10.1 Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss., Ann. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 2: 132. 1803 ≡ Achyranthes lappacea L., Sp. Pl. 1: 204.

1753.

Lectotype (designated by Townsend 1979: 135): — Herb. Hermann 1: 2, No. 103 [BM000621230! (lower specimen), image of the lectotype available at https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ef4647f3-8c75-4c8b-9ed2-1f4d6eb7c112/1691020800000].

Infraspecific variation of Pupalia lappacea:— This species is highly variable from the morphological point of view and five varieties are currently accepted, viz. var. argyrophylla C.C.Towns., var. glabrescens C.C.Towns., var. lappacea, var. orbiculata (B.Heyne ex Wall.) C.C.Towns., and var. velutina (Moq.) Hook.f. The taxa differ from each other on habit, leaf shape, indumentum, and number of setae in the sterile flowers (Townsend 1979). The flora of Saudi Arabia includes one variety only, var. velutina (Moq.) Hook.f.

10.1a. Pupalia lappacea L. var. velutina (Moq.) Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 724. 1885 ≡ Pupalia velutina Moq. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 332. 1849.

Lectotype (designated by Townsend 1979: 138, here corrected according to Art. 9.10 of ICN): — INDIA. Herbarium Wallich List no. 6935 (K000814943!, image of the lectotype available at https://plants.jstor.org/stable/viewer/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000814943?logge din=true).

Typification of the name Pupalia velutina: — Moquin-Tandon (1849: 332) cited, after the description, a syntype (“In India ad ripas Irrawaddi (Wall.!). Desmochaeta velutina Wall. ! list n. 6935”). The name “Desmochaeta velutina” appears in Wallich’s (1829) Numerical list as a nomen nudum and, therefore, it is invalid according to Arts. 38.1 and 38.2 of ICN. Townsend (1979: 138) reported for var. velutina “Type: Burma, Wallich 6935A (holotype W n.v. [non vidi]; isotype K-W)”. However, not only Moquin-Tandon (1849: 332) did not cite a holotype (but a syntype according to Art. 9.6 of ICN); Wallich’s original material is deposited at K with duplicates in many other herbaria, W included (HUH Index of Botanists 2013c). According to Art. 9.10 of ICN, Townsed’s use of the term isotype for the K specimen is an error, to be corrected to the term lectotype. We traced Wallich’s specimen (no. 6835) at K (K000814943).

Chorology:― Native to Africa (most of the countries), the Arabian Peninsula, India, and some islands of south-eastern Asia (POWO 2023).

Occurrence in Saudi Arabia:― ʿAsīr (Alwadie 2005), Jazan (Collenette 1999), Makkah.

Specimina visa selecta:— SAUDI ARABIA . Jazan, Fayfa, 06 march 2012, s.c. KFSU329 (PNUH!) ; Makkah, Inter lapides et rupes montis Sedder Arab. Felicis, 28 february 1836, Schimper 901 (HBG503191!) ; ibidem (HBG503150!); ibidem (TUB000282!); ibidem (G00689213!).