A critical review of type specimens for Polygala species (Polygalaceae) collected during the Malaspina Expedition of 1789–1794

The names of sixteen species of Polygala (Polygalaceae) collected by Luis Née and Thaddeus Haenke during the Malaspina Expedition of 1789–1794 were published mostly by C. L. Willdenow in Species Plantarum (1802) and by C. Presl in Reliquiae Haenkeanae (1835). Resale and/or redistribution of a large part of the collected specimens to various herbaria had hindered proper application of these names. Based on a thorough study of the original material, manuscripts, and pertinent literature, a critical review of the type collections for Polygala acuminata Willd., P. coridifolia C.Presl, P. gnidioides Willd., P. linarifolia Willd., P. minutiflora C.Presl, P. mucronata Willd., P. myrtilloides Willd., P. neaei DC., P. pavonii Chodat, P. polifolia C.Presl, P. quadrangula C.Presl, P. ramosissima Cav., P. sulcata Willd., P. tenella Willd., P. thesioides Willd., and P. velutina C.Presl is here presented. Lectotypes are designed for P. acuminata Willd., P. coridifolia C.Presl, P. linarifolia Willd., P. minutiflora C.Presl, P. mucronata Willd., P. myrtilloides Willd., P. neaei DC., P. quadrangula C.Presl, P. ramosissima Cav., P. tenella Willd., P. thesioides Willd., and P. velutina C.Presl, and two names are synonymized, P. coridifolia C.Presl (= P. aspalatha L.) and P. quadrangula C.Presl (= P. mexicana Moc. ex Cav.). Also, an erroneous lectotype designation for P. gnidioides Willd. by Bernardi is corrected to a lectotype designated by Rankin Rodríguez and Greuter, an erroneous lectotype designation for P. pavonii Chodat is corrected to a first step neotype and a second step neotype designated, and an erroneous neotype designation for P. tenella Willd. is corrected to a lectotype.