On the rediscovery of Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. robbiae and its type

Abstract

Euphorbia amygdaloides L. subsp. robbiae (Turrill) Stace was first collected by Mrs Mary Anne Robb. She collected a wild growing Euphorbia L. specimen in 1891 from an unknown locality near Istanbul, and carried this plant in a bonnet box to England. Since 1891, this well-known cultivated plant has not been collected from any wild locality. This paper reports the wild specimens from Istanbul with morphological detail. We also present the composite image illustrations of the specimen, and images of the type specimen. The article also reveals that the date of the type specimen of Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. robbiae does not match the literature, and it is proposed that the specimen dated 12 May 1949 be treated as the holotype. This paper explains why a lectotypification of the specimen is unnecessary.