Waltheria indica L.

Waltheria indica var. americana (L.) R. Brown ex Hosaka

Waltheria indica var. americana (L.) R. Brown ex Hosaka, Occ. Pap. Bishop Mus. 13:224, 1937.

Waltheria americana L., Sp. Pl. 673, 1753.

SPECIMEN SEEN.—“Owhai-hee” (Hawaii) David Nelson (MO).

This specimen, collected on Captain Cook’s Third Voyage, shows that this species is either indigenous in Hawaii or was brought by the Hawaiians (or the Spaniards, if they really visited Hawaii earlier than 1776).

Hawaiian material agrees with that from America in being densely velutinous rather than thinly so, as is that from the western Pacific and southern Asia. The two forms are often regarded as belonging to one species for which Waltheria indica L. is the correct name, or to two distinct species.

We are accepting the view that one pantropical species is involved. The rather conspicuous difference in density of indument may be recognized by maintaining var. americana for the predominantly American densely hairy form and var. indica for the more thinly pubescent Old World plant. Over its wide geographic range Waltheria indica produces many local forms distinguishable by other characters, but these have usually not been afforded taxonomic recognition.

Robert Brown (1818:484) said, “Waltheria indica L. I consider W. americana to be a variety of this sportive species, which seems to be common to all equinoctial countries.” Although this satisfies Article 57 of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature on choice of name when two simultaneously published species are united, and, indeed, is cited as one of the examples to illustrate the application of this article, it does not constitute valid publication of the required combination for var. americana according to Article 33, as it does not indicate that the epithet indica is to be used in the combination W. indica var. americana. Apparently the first usage of this combination was by Hosaka as cited above. He did not cite the basionym but according to Article 33 this only seems to have been a requirement for valid publication of a new combination since 1 January 1953. Citation of R. Brown as author with “L.” in parentheses can be considered a sufficient indirect reference.

Guillemin (1837:365) made the reverse reduction, making the combination “Waltheria americana β indica Linn. Spec. 941.” This was done later than Robert Brown’s publication, so may be disregarded except in synonymy of Waltheria indica var. indica.

Frankenia L.

Waltheria indica L

Waltheria indica L., Sp. Pl., 673, 1753.

This species was published by Linnaeus simultaneously with W. americana. The two were combined by R. Brown, as detailed below. Var. indica does not occur in Hawaii.