Ensete nepalensis

Ensete nepalensis (N. Wallich in W. Roxburgh, Flora Indica 2: 490 (1824) and ibid. ed. 2 vol. 1: 669 (1832)) E. E. Cheesman, err. cal. N. W. Simmonds, Kew Bulletin 14 (2): 212 (1960).

Accepted name Ensete glaucum (W. Roxburgh) E. E. Cheesman, Kew Bulletin 2 (2): 101 (1947).
Synonyms Musa nepalensis N. Wallich in W. Roxburgh, Flora Indica 2: 490 (1824) and ibid. ed. 2 vol. 1: 669 (1832).
Authorities The authority for the accepted name is Hara et al 1978 notwithstanding Simmonds 1960.

The synonym is from Cheesman 1947a.

The World Checklist of Monocotyledons does not list Ensete nepalensis but gives Musa nepalensis Wall. in W.Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 2: 492 (1824) as a synonym Ensete glaucum (Roxb.) Cheesman, Kew Bull. 2: 101 (1947 publ. 1948) which is given as the accepted name.

Section  
Distribution (Nepal)
Description See Ensete glaucum for a description of that species.

See Musa nepalensis for a description of the "type" of Ensete nepalensis.
References Cheesman 1947a: 101, Hara et al 1978: , Simmonds 1960: 207, 212.
Comments The combination Ensete nepalensis (N. Wallich) E. E. Cheesman is quoted twice by Simmonds 1960 (207 and 212) apparently citing Cheesman's 1947 paper in which he revived the genus Ensete. This is an unusual slip of the pen by the normally unimpeachable Simmonds for there is no such combination in Cheesman's work. Under his entry for Ensete glaucum Cheesman discusses Musa nepalensis at some length and effectively treats it as nomen dubium. He specifically refrains from creating the combination Ensete nepalensis and concludes his discussion thus:

"If M. nepalensis does exist, it belongs to Ensete; but it does not seem immediately desirable to cumber the literature with a new combination to name so doubtful an entity."

See also discussion at Musa nepalensis.

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last updated 26/11/2007