Proposal to conserve the name Molopospermum against Cicutaria (Apiaceae)

Abstract

Molopospermum W.D.J. Koch (Apiaceae), is a monotypic genus, comprising M. peloponnesiacum (L.) W.D.J. Koch, an edible plant utilized in culinary practices in a similar manner to celery. This genus was originally segregated from Ligusticum by Koch (in Nova Acta Phys.-Med. Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 12: 108. 1824) and is native to the southern mountainous regions of France, Italy, and Spain (Plants of the World Online, https://powo.science. kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:844979-1, accessed 22 Jan 2024). Since its publication, the taxonomy and nomenclature of Molopospermum have remained reasonably stable. The only exception being that Otto Kuntze (Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 266. 1891) adopted Cicutaria for Molopospermum and C. peloponnesiaca for its one species. [Kuntze adopted a 1735 (Linnaeus, Syst. Nat.) starting date for botanical nomenclature; Miller (Gard. Dict., ed. 2. 1737) had also adopted Cicutaria, but later (e.g., Miller, Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4. 1754) included it in Ligusticum. The current 1753 starting date was only established in the Vienna Rules (Briquet, Règles Int. Nomencl. Bot. 1906)]. The same generic name was published – but with different applications – as Cicutaria Heist. ex Fabr. (Enum.: 40. 1759) (≡ Conium L.) and as Cicutaria Moench (Meth. Suppl.: 32. 1802), nom. illeg., applying to elements of Molopospermum and Trinia, and in a more widespread usage by Lamarck (Fl. Franç. 3: 445. 1779) for what is now established as Cicuta L.