(2948) Proposal to conserve the name <i>Croton fuscescens</i> ( <i>Julocroton fuscescens</i> ) against <i>C. gnaphaloides</i> ( <i>Euphorbiaceae</i> )

(2948) Croton fuscescens Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 874. Jan–Mar 1826 [Angiosp.: Euphorb.], nom. cons. prop. Typus: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Sellow (BR barcode 0000006999551; isotypi: G G00441706, TUB TUB-009138). (=) gnaphaloides Schrad. in Gött. Gel. Anz. 1821: 708. 5 Mai 1821, rej. Lectotypus (vide Moraes Kew Bull. 66: 498. 2011): Paraíba, Sep–Oct 1815, Wied-Neuwied (GOET; isolectotypus: BR 0000006592370!). Spreng. (Syst. 1826) is a shrub endemic to Brazilian Atlantic Forest, occurring forest edges and clearings, between 200 1000 m elevation northeastern (Alagoas, Bahia, Pernambuco, Sergipe), southeastern (Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Janeiro), midwestern regions (Goiás) (https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB35828, accessed 12 Aug 2022). The species can be recognized by its blackish indumentum on young branches, flowers, fruits; leaves without nectaries; leaf margin slightly serrate venation pinnate; inflorescences terminal, bisexual, congested; stamens 11; sepals of pistillate flowers strongly unequal (3 conspicuous deeply laciniate, 2 inconspicuous); styles bifid (for total 6 stigmatic tips). name was lectotypified Caruzo & Cordeiro (in Hoehnea 34: 578. 2007), who concluded that there had been holotype at B which destroyed [in the 1944 bombing]. Accordingly, they designated duplicate as lectotype. transferred Baillon Adansonia 4: 367. 1864) along with other Julocroton Mart. Flora 20(2 Beibl.): 119. 1837). This generic assignment followed Johannes Müller [Argoviensis] Martius, Fl. Bras. 11(2): 286–287. 1873), presented detailed extensive description including synonyms examined material. Webster J. Arnold Arbor. 48: 303–361. 1967) proposed section Radcliffe-Smith Govaerts 52: 184. 1997) subg. (Mart.) Radcl.-Sm. Govaerts; more recently, phylogenies Berry al. Amer. Bot. 92: 1520–1534. 2005) Van Ee Taxon 60: 791–823. 2011) based molecular data studies, confirmed position. segregation (l.c.) accepted for several years. Macbride Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Ser. 13(3A): 57. 1951) first not accept distinct genus, explaining characteristics defining genus were arbitrary (“unequal female sepals, sometimes glandular”) also occurred Peruvian Croton. proposal (l.c. 1967; Novon 2: 269–273. 1992; 42: 793–823. 1993) justifying features keep no distinctive than those characterize sections within However, continued authors, such Smith Reitz, Santa Catarinense: Euforbiáceas. 1988), Acta 4(1): 83–90. 1990; Revis. Taxon. Julocroton: 138–151. 1994, thesis, Univ. Paulo) (Gen. Euphorbiacearum: 259. 2001). These authors similarity two genera, however claimed distinguished them very striking did vary so much, fact happens sections. Since publication 1826, has employed different works regional floras, anatomical ethnobotany, biochemistry, phylogenetic analysis, taxonomy, palynology publications (e.g., Cordeiro, l.c. Webster, 1992, 1993: 816; l.c.: 571–585; Correia 37: 53–69. 2010; Garcia Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 6: 29. Silva 24: 441–453. Paula Saja Nordic 29: 505–511. 2011; Pl. Evol. 292: 1–14. al., l.c.; Oliveira 43: 645–667. 2016; Soka Lombardi Rodriguésia 67: 001–017. Gagliardi Austral. 65: 538–549. 2017; 46: e912018. 2019; Pimentel Biochem. Ecol. 104106. 2020; Souza Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 281: 104279. Pereira-Silva Biota Neotrop. 22(1): e20211223. Additionally, recommended ecological restoration state Brazil (Barbosa, Lista Espéc. Restaur. Estado Paulo. 2017). synonym C. 1821), described specimens collected Maximilian Alexander Philipp, Prinz zu Wied-Neuwied, during his expedition 1815 1817. Schrader cite directly specimen Wied, but stated fits perfectly information label handwritten Wied deposited GOET. It worth emphasizing mentioned GOET neither identified nor annotated Schrader. Although World Checkl. Bibliogr. Euphorbiaceae: 455. 2000), apart from listing “Species inquirendae, valde dubiae” (l.c.: 274), this never any flora, revision or taxonomic treatment after an online search, located among herbarium collections GenBank accessions. Some databases now name, do Brasil (https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB35828), Plants Online (https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:342599-1), Encyclopedia Life (https://eol.org/pages/1147160/names), all Feb 2023. Nevertheless, purpose nomenclatural stability, we propose conservation well-known commonly applied fuscescens, under Art. 14.2, against gnaphaloides. latter used nearly 175 years, continue widely adopted taxonomic, biochemical, ethnobotanical studies. Any further disruptions stability will lead only confusion. RFS, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4532-8902 MBRC, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8393-214X IC, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2626-5280 OLMS, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4561-5936 APNP, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4874-129X