Croton cupreolepis (Euphorbiaceae), a New Coppery-lepidote Tree Species from Eastern Madagascar

A Nomenclator of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) in Madagascar, the Comoros Archipelago, and the Mascarene Islands

“…In our view, the Radcliffe-Smith (2016) publication is not at all an accurate reflection of our current knowledge of Malagasy Croton taxonomy, and it should not be consulted as such. Rather, with this paper, previous ones we have published ( Berry and Van Ee 2011 ; Berry and Kainulainen 2017 ; Berry et al 2011 , 2016a , 2016b ; Kainulainen et al 2016 , 2017a , 2017b ), our initial molecular results ( Van Ee et al 2011 , 2015 ; Haber et al 2017 ) and with more complete molecular studies forthcoming shortly, as well as additional taxonomic novelties and revisions in preparation, we are generating a significantly different and better substantiated vision of the rich diversity of Croton in the Western Indian Ocean Region.…”

“…Baillon's concept of this species was followed by both Leandri (1939) and Radcliffe-Smith (2016) , but Berry et al (2011) determined that the three syntypes in the protologue actually represent three different species, and while one of the others had a valid name ( C. argyrodaphne ), it took several more years to determine with certainty that the third one was a new species, C. cupreolepis P.E.Berry, B.W.van Ee, & Kainul. ( Berry et al 2016b ). As a further example, Berry and Van Ee (2011) also deciphered the history of C. multicostatus Müll.Arg., a Malagasy species which had erroneously been attributed to Hispaniola in the Caribbean, and included as synonyms two species names from Madagascar, C. vernicosus Baker and C. sclerodorus Baill.…”

“…), among the syntypes of C. chrysodaphne , which was lectotypified on a Chapelier specimen by Leandri (1972b) . See Berry et al (2011) and Berry et al (2016b) for further discussions.…”

“…Toliara: Anosy Region, environs de Fort-Dauphin, forêt de Manantantely, 60–300 m, 15 Sep 1928, H. Humbert & C.F. Swingle 5742 (lectotype, designated by Berry et al 2016b , pg. 977: P [P00133655]!…”

“…In 2016, a large number of new Croton taxa from the WIOR were described. Ten new species of Croton from Madagascar were published by Kainulainen et al (2016) and Berry et al (2016a , 2016b ). Then, taking advantage of an overly literal interpretation of Article 29.1 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants ( McNeill et al 2012 ), Martin Cheek of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, submitted three “preprint” copies of a long-dormant manuscript on Malagasy Croton by the late botanist Alan Radcliffe-Smith to the libraries of Kew, Wisley, and the Natural History Museum in London toward the end of December 2016.…”