Colona longipetiolata Merrill 1903

Colona longipetiolata Merrill (1903: 16) ≡ Columbia longipetiolata (Merr.) Merrill (1923: 29). Type (lectotype, designated here):— PHILIPPINES. Luzon Island, Bataan, Mariveles, 04 January 1902, Ahern 749 (US! [US00098416]; isolectotype NY! [NY00415389]). Merrill (1903) cited the specimen Ahern 479 in Bureau of Science herbarium as type, but this herbarium was destroyed during World War II (Merrill 1945). Subsequently, when Merrill (1923) recombined the name, the specimen Ahern 794 is cited as a nomenclatural type. Furthermore, in both publications it is also reported the collection locality, the province of Bataan on Luzon Island (Philippines). Studying the herbaria where the original Ahern’s collection is kept (Stafleu & Cowan 1976 –1988: 46), was found two duplicates of Ahern 479 and no specimen of Ahern 794. However, the specimen Ahern 479 belong to Eugenia aquea Burman (1768: 114) (Myrtaceae), collected on Dinagat Island (Philippines). Analysing Ahern’s collection found in the US and NY two duplicates associated to Colona longipetiolata with collection number 749, compatible with description, locality, and date of the protologue. Therefore, the citation of the specimens Ahern 479 and Ahern 794 is an error, previously noted by Burret (1926: 804), and the correct type is Ahern 749. For these reasons, in accordance with Art. 9.3 of the ICN, is designate here the specimen US 00098416 as a lectotype of Colona longipetiolata, by choosing the best-preserved and complete specimen.