Thank you so much Dr. Vijayasankar ji for the explanation and further links. You have made a very complicated subject simple to understand ! Atleast now I know why the mix- up, the confusion is due to Mueller ! I will read up more on the two facts mentioned by you.
One of the journal articles has given the distinction of floral disc- present in Phyllanthus but totally absent in Glochidion this should help us in identifying them. Will have to read in detail and perhaps will have more questions ! Thank you once again. regards, Rashida. On Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 11:39 AM, R. Vijayasankar <vijay.botan...@gmail.com>wrote: > Dear Rashida ji, its a difficult question to give a straight > forward answer, so...let me try! > > Its all part of taxonomy and nomenclature! It shows the different level > of our understanding about taxa at different periods of time. It also > illustrates the complexity of the group with diverse habit/morphology within > this group. > > The names mentioned by you were published during 1860s when the > understanding about the genus was completely different. Due to some common > feature, for e.g. 'phyllanthoid branching' several different species were > treated under the genus Phyllanthus even they are morphologically very > different. However recent molecular phylogenetic studies helped us to > understand the possible relationship between different taxa and thus their > improved taxonomic treatment. The taxon namely Phyllanthus malabaricus (for > e.g.) was considered a species under Phyllanthus by Mueller who described > the plant during 1865. But the latest revisioners (Webster, Govaerts etc.) > realized that this plant has more affinity with and having similar > morphological characters (also pollen morphology) to Glochidion and > further realized that it is nothing but one of the several forms/variations > of an existing species G. ellipticum described by Beddome, in this case. > Hence the name Phyllanthus malabaricus has become a taxonomic synonym (based > on different Type) to Glochidion ellipticum. > > Fact: 1. Genera like Phyllanthus, Glochidion, Flueggea, Berynia, > Sauropus etc come under same tribe - Phyllantheae (these are closely > related). > Fact: 2. Several species, treated earlier under different genera > (as much as 55 genera) are currently treated under the genus Phyllanthus > http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?9303), an another > development of taxonomic research!] > > To put it in a simple way, in the present case, Mueller misidentified his > collection and published as a new species under wrong genus! However, we > should remember that one-and-a-half centuries ago, there was not much > information technology, communication etc. and a botanist at one corner of > world had less chance to know the happenings of taxonomic research > development at the other corner. We are now in a far better environment, > wherein we can access the information real time, across the globe!!! > > Hope i have not confused you so much! > Also pl read: > 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthus, > 2. http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/93/4/637 , > 3. http://www.jstor.org/pss/3393263, > 4. > http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WNH-4FB9GV7-2&_user=10&_coverDate=07%2F31%2F2005&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3c24004327c5fc874aa73aa8bf0d85d5 > > > With regards > > R. Vijayasankar > > > On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 4:43 AM, Rashida Atthar > <atthar.rash...@gmail.com>wrote: > >> Thank you Dr. Vijayasankar ji for this simple and easy to understand >> effort. >> >> I was checking the Kew herbarium for Glochidion and Caesaria plant, to >> my surprise I got several herbarium specimens for Glochidion ellipticum >> with type specimen name mentioned as Phyllantuhs diversifolius in one and >> in another as Phyllanthus malabaricus, why is this so ? would request you to >> enlighten us on this please. Thank you. >> >> regards, >> Rashida. >> >> at 6:09 PM, tanay bose <tanaybos...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> This will also help to identify the plants in future. >>> Tanay >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 1:13 PM, Dinesh Valke <dinesh.va...@gmail.com>wrote: >>> >>>> Dear Vijayasankar ji and friends, ... very busy at office front >>>> currently; the work would return to normalcy by this month-end. >>>> ... 50 species of *Phyllanthus* in India ... oh !! that is huge >>>> collection we have. >>>> >>>> Regards. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 10:54 AM, R. Vijayasankar < >>>> vijay.botan...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Dear all, >>>>> >>>>> Following Gurcharan ji's key to species of *Solanum* (40 species in >>>>> India), I have tried to prepare a simple key to identify species of * >>>>> Phyllanthus* (pl see attached pdf file) by using simple exomorphic >>>>> characters. To start with i have included only species which are collected >>>>> from my study area (Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu). I think it includes >>>>> most >>>>> of the species discussed earlier in this group. But, there are about 50 >>>>> species of Phyllanthus in India. So, we need more pictures (Dinesh ji, >>>>> where >>>>> are you?!!) and information on other species too, to make it complete. I >>>>> am >>>>> working on description and other aspects of these taxa, in line with our >>>>> (ambitious) 'eflora of India' programme. >>>>> >>>>> With regards >>>>> >>>>> R. Vijayasankar >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "efloraofindia" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to indiantree...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> indiantreepix+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<indiantreepix%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >>>>> . >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "efloraofindia" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to indiantree...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> indiantreepix+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<indiantreepix%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >>>> . >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Tanay Bose >>> +91(033) 25550676 (Resi) >>> 9830439691(Mobile) >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "efloraofindia" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to indiantree...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> indiantreepix+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<indiantreepix%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. >>> >> >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. 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