Abstract

FARIA, Maria B.; VIEIRA, Cristiana; VIEGAS, Sofia B.  and  PAIVA, Jorge. An appraisal of the Mozambique types and endemic taxa in the Pires de Lima plant collection at the Porto Herbarium (PO, MHNC-UP). Bothalia (Online) [online]. 2024, vol.54, n.1, pp.1-27. ISSN 3078-8056.  https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v54.6.

Putative type specimens of 18 taxa described from Mozambique collected by Américo Pires de Lima at the beginning of the 20^th century are kept in the African collections of the Herbarium of Porto (PO) at the MHNC-UP. These specimens were not collected as part of a dedicated scientific mission, but they and the scientific studies carried out by Pires de Lima represent an important contribution to Portuguese colonial projects. During his scientific career, and despite the lack of support and specialised literature, Pires de Lima described 17 species new to science. In this work we analysed part of the material collected by Pires de Lima, kept in PO at MHNC-UP. Today, only two of the 17 taxa described by Pires de Lima remain as accepted taxa, viz. Tephrosia reptans var. microfoliata (Pires de Lima) Brummitt and Crotalaria retusa var. tunguensis (Pires de Lima) Polhill. In addition, information on Polygala limae Exell, named after Pires de Lima, has also been analysed as this is still accepted. Of over 300 specimens collected by Pires de Lima in the early 20^th century, some 40% remain unidentified due to lack of expertise. Undoubtedly, this collection contains many other promising specimens in need of revision, taxonomic update, and other novelties that can be found even in the more ancient and inconspicuous materials.

Keywords : botanical collections; Natural History and Science Museum of University of Porto; Mozambique flora; Herbarium of the University of Porto; systematics.

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