It worth mentioning (l.c.: 109) referred fossils he studied as follows: “The impressions received various names, e.g., latifolia; but may be said once such nature suggestion positive untenable which states more than they probably Monocotyledons.” Indeed, basis morphological characteristics, I. might assigned, if monocotyledonous families, perhaps close iridaceous genera similar structure, Gladiolus Eventual transfer Heer's taxon would require replacement name, because previous validly published latifolius Lam. (Vilm. 1895), (Gard. 1768), lectotypified Crespo Montiber. 57. 2012), Cantabrian-Pyrenean species, endemic mostly third Iberian Peninsula, Sierra de Guadarrama (central Spain) Picos Europa (northwestern Eastern Pyrenees, reaching their French side. There, widely distributed sea level up 2400 m elevation, occurring open grasslands meadows both calcareous schistose substrates humid climate (Crespo Castroviejo Iber. 20: 436–437. 2013). However, wild populations becoming rare scarce parts native area, consequently included vulnerable (VU) catalogue threatened vascular País Vasco, Spain (Aizpuru Lista Roja Vasc. CAPV: 177–178. 2010), according IUCN red list categories criteria (2012). This currently accepted national local floras (e.g., Webb Chater Tutin Eur. 1980; Zubía, Rioja, 2: 228. 1993; Aizpuru Claves Ilustr. Vasco y Territor. Limítr.: 135. 1999; Bolòs Vigo, Països Catalans 4: 153–154. 2001; Villar Atlas Pirineo Aragon. 446. Tison France Medit. Cont.: 264. 2014; Jiménez-Alfaro Mediterr. 42: e74570. 2021), treated alternative priority synonym when regarded distinct Crespo, 2013; Lorda, Cat. Floríst. Navarra: 124. Durán Monogr. 13: 301. 2014). very popular among horticulturists several cultivars selected Dykes, Gen. Iris: 211–213. 1912, xiphioides Ehrh.; Mathew, 136. 1981; Christiansen Sp. Group Brit. Soc. (ed.), Guide Iris.: 222–223. 1997) grown garden cut-flower bouquets. Sometimes escapes cultivation, Global Register Introduced Invasive Species (GRIIS) alien Norway since 2004 (Sandvik Biol. Invas. 21: 2997–3012. 2019). broadly influential websites, American Society (https://wiki.irises.org/Spec/SpecLatifolia), Catalogue Life-CoL (http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2011/details/species/id/8156094), Euro+Med PlantBase (http://ww2.bgbm.org/EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameCache=Iris%20latifolia&PTRefFk=8000000), European Network Alien Species-NOBANIS (https://www.nobanis.org/species-info/?taxaID=12996), NCBI-GenBank (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=889463), Pacific Bulb (https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/SpanishIrises#latifolia), Pan-European directories Infrastructure-PESI (http://www.eu-nomen.eu/portal/taxon.php?GUID=4147104A-BFDB-40EA-835F-7DF83A94A7D4), Tela Botanica-France (https://www.tela-botanica.org/bdtfx-nn-35931-synthese), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_latifolia), all accessed 18 Jan 2023. Furthermore, until recently Plants World Online-POWO (https://powo.science.kew.org/) Iris, now (as homonym name) replaced still unpublished combination jacquinii (Schrank) ined.” Schrank Flora 7(2, Beibl.): 17. 1824). Biodiversity Information Facility-GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5297960) treats similarly. Google Scholar string search (18 2023) Voss” returned 50 results, whereas Heer” Far numerous results obtained searches strings latifolia” coupled either iris” “lirio azul”, common range. high percentage entries correspond gardening sites, cultivation and/or bulb sale found, testifying widespread usage ornamental plant. rationale three arguments used (l.c.) proposals conserve junior Ficus (Moraceae) 14, were favourably voted Committee Fossil (Skog 54: 827. 2005) conserved. These are: (i) uncertainty concerning identity placement debatable); (ii) past homonymous floristic (including Internet) shows iris being far frequently; (iii) occurs beyond systematics floristics horticulture, ecology, conservation). Moreover, connected significant input economy countries. Therefore, these reasons, we formally propose against avoid disadvantageous nomenclatural changes best serve stability nomenclature. Acceptance preserve well-established traditional concept, eliminate need unnecessary combination, “I. ined.”, iris. Conversely, maintaining create undesirable instability add confusion botanists, horticulturists, conservationists. MBC, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3294-5637 AC, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5090-7730 We grateful, always, John Wiersema (Department Botany, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.) McNeill (Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K. Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) editorial comments wise suggestions.