Urochloa jubata

Oulo, M., Zon, A. P. M. van der & Sosef, M. S. M., 2023, New combinations in and typification of tropical African species of Urochloa (incl. Brachiaria) (Poaceae), Blumea 68 (2), pp. 73-84 : 78

Urochloa jubata (Fig. & De Not.) Sosef

Urochloa jubata (Fig. & De Not.) Sosef (1999) 64. — Panicum jubatum Fig. & De Not. (1853) 15. — Brachiaria jubata (Fig. & De Not.) Stapf (1919) 563. — Lectotype (designated here): Figari s.n. (lecto FI [FI058709]; isolecto FI [FI058708]), Nubia superiore (= Sudan), Fazogl, Apr. 1844.

Brachiaria brevis Stapf (1919) 519. — Lectotype (designated here): Johnson 724 (lecto K [K000282231]), Gold Coast (= Ghana), Afram Plains , Mar. 1900.

Brachiaria fulva Stapf (1919) 518. — Lectotype (designated here): Schweinfurth 2174 (lecto K [K000282140]; isolecto K [K000282141], W [W1916- 0023664]), Lande der Bongo (= Sudan), Addai, 29 July 1869.

Brachiaria soluta Stapf (1919) 519. — Lectotype (designated here): Dummer 677 (lecto K [K000282218]; isolecto BM [ BM000923185 ], NBG [ NBG0121719 -0], PRE [ PRE0664141 -0], US [ US 00902283]), Uganda, Kipayo-Mpumu, Jan. 1914.

Brachiaria bomaensis Vanderyst (1925) 665. — Lectotype (designated here): Claessens 1219 (lecto BR [ BR0000016152205 ]), Zaire, Bunia, 7 Apr.1921.

Distribution — A common species distributed throughout sub-Saharan tropical Africa, from the Sahel region south to Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe; introduced to Madagascar and Brazil.

Nomenclatural notes — The protologue of Panicum jubatum was published and effectively distributed as a preprint in 1853, before it appeared as part of the journal Memorie della Reale Accademia delle Scienze di Torino in 1854.

Clayton & Renvoize (1982) and Vorontsova (2022) indicate that the holotype of Panicum jubata is a collection of Figari s.n. at FI. However, there are two sheets that match the protologue details. They are likely to belong to the same collection, but it seems best to avoid future confusion and select one of them as the lectotype. The one chosen above has richer material (including plants bases) and carries the original label.

The protologue of Brachiaria brevis mentions three syntypes, Chevalier 12659bis, Krause s.n. and Johnson 724. The first is at P, the two others at K. Since Stapf worked at Kew, and the Johnson material is richer than that of Krause, Johnson 724 was selected as the lectotype.

The protologue of Brachiaria fulva cites 21 syntypes. Clayton & Renvoize (1982) cite only one, Schweinfurth 2174 at K, stating there are many more syntypes. The quality of the Schweinfurth specimen is as good as most other syntypes, and while two sheets are available at K there is another duplicate at W. We have chosen one of the K sheets, the one that carries the original label, as the lectotype.

The protologue of Brachiaria soluta cites four syntypes, three from Uganda, and one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, although the latter is not mentioned by Clayton & Renvoize (1982). The specimens are fairly comparable, without doubt about their identity, and we decided to designate the Dummer 677 collection as the type, since it seems to have slightly more duplicates. The duplicate present at K, where Stapf worked, is the richer material and holds an analysis by Stapf; it was the logical candidate for the lectotype .

The protologue of Brachiaria bomaensis indicates a single specimen collected by Claessens at Boma (Dem. Rep. Congo) but does not cite the number. At BR, Claessens 1219 matches the protologue, has been annotated by Vanderyst and carries the name Brachiaria bomaensis in his hand. It is here selected as the lectotype.