Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
(3026) Cyathea patens H. Karst., Fl. Columb. 2: 173, t. 191. 24 Aug 1869, nom. cons. prop. Lectotypus (hic designatus): Colombia, Bogotá, "habitat montem Bogotensem "Guadalupe" altitudine 2900 mtr.", ca. 4°35′17″N 74°03′38″W Karsten (LE barcode LE 00008063 image!; isotypi: B barcode B 20 0131346!, LE barcode LE 00008064 image!). (H) Cyathea patens hort. ex Houlston neither is a specific collection mentioned nor reference to an earlier published iconography made. With this information alone, C. patens hort. ex Houlston Lehnert in Stuttgarter Beitr. Naturk., A., N.S., 2: 409–445. 2009; Lehnert Lehnert, l.c. 2009: 430), but there are also two specimens at LE (available at https://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ like the isolectotype (LE barcode LE 00008064; labeled as "Isotypus"), it consists of pinna, leaf apex, part of petioles and croziers, thereby providing all necessary characters needed for secure tree fern identification. The pinna of the LE isolectotype is also one of the pinnae depicted in the original publication (Karsten, l.c.: t. 191). Regarding the scaly indument on the leaf blades, the material at B is much denser and more colorful than the LE material. However, this variation is typical of the species, as we know from experience in the field, and can differ in this way between an old and a fresh leaf of the same plant. We have observed this species in southern Ecuador as well as in northern Colombia, near Medellín, in pristine elfin forests; the type locality near Bogotá was also searched but the vegetation there was completely altered to a secondary forest of acacias, pines and bamboo, and the species is not found there anymore. We can confirm that C. patens H. Karst. has the exact same appearance in nature as drawn in the Florae Columbiae (Karsten, l.c.), emerging with a flat crown of rather short leaves on top of a strikingly slender trunk between tall shrubs and dwarfed trees. As its presence seems to correlate with the degree of disturbance of its fragile habitat, it may serve as an easily addressable indicator species in ecosystem quality surveys. The easiest way to reintroduce this species into public and scientific awareness would be to choose a replacement name, as we have done multiple times before (e.g., Lehnert among these, one of three (i.e., either C. dissoluta, C. furfuracea, or C. harrisii) could succumb to the priority of C. patens hort. ex Houlston & T. Moore. For Cyathea patens H. Karst., on the other hand, there is no heterotypic alternative available. Replacement names are an easy solution in such cases, but are fully detached from the original description and obfuscate the nomenclatural history. Accepting our proposal would not simply satisfy our obvious preference, but foremost serve the original purpose of the ICN: nomenclatural stability and clarity.
Lehnert et al. (Sat,) studied this question.