ARS | Publication request: Proposals to reject the names Spermacoce stigosa and S. hyssopifolia Sm. and conserve the names S. hyssopifolia Wild. Es oem. & Schult. (Rubiaceae)

Submitted to: Taxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 28, 2012
Publication Date: May 13, 2012
Citation: Kirkbride, J.H., Wiersema, J.H., Delprete, P.G. 2012. Proposals to reject the names Spermacoce stigosa and S. hyssopifolia Sm. and conserve the names S. hyssopifolia Wild. Es oem. & Schult. (Rubiaceae). Taxon. 61(2):475-476.

Interpretive Summary: The plant genus Spermacoce is a wide spread, common weed that frequently occurs in agricultural situations, and is a member of the coffee family. The sharp-pointed spermacoce is a wide spread species commonly encountered in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, all the way to Argentina. Two earlier scientific names, which have never been used, would require that the scientific name of this important weedy plant be changed. Therefore it is proposed that the two earlier scientific names for this plant be rejected, so that its traditional scientific name can continue to be used for it. The hyssop-leaved spermacoce is found throughout the Amazon basin and its tributaries. The existence of a similar scientific name for a different plant would require that the scientific name of the hyssop-leaved spermacoce be changed to another scientific name, which has never been used for it, the linear-leaved spermacoce. Therefore it is proposed that the scientific name for the hyssop-leaved spermamcoce be conserved to insure its continued use throughout the Amazon basin for this wide spread weed.

Technical Abstract: The genus Spermacoce is a wide spread, common weed that frequently occurs in agricultural situations, and is a member of the family Rubiaceae. Diodella apiculata is a wide spread weedy species found in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, all the way to Argentina. Two earlier names, S. strigosa and S. hyssopifolia Sm., would require that the name of this species be changed to Diodella strigosa, a name not used since it was first described. Therefore it is proposed that the two earlier names be rejected, which would permit the continued use of Diodella apiculata for this common, weedy species. Spermacoce hyssopifolia Willd. ex Roem. & Schult. is found throughout the Amazon basin and its tributaries. The existence of S. hyssopifolia Sm. would require that S. hyssopifolia Willd. ex Roem. & Scult. be changed to S. linearis, a name also not used since its publication. Therefore it is proposed that S. hyssopifolia Willd. ex Roem. & Scult. be conserved to insure its continued use throughout the Amazon basin for a wide spread weed.