Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 77 AMARANTHACEAE 19
5. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, capitate ......
..................... Alternanthera
5. Inflorescence a terminal panicle ....... Zresine
Achyranthes Linnaeus
A chyranthes aspera
Achyronthes aspero Linnaeus, 1753:204.-Townsend in Dassanayake. 1980,
1:38.
Achyronthes aspem var. indica Linnaeus, 1753:W.
Achyronthu indica (Linnaeus) Miller, 1768.
Achyronthu obturifolia Lamarck, 1785, 1545.
Weedy herb with opposite leaves; hits spinose, deflexed on
elongate spikes.
Pantropic weed; in Dominica in dry scrub and along roads:
Canefield-Roseau (Hodge 44@, Colihaut-Coulibistri (Ernst
1136), West Cabrit (Hodge 3708).
Use of a root decoction against dysentery and an infusion
against dyspepsia was reported by Adjanohoun et al. (1985:37,
pl. 4).
According to Townsend, Achyranthes aspera Linnaeus and
A. aspera var. indica Linnaeus are based on the same type. If
true, the correct name for the ovate-leaved taxon on Dominica
would be A. aspera. Fawcett and Rendle (1914, 3(1):136)
treated A. aspera as typified on a specimen in LINN
(presumably 287.1) with lanceolate leaves but it is doubtful that
this constituted formal lectotypification.
Alternanthera ForsskPl
A number of species names were called into question by
Mean and Gillis (1977) with a promise of future publications,
such as Mean (1977). Mears has annotated most of our New
World holdings (US) and I generally accept his names, Several
more species are expected but have not been reported.
1. Inflorescences pedunculate, terminal.
2. Bracts 0.4 cm, equaling or surpassing the perianth
...................... A. brasilianu
2. Bracts 0.2 cm, l/3 the perianth length . . A. flavescens
1. Inflorescences sessile, axillary.
3. Bracts and perianth segments spinulose to spinescent,
pubescent with retrorsely barbed hairs .........
...................... A. flavogrisea
3. Bracts and perianth segments acute or acuminate,
glabrous ................... A. sessilis
Alternanthera brasilianu
Alternonthero brasiliano (Linnaeus) Kuntze. 1891, 2527.-Mean & Gillis,
1977:63.-Mar~, 1977:1l.-Kdl0gg in Howard, 1988,4148.
Gomphreno brasiliano Linnaeus, 175613 (sp. no. 135).
Gomphreno dentoto Moench, 1802:273, nom. superfl., “Gomphraena.”
Alternonthero denlato Scheygrond in Pulle, 1932. 1:39, as to type, not as
misapplied [combination often attributed to Stuchwc (1913:354) but, from
his discussion, it is evident that “A. dentoto” is an emr for A. orgen&to].
Herbs to 2 m tall, with inflorescences on rather long (>5 cm)
peduncles.
Neotropics; common weed of disturbed places on Dominica:
Cabrits Swamp (Whitefoord 4090), Clarke Hall (Chambers
2701, Ernst 1514, Nicolson 2000, Webster 13196), Grand Bay,
(Ernst 1600), Pointe Michel (Eggers 566), above Roseau
(Whitefoord 4649), St. Paul Parish (Cooley 8787), Sylvania
area (Cooper 70, Hodge 1045,1251), sine loc. (Zway 49).
Minor medicinal usage was reported by Adjanohoun et al.
(1985:39, pl. 5).
Mears (1977:13) stated that type illustration (Breyne) is
unidentifiable to variety but does not mention how the type
variety is distinguished from A. brasiliensis var. villosa.
Gomphrena dentata Moench is treated as a superfluous
renaming of G. brasiliana because Moench cites “Gomphraena
brasiliensis Linnaei Sp. P1. I. p. 1312 [error for
13221,” i.e., Willdenow (1797, 1: 1322). The unacceptable
change from brasiliana to brasiliensis first appeared in
Linnaeus (1759a:850), although later Linnaean works (1762,
Amoen. 4:310; 1762:326) maintained the original spelling,
brasiliana.
I wonder if the illustrations published as “Gomphrena
brasiliensis” by Jacquin (1788, Icon., 2, pl. 346) and Lamarck
(1792, Tab., 1(2):289, pl. 180, fig. 1) are Alternanthera
betttickiana, with laciniate bracts.
Mogiphanes jacquinii, at least as used by Grisebach
(1859:64), is A. brasiliana.
Alternanthera jlavescens
Alternontheroflavescens Kunth, 18 18,2:207.
Alternonthero brasi1iano sensu auct., not as to type of basionp.
Decumbent herb with inflorescences on rather short (2-3
cm) peduncles.
Neotropics; only once collected in Dominica on sea cliff
facing Martinique: Pointe des Fous (Erst 1793).
The species name adopted follows annotations by Mears. I
believe that this is the species that was called Mogiphanes
straminea by Grisebach (1859:64) and Alternanthera dentata
by Scheygrond (in Pulle, 1932, 1:39).
A lternanth era flu vognsea
Alternontherof70vogriseo (Urban) Urban, 1907,5340.
Telantherojlavogriseo Urban, 1899, 1:300.
Alternonthera tenello subsp. j7ovogriseo (Urban) Mean & Veldkamp in
Veldkamp, 1978:313.
Stems pubescent all over; bracts usually 1-ribbed, densely
short-pubescent; staminodia longer than filaments.
Neotropics, including southern US; a common weed in
Dominica: Canefield (Hodge 447, Nicolson 2149), Grand Bay
road (Ernst I599), Hatton Garden (Hodge 3079), Lisdara
(Hodge 448), Ridgefield (Hodge 2190).
The species name adopted follows annotations by Mears,
actually as A.Javogrisea subsp. diffusa, a name apparently not