Synopsis of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae) of continental Ecuador

Abstract A critical review of the Ecuadorian species of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae) is presented; 20 of the 38 previously recognized species are accepted, 9 are considered synonyms and 9 are based on misidentifications. Comprehensive nomenclatural information is supplied and 13 lectotypes are designated. An identification key is also provided.

sertic areas, and from sea level up to 4000 meters of altitude. Acalypha belongs to subfamily Acalyphoideae, the most diverse and complex in the Euphorbiaceae (Hayden and Hayden 2000). Th is subfamily appears to be paraphyletic, but the central group of taxa, Acalyphoideae Beilschm. sensu stricto, is clearly monophyletic. Molecular analysis support the monophyly of Acalypha (Tokuoka 2007, Wurdack andDavis 2009).
Despite its great diversity, Acalypha is one of the lesser known genera of the Euphorbiaceae. Th e last treatment of the whole genus was made by Pax and Hoff man (1924), on wich 18 species were recorded in Ecuador (Table 1). Th e state of the knowledge of the genus in South America includes updated national fl oristic treatments , Levin 2001, and checklists (Bacigalupo and Mulgura 1999, Berry et al. 2007, Brako 1993, Cardiel 2007, 2010, Levin 2008. Regarding Ecuador, the only complete work on Acalypha is the treatment of Euphorbiaceae for the Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador (Webster 1999), which recognized 34 species for the continental land of Ecuador (and four other from Galapagos Island). Th is work was updated by Ulloa Ulloa and Neil (2005), who added another four species of Acalypha , but none in the second update (Neil and . Th ere are also several regional or thematic fl oras mentioning Acalypha species (Bonifaz and Cornejo 2004, León-Yánez et al. 2011, Madsen et al. 2001, Valencia et al. 2000. In addition  described two new species and proposed several new synonyms for Ecuadorean Acalypha.
Th is work presents a reviewed critical synopsis of the species of Acalypha for continental Ecuador and provides a key to help identifi cation.

Materials and methods
We studied 987 Ecuadorian collections of Acalypha from the following herbaria: A, AAU, B, BM, COL, DAV, F, G, GB, GH, HAL, HBG, JE, K, L, M, MA, MO, NY, P, PR, QCA, QCNE, S, SEL, U, UPS, US, W, WRSL and Z (acronyms according to Th iers 2011). We reviewed all the collections cited by Webster (1999) and Ulloa Ulloa and Neill (2005), solving the doubts raised by some names. We also found a large number of type specimens, clarifying the identity of many names. Typifi cations were made after a carefully review of the original literature on the taxa, and examination of the nomenclatural types. Where no holotype was indicated, or it has been lost or destroyed, a lectotype is designated according International Code of Botanical Nomenclature rules and recommendations (McNeill et al. 2006).
Th e structure of the checklist follows, in general terms, those of Brako and Zarucchi (1993) and Webster (1999). Th e accepted species are cited in alphabetical order, including original publications, homotypic synonyms and nomenclatural synonyms based on Ecuadorian collections. For each name, the information concerning the type collections is included, with studied specimens indicated with an exclamation mark (!). Th en, we summarize information about habit, habitat and altitudinal range in 250 meters intervals; this information was obtained exclusively from the studied specimens. We follow the geographic regions proposed by Jørgensen and León-Yánez (1999). Table 1.

Species of
Acalypha cited for Ecuador by Pax and Hoff mann (1924), Webster (1999), and in this work; the vouchers refers to cited by Webster (1999 A. villosa Jacq accepted accepted A. websteri Cardiel (fi de Cardiel 2000) Th ey defi ned three regions for continental Ecuador: Coastal, Andean and Amazonian. Th e Coastal region is defi ned as below 1000 meters elevation, from west of the Andes to the coast, while the Amazonian region is defi ned in the same altitudinal range to the east of the Andes. Th e Andean region is defi ned for lands above 1000 meters elevation. Ecuadorian provinces where the species are recorded are cited in accordance with the studied collections, following the Ecuadorian provinces after the 2007 reorganization (i.e., including the new provinces of Santa Elena and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, as well as Orellana, created in 1998). We indicate the total number of collections reviewed per taxa and one representative specimen (voucher), indicating the herbaria acronym where it is deposited. Finally we indicate post-Webster (1999) bibliographic sources which off er updated information about the species. In the "notes" section we include, when needed, any other relevant information, including justifi cations for nomenclatural decisions.

Data resources
All the information gathered as part of this work is available online in the regularly updated "Acalypha Taxonomic Information System" Website (Cardiel J.M., P. Muñoz, E. Dorda & M. Pardo de Santallana. Acalypha Taxonomic Information System. http:// www.acalypha.es). In addition, the information of the studied specimens has been also uploaded to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (http://data.gbif.org/ datasets/resource/12046/).

Results
Our work records 20 accepted species of Acalypha for continental Ecuador. Two of them are endemic: Acalypha stellata and A. websterii, and two others are allochtonous: A. hispida and A. wilkesiana. An identifi cation key is provided. Of the 34 species recognized by Webster (1999) for this territory, nine are considered as synonyms and nine are based on misidentifi cations (Table 1). Th e four species added by Ulloa Ulloa and Neill (2005) are accepted. We identify 17 synonyms based on Ecuadorian collections, including the new one A. pilocardia Gilli. We indicate the type specimens of almost all the treated names, and 13 lectotypes are designated.
Notes. Poeppig described A. cuneata based on four Peruvian collections: E.Poeppig 2230, 2317, 2330 and 2807. We selected the best preserved specimen, in the W herbarium, as lectotype. Th e synonym A. eggersii Pax was described from a single collection (F.A.Eggers 15007), which was distributed to several herbaria; due to the destruction of Berlin specimen, we designate as lectotype the specimen from the S herbarium. 04. Acalypha cuspidata Jacq., Pl. Hort. Schoenbr. 2: 63, tab. 243. 1797.

Notes.
A. cuspidata Jacq. is often confused with A. plicata Müll. Arg., which has a conspicuous glandular indumentum on the young branches, leaves and infl orescences. A. plicata is frequent in the Andean zones of Colombia and Peru, but has not been found in Ecuador where it is also likely to be present. Th e synonym A. tenuipes Pax & K. Hoff m. was described from a single collection (H.Eggers 15833), which was distributed to several herbaria; due to the destruction of Berlin specimen, we select as lectotype the best preserved and most complete specimen found in the US herbarium. See comments about this synonym in .  References. Cardiel ( , 2007, Santiana and Cerón (2000).
Notes. Th e synonym A. tunguaraguae Pax & K. Hoff m. was described from a single collection (H. Eggers 15833); due to destruction of the Berlin specimen, we select as lectotype the duplicate found in the K herbarium. Th e synonym Acalypha schimpffi i Diels was described based on two collections: Diels 1128, destroyed in B herbarium, and Schimpff 429, poorly preserved, which was distributed to several herbaria; we select as lectotype the specimen preserved in the MO herbarium.