purple spiderling
Boerhavia purpurascens A.Gray
Boerhavia purpurascens, commonly known as purple spiderling, is a species in the Nyctaginaceae family, native to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Mexico. It was first described by A. Gray in 1853. The lectotype, designated from a specimen collected by Wright in 1851 near Santa Rita, New Mexico, is preserved in the Gray Herbarium and includes flowers and mature anthocarps, making it suitable for typification.
Description
The species is characterized by its stony hill habitat near copper mines, as noted in the original protologue. Four specimens collected by Wright were identified as syntypes, with GH 00037320 chosen as the lectotype due to its good condition and inclusion of reproductive structures. Additional isolectotypes are preserved in MO and GH. The typification follows the International Code of Nomenclature (Art. 9.6).
Other common names
purple spiderling
Distribution
Arizona · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest · New Mexico · Texas
