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A NEW COMBINATION IN THE GENUS LOTUS L.

S. I. ALl

Abstract: The genus Podolotus Royle ex Benth., was described by Bentham in 1835. However in 1865, he transferred it to the genus Astragalus (Bentham, 1865). This was maintained by Baker (1876) and more recently by Ali (1977). Rechinger f. (1957) described a new genus Kerstania Rech. f. based on K. nuristanica Rech. f. which has been shown to be conspecific with Astragalus hosackioides (Royle ex Benth.) Benth. (Ali, 1958). Rechinger f., (1984) has retained Podolotus Benth., as a separate genus whereas Polhill (1981) while discussing the genera of the tribe Loteae, has reduced Podolotus Royle ex Benth. (Astragalus sect. Podolotus (Royle) Benth.) to the synonymy of the genus. Following Polhill (1981), Astragalus hosackioides (Royle ex Benth.) Benth., is being transferred to the genus Lotus L.
Lotus hosackioides (Royle ex Benth.) Ali, Comb. nov.
Podolotus hosackioides Royle ex Benth. in Royle, Ill. Bot. Rimal. Mount., 198. 1835. Astragalus hosackioides (Royle ex Benth.) Benth. in Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. PI., 1.2: 507.1865. .
Kerstania nuristanica Rech.f., Dan. Biol. Skr., 9.3: 19. 1957.
Distribution: Southern Iran, East Afghanistan, Pakistan (Swat, Kurram, Murree, Punjab), Kashmir, India (N. Punjab, Kumaon).

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.