Unravelling Vellozo’s Dupatya (Eriocaulaceae): A long­standing case of mistaken identities and species

Abstract

A reevaluation of the Dupatya (Eriocaulaceae) names proposed by Vellozo in the Florae fluminensis is presented. Based on analyses of Vellozo's text, plates, original material and protologues of all species of Eriocaulon and Paepalanthus originally assigned to Dupatya, we accept E. ligulatum and P. aequalis, while D. hirsuta is reduced into synonymy with E. kunthii. Lectotypes are proposed for names based on the original plates of Vellozo's work deposited at the Manuscript Section of the Rio de Janeiro National Library.