A reappraisal of Neotropical <i>Vanilla</i>. With a note on taxonomic inflation and the importance of alpha taxonomy in biological studies

Authors

  • Adam P. Karremans Lankester Botanical Garden, University of Costa Rica. P.O. Box 302-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
  • Isler F. Chinchilla Lankester Botanical Garden, University of Costa Rica. P.O. Box 302-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
  • Gustavo Rojas-Alvarado Lankester Botanical Garden, University of Costa Rica. P.O. Box 302-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
  • Marco Cedeño-Fonseca Lankester Botanical Garden, University of Costa Rica. P.O. Box 302-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
  • Alexander Damián Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
  • Guillaume Léotard PK1, chemin du mont Paramana, 97351 Matoury, French Guiana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v20i3.45203

Abstract

Despite the long-standing cultural importance and botanical interest in  Vanilla, many taxa belonging to the genus remain poorly understood. Vanilla species generally have broad geographical and ecological distributions. Most species are found in multiple countries, while local endemics are rare. Many names proposed in the eighteen and nineteenth centuries remain cryptic and unused despite having priority over more recently proposed names. Relatively few Vanilla species have been well-documented, both locally and across their entire distribution range, while a significant portion of novelties have been proposed on the basis of very few specimens that are compared only with local floras. After a careful inspection of the type materials, living plants, botanical illustrations, photographs and hundreds of additional herbarium specimens of Vanilla we tentatively recognize 62 species for the Neotropics. The taxonomy of Vanilla columbiana, V. hartii, V. inodora, V. karenchristianae, V. marowynensis, V. mexicana, V. odorata, V. phaeantha, V. planifolia, and V. pompona is revised. An updated typification, description, photographs, illustrations, list of studied specimens, distribution map, extent of occurrence and discussion is provided for each of the ten species. Taxonomic proposals include 28 new synonyms, 14 lectotypifications, and one neotypification. We stress on the importance of alpha-taxonomy for biological studies, emphasizing on the detrimental effects of taxonomic inflation and incorrect species determination on the inference of speciation rates, the understanding of biogeographical patterns, the correct estimation of ecological niches, seed dispersal studies, phylogenetic and genomic studies, and the assessments of conservation priorities, among others. Finally, the recently proposed genus Miguelia is placed under the synonymy of Vanilla.

Key Words: Conservation, distribution, Miguelia, typification, Vanilla columbiana, V. hartii, V. inodora, V. karen-christianae, V. marowynensis, V. mexicana, V. odorata, V. phaeantha, V. planifolia, V. pompona

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Published

2020-12-23

How to Cite

Karremans, A. P., Chinchilla, I. F., Rojas-Alvarado, G., Cedeño-Fonseca, M., Damián, A., & Léotard, G. (2020). A reappraisal of Neotropical &lt;i&gt;Vanilla&lt;/i&gt;. With a note on taxonomic inflation and the importance of alpha taxonomy in biological studies. Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology, 20(3), 395–497. https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v20i3.45203

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