bad dilatatopetiolar "news"

Jan Schlauer (zxmsl01@student.uni-tuebingen.de)
Wed, 19 Apr 1995 10:02:31 +0100

Dear Droseraceologists,

A rather unpleasant problem has appeared in studying the _D.petiolaris_
complex recently. It seems that the name Drosera dilatatopetiolaris KONDO
which went unmolested for more than ten years is running into serious
turbulences now. I am unable to find substantial differences between this
and _Drosera fulva_ PLANCH. which was described validly only 136 years
earlier (but never acknowledged afterwards because all authors before KONDO
thought they should lump all microspecies under _D.petiolaris_, and KONDO
himself has ovbiously overlooked this trap). Until someone presents
evidence that D.dilatatopetiolaris is distinct from _D.fulva_, the former
will go as a later synonym in the synopsis.

Also, D.petiolaris var.conferta DOMIN is probably (I have not seen the
specimens, presumably at PRC - Ivo, could you perhaps try?) a synonym of
_D.lanata_ (and not _D.petiolaris s.str._).

Happy researching, and beware of "new" species! At least, before you start
writing protologues, have a brief look at the (synonyms of the) most
closely related taxa!

Kind regards
Jan