A note on the tonka bean and William Forsyth junior’s ‘A botanical nomenclator’ (1794)

Abstract

The 70 new combinations made in Forsyth’s ‘A botanical nomenclator’ (1794) include ten names in current use, but hitherto attributed to later authors, notable being that of the economically significant Dipteryx odorata (tonka bean), Leguminosae. Of Forsyth’s 26 nomina nova, Psychotria caerulea Forsyth f. (1794) is an older name for the homotypic P. amplifolia Raeusch. (1797), Rubiaceae. Also pointed out are four names in current use to be cited as of Lamarck and one as of Rauschel, rather than later authors. All other novelties, none apparently affecting current nomenclature, have been passed to IPNI editors.