Revisiting Paepalanthus subsect. Polycladus (Eriocaulaceae) : re-circumscription, nomenclatural notes and description of a noteworthy new species.

Abstract

Paepalanthus subsect. Polycladus was proposed based on a few and incomplete specimens of P. polygonus. In this manuscript we re-circumscribe the group, include the remarkable new species Paepalanthus lychnophorellus and exclude P. grao-mogolensis, providing also a complete description of Paepalanthus polygonus. One new synonym is proposed (P. spiralifolius = P. polygonus) and one lectotypification is designated (P. polygonus). Paepalanthus subsect. Polycladus is compared with morphologically similar taxa. An identification key, illustrations, photographs, distribution maps, and comments on the distribution, habitat preferences, conservation and taxonomy are provided for the two species of the subsection.