Agave ×peacockii and A. warelliana

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2014) Typification of the names Agave ×peacockii Croucher and A. warelliana Hort. ex Baker (Agavaceae / Asparagaceae). Bradleya 32: 25-29.

Summary: The typification of two names in Agave L. (Agavaceae / Asparagaceae), Agave ×peacockii Croucher and A. warelliana Hort. ex Baker, is clarified. Illustrations of the newly designated lectotypes of both these names are included.

Agave felgeri

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2014) Notes on the reproductive morphology and phenology of Agave felgeri Gentry (Agavaceae). Bradleya 32: 13-18.

Summary: Species of Agave L., the New World genus of rosulate leaf succulents, generally take many years to flower. Consequently, new species were historically often described from sterile material, resulting in a situation where fundamental phenological information on many species is often lacking. Although less prevalent today, this situation continues sporadically and for Agave felgeri Gentry, which was described just over 40 years ago, information such as basic flower morphology and flower colour is lacking. Here we rectify this situation by providing an amplified description and illustrations of the species.

Historical names recorded in Agave

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2014) Out with the old, in with the new? Historical names recorded in Agave L. (Agavaceae / Asparagaceae). Bradleya 32: 64-69.

Summary: We show that seven of nine previously overlooked names recently recorded as validly published in Agave L. (Agavaceae / Asparagaceae) only add to the already substantial nomenclatural burden of the genus. In one case, that of A. leopoldii [as “Leopoldea”] Rafarin, which was published in 1874 in the Revue Horticole in an article entitled ‘Souvenirs de l’Exposition Internationale d’Horticulture de Gand’, could have an impact on the species-level nomenclatural stability of the genus, if a proposal to conserve the name is not accepted. For the sake of nomenclatural stability, a formal mechanism must be found to lessen or, ideally, entirely prevent, long-forgotten names that were never used from being introduced in preference to ones in long use.

Ganna Walska Lotusland

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2014) Ganna Walska Lotusland in Santa Barbara: Eine Schau der Extravaganz und Exzentrizität sukkulenter Pflanzen. Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten 65(9): 239-248. 

An overview of the garden is presented.

Botanical Garden of the University of Porto

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2014) The succulent garden of the Botanical Garden of the University of Porto, Portugal. Cactus and Succulent Journal 86: 99-105.

An overview of the garden is presented.

Agave salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dyck

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2007) Naturalized species of Agave L. (Agavaceae) on the southeastern coast of Algarve, Portugal. Haseltonia 13: 52-60.

Summary: A number of large-growing species of Agave L. (Agavaceae) have become firmly established as part of the introduced flora of parts of the Algarve, southern Portugal, particularly close to human settlements. Two species, which include at least four taxa, Agave americana L. ssp. americana, A. americana var. marginata Trel., A. salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dyck var. salmiana and A. salmiana var. ferox (K.Koch) Gentry, recorded in southeastern Portugal are briefly discussed here, their residence status is determined, and a key to aid in their identification and that of other cultivated forms of Agave americana is provided. In addition, a putative hybrid between A. americana ssp. americana and A. salmiana var. salmiana is recorded here for the first time. The nomenclature of the naturalized species of Agave is updated to reflect current usage. The four naturalized Agave taxa are compared to A. franzosinii Baker, which is widely cultivated along the Mediterranean coast of Europe.

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Unfortunately this paper has been consistently ignored by other authors. In recent literature the name A. atrovirens continues to be misapplied to the plant that was introduced in Portugal.

Book: Succulent Paradise

Yucca aloifolia L.

Smith, G.F., Figueiredo, E. & Crouch N.R. (2012) A first record of Yucca aloifolia L. (Agavaceae/Asparagaceae) naturalized in South Africa with notes on its uses and reproductive biology. Haseltonia 17: 87–5. 2012.

Summary: Although several species of Agave L. (Agavaceae/Asparagaceae) are known to have become established in southern Africa, particularly South Africa, this is the first time that evidence supported by herbarium specimens is documented for the occurrence of the agavoid Yucca aloifolia L. in the region. Notes are provided on the reproductive biology and uses of Y. aloifolia, with emphasis on South Africa.

Agave L.

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2014) State of our knowledge of online resources of the types of names of Agave L. (Agavaceae / Asparagaceae) with a list of names attributed to William Trelease, with notes on types, online resources and etymology. Phytotaxa 170 (4): 221–249.

Summary: The application of plant names is inextricably linked to type specimens, and understandably considerable resources and effort have been spent over the past several years on creating and disseminating images of such specimens, for example through JSTOR Global Plants (JGP). As part of a gap analysis of images of types accessible on the worldwide web, 512 names, including 276 that are names of accepted taxa, published in the genus Agave and types with which they are associated were investigated to determine the state of our knowledge of the nomenclature of this horticulturally popular and economically important genus. The electronically available type specimens of the 192 names of Agave established by William Trelease, the most prolific author of plant names in the genus, are analysed in some detail and ten of his names are typified. In addition, the accuracy of the information associated with web-accessible type specimens of Agave names is recorded. We established that 76% of the images of Agave name types are associated with incorrect metadata.

Polygala L.

Figueiredo, E., Smith, G. F. & Paiva, J. (2013) A checklist of Polygala (Polygalaceae) in the Flora of Southern Africa region with notes on types. Phytotaxa 155 (1): 1–22 (2013).

Summary: As part of a revision of Polygala in the Flora of Southern Africa region, the types of all the names relevant for the region were assessed. A catalogue of the names and their types is provided along with information on the availability of online images of these types. For 22 accepted taxa, no images of the types of the names are available online. Twenty lectotypes are designated here.

Aloe speciosa Baker

Smith, G.F. & Figueiredo, E. (2013) Names associated with Aloe speciosa Baker (Asphodelaceae), a common species in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. Bradleya 31: 139-141.

Summary: We argue that the names Aloe hexapetala Salm-Dyck, A. drepanophylla Baker, Aloe chloroleuca Baker and Aloe platylepis Baker should not be regarded as competing with the name Aloe speciosa Baker. The latter name is well-known, widely used, and can be easily linked to natural populations of an aloe that is widespread in South Africa’s Western and Eastern Cape Provinces. The other names are to be regarded as insufficiently known.