(2726) Proposal to conserve the name Pinus halepensis (Pinaceae) with a conserved type

(2726) Pinus halepensis Mill., Gard. Dict., ed. 8: Pinus No. 8. 16 Apr 1768 Gymnosp.: Pin., nom. cons. prop. Typus: Portugal, Algarve, Paúl de Budens, Boca do Rio, Burdau, 29SNB1703, 50 m, 6 Jun 2001, Medina, Nisa Gaussen Farjon Farjon, Handb. World's Conifers: 702–703. 2017). Pinus halepensis forests are important for multi-purpose forestry and have a high ecological value. Aleppo pine has been used in several afforestation programmes, especially between the 1930s and 1970s, aiming at soil protection and wind breaks near the coast. On the other hand, it is also an important ornamental plant in gardens and parks in the Mediterranean region and in some arboreta around the world (Ne'eman Fady Ruiz de la Torre, Fl. Mayor: 213–223. 2006; Mauri foliis tenuibus laete viridibus. / 1738”, and another printed label “Plants from Chelsea Physick Garden sent to the Royal Society in accordance with Sir Hans Sloane's deed of conveyance to the Apothecarie's Company; 1722–96”. The first label bears the synonym from Rand (l.c.) cited in the protologue, and clearly suggests that the specimen was collected from a tree cultivated in the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1738, possibly by Rand. It seems very likely that this specimen was the basis of Miller's citation of Rand's name as a synonym. The specimen would have been at the Chelsea Physic Garden until 1862 (Stafleu De Castro Karol Kaundun Bucci Shater Farjon, l.c.: 660–661). Some diagnostic characters of P. brutia (located mainly on the eastern Mediterranean coasts) are that the leaves are 10–18 cm long, the seed cone nearly sessile, or short pedunculate, ovoid-globose, 5–11 cm long, whereas in P. halepensis, the leaves are 9–12 cm long, the cones pedunculate, peduncle 1–2 cm long, recurved, ovoid-conical when closed, slightly asymmetrical, with cones 6–12 cm long (see, e.g., Elwes Coode Gaussen Frankis, l.c.; Farjon, l.c.: 660–661, 702–703). In this sense, we consider it relevant to note that the character “conis obtusis” in Miller's diagnosis and the obtuse appearance of the cone in the illustration represent an important diagnostic character differentiating P. brutia, with the cone ovoid-globose (i.e., obtuse) when closed, from P. halepensis, with cones ovoid-conical when closed. Accordingly, for the purpose of nomenclatural stability in supporting the continued and well-established use of the name Pinus halepensis for the species to which it has long been applied, we propose to conserve the name with a conserved type under Art. 14.9 of the ICN (Turland peduncle 1–2 cm, recurved, seed one-third of the length of the wing), and clearly represents the current application and concept of the name (see, e.g., Gaussen López González, Árbol. Arbust. Peníns. Ibér. 1: 310–311. 2001; Ruiz de la Torre, l.c.; Eckenwalder, Conifers World: 434–435. 2009; Debreczy Farjon, l.c.: 702–703). Rejection of the present proposal would have the very undesirable consequence of the name P. halepensis having to replace P. brutia, and the heterotypic synonym of P. halepensis, P. maritima Mill. (Gard. Dict., ed. 8: Pinus No. 7. 1768), would be used for the species currently named as P. halepensis. PPFG, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7595-9302 Thanks to Dr. McNeill and Dr. Wiersema for their help in revising the manuscript.