A new Australian species of Luffa (Cucurbitaceae) and typification of two Australian Cucumis names, all based on specimens collected by Ferdinand Mueller in 1856

Abstract

As a result of his botanical explorations in northern Australia, Ferdinand von Mueller named several Cucurbitaceae that molecular data now show to be distinct, requiring their resurrection from unjustified synonymy. We here describe Luffa saccata F. Muell. ex I.Telford, validating a manuscript name listed under L. graveolens Roxb. since 1859, and we lectotypify Cucumis picrocarpus F. Muell. and C. jucundus F. Muell. The lectotype of the name C. picrocarpus is a sprig that is mounted on the same sheet as the lectotype of C. jucundus, a synonym of C. melo. We also illustrate the new species Luffa saccata. Cucumis picrocarpus is the sister species of the cultivated C. melo and was illustrated in a recent publication.

Keywords

• Ferdinand Mueller
• melon
• wild relatives
• <i>Cucumis picrocarpus</i>
• <i>Cucumis jucundus</i>
• <i>Luffa saccata</i>
• lectotypification.