How an erroneous illustration led to the misidentification of Hoya macrophylla

Accurate botanical illustrations play a crucial role in plant identification.Hoya macrophylla Blume, one of the earliest described species of Hoya R.Br. from Southeast Asia,and among the earliest to be illustrated, presents significant identification challenges. This paper elucidates how its first illustration incorporates features characteristic of both Hoya macrophylla and H. latifolia G.Don, and this is the reason behind the difficult application of the name. Furthermore, the type specimen of Hoya macrophylla is indistinguishable from H.cinnamomifolia Hook., a taxon published later and consistently correctly applied. This study underscores the need for careful re-evaluation of historical illustrations in the context of modern taxonomic standards. A lectotype and an epitype are designated for Hoya macrophylla and H.latifolia respectively and their synonyms are clarified and where necessary typified.