Lithocarpus glabra/ Lithocarpus glaber

[Rob Cross]

Dear colleagues,

Both Lithocarpus glabra and Lithocarpus glaber appear in the literature,
and I have not been able to confirm which specific epithet is correct.

According to Index Kewensis on Compact Disc, Lithocarpus glabra was
published by Takenoshin Nakai in 1916.  This epithet has been used by
A.Camus in her treatment of Lithocarpus (Camus, A (1952-54)
Monographie du genre Lithocarpus), and more recently by Cullen, J &
Maxwell, HS (1989)  Lithocarpus in Walters et al. (eds.) The European
Garden Flora, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

The following publications use the epithet L.glaber however:
Krussman, G  (1977)  Manual of Cultivated Broad-leaved Trees and
Shrubs  Volume II, E-Pro  Timber Press, Portland, Oregon;
Bean, WJ  (1973)  Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles  Volume II
D-M  8th Edition  John Murray (Publishers) Ltd, London; and
Bailey, LH & Bailey, EZ  (1976)  Hortus Third - A Concise Dictionary of
the Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada   Macmillan
Publishing Company, Inc., New York.

Other members of staff and I can only deduce that the botanists
preferring Lithocarpos glaber are correcting the gender of the epithet
under Article 62.2 of the Tokyo Code (where the gender of the epithet
should agree with the gender of the last word in nominative case in the
compound).

If anyone has clear arguments for accepting one form of the epithet over
the other I would be grateful if you would let me know what they are.

Thanks.

Cheers,

Rob Cross
Horticultural Research Officer
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne