Typification of five plant names described based on specimens collected by Jozef Warszewicz in Central and South America

Jozef Warszewicz (1812-1864) was one of the first Polish naturalists to explore the flora of the tropical New World. During two expeditions to Central and South America (1844-1850 and 1850-1853) he collected and delivered to Europe up to twenty thousand plant specimens. To honour his service and his achievements in plant collections, different taxonomists described more than 100 taxa using the surname Warszewicz, for example in the genus name (Warszewiczia) and the species epithets (warszewiczii, warscewiczii, warszewicziana). Unfortunately, a large part of Warszewicz's collection of plant species deposited in the Berlin Herbarium (B), including many type specimens was destroyed during World War II. During digitisation of herbarium collections preserved in the Herbarium of the Jagiellonian University (KRA), we reviewed more than 650 herbarium sheets with plant specimens collected by Warszewicz and originating from his trips to Central and South America. In this paper, we present the typification of five names of species, described base on Warszewicz's plant material. We select lectotypes for Berberis warszewiczii, Esenbeckia warscewiczii, Psammisia ramiflora, Remijia involucrata and Rondeletia orthoneura, and provide data on the presence of 17 specimens (isotypes) representing Esenbeckia cornuta, an extremely rare species, that to date is known only from the type locality in Peru. A list of all Warszewicz's specimens preserved at KRA herbarium is also presented. Additionally, in the result of the revision of syntypes of Brerberis multiflora and Rondeletia reflexa we designated here the lectotypes for these taxa.

Automated summary

Jozef Warszewicz was a Polish naturalist who explored the flora of the New World in the 19th century. He collected and delivered a large number of plant specimens to Europe during his expeditions to Central and South America. Many taxa have been named after him to honor his contributions. Unfortunately, a significant part of his collection was destroyed during World War II. This paper presents the typification of five species based on Warszewicz's plant material and provides information on the presence of rare specimens.