Veronica lilacina F.Towns.

Veronica lilacina F.Towns. View in CoL

Bulletin de la Société botanique de France 25: 16 ( Townsend 1878).

TYPE CITATION. — Switzerland, Wallis: “in graminosis dumosis siccioribus alpium, Bel-Alp et Riederhorn, dans le canton du Valais”.

TYPE MATERIAL. — BR[ BR0000035780830 *] (VIII.1877); MPU! (VIII.1877); OXF! (IX.1877); P[ P03804937 * (VIII.1877), P04964155 * (VII-VIII.1877), P04051291 * (VII.1877), P04051293 * (VIII.1877)].

Nomenclatural note. Veronica lilacina is a synonym of V. bellidioides , from which Townsend separated his species based on larger size, more dentate leaves, different capsule shape, and being exclusively glandular pubescent. These characters are not considered enough to warrant special recognition nowadays. The type collection is from Bel-Alp in canton Wallis of Switzerland, but Townsend also mentioned other localities based on studies of different herbaria. He advertised his new species widely ( Townsend 1878), so it is not surprising that a number of specimens can still be found in herbaria. Stafleu & Cowan (1986) state Townsend’s herbarium is in SLBI, with other material at C, CGE, K, NMW, OXF and WAR. I have only inspected OXF and K among these herbaria and, therefore, refrain from a typification. The specimens in P came to the herbarium via the Herbier Delacour, Camus, and two directly from Townsend to the general herbarium.