I’ve just stumbled across the fact that the diploid populations of Tolmeia menziesii have been segregated (ten years ago) as Tolmeia diplomenziesii. That that raises the issue of which species is present in the UK (or are both).
Stace (2010) lists Tolmiea menziesii as having 2n=28 which would be correct for the tetraploid T. menziesii rather than T. diplomenziesii (2n=14). Of course whether the data was observed from British specimens I don’t know.
According to the online Flora of North America (http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=133093) there are some other differences which might be easier for field botanists to work with.
This might allow redetermination - set up a Tolmeia project and run through the records? There prob won’t be many of them…
According to the contents for the last issue of The Plantsman there are name changes relating to Lonicera nitida and Lonicera pileata. Perhaps someone is a subscriber, and can enlighten us as to their nature.
Looks like it’s relevant. It presumably comes from the latest Flora of China.
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200022331
If it is this then it’s just a name change, rather than a change to taxon boundaries. (I had wondered whether it had something to do with hybrids, as I’ve suspect that they are present in Britain.)
A taxonomic synopsis of Sorbus sensu lato in Europe
https://journal.fi/msff/article/view/64741
Inter alia, it rejects the taxa Sorbus humphreyana and Sorbus waltersii from Sell & Murrell, citing personal communication from T.G.C. Rich.
Going back to Tolmiea: what are cauline leaves? The American text mentions cauline leaves and bracts as if they are the same thing.
John
“adj especially of leaves; growing on a stem especially on the upper part of a stem. “cauline leaves” Antonyms: basal, radical. especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem.”
The distinction between axillary inflorescences (in the leaf axils) and a compound inflorescence with bracts can be rather fuzzy.
Thanks. I’ll concentrate on the leaves highest up the flower stem then.
John