Taxonomic Assessment and Neotypification of Salicornia utahensis (Amaranthaceae: Salicornioideae)

Esteban Ramírez Chueca; Vicenta de la Fuente; Daniel Sánchez-Mata

doi:10.3417/20261050

Esteban Ramírez Chueca Harvard University Herbaria and Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University
Vicenta de la Fuente Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
Daniel Sánchez-Mata Harvard University Herbaria, Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University, and Universidad Complutense de Madrid

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3417/20261050

Keywords: Great Basin, halophytes, Salicornia, seed micromorphology, typification

Abstract

Salicornia utahensis Tidestr. is a perennial halophyte inhabiting saline habitats of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The original type, Kearney & Shantz 3249 (1912; Grantsville, Utah), cited in literature as deposited at US herbarium, is no longer extant, and no duplicates have been located despite extensive searches. In July 2025, we visited the area near Grantsville corresponding as closely as possible to the locus classicus in order to assess extant populations and collect representative material in optimal phenological condition. A neotype is designated here in accordance with Articles 7.11, 9.8, 9.13, and 9.19(a) of the International Code of Nomenclature (Turland et al., 2025) to ensure nomenclatural stability and maintain the traditional usage of the name. In addition, we provide morphological, micromorphological, ecological, and ETS-based phylogenetic evidence, which further clarifies the identity and taxonomic position of the species.