Notes on the generic nameGraecobolanthus(Caryophylleae, Caryophyllaceae)

Graecobolanthuswas proposed in 2018 as a new generic name for the Greek species of the genusBolanthus, the latter genus comprising the remaining species from Anatolia and the Levant according to the revising authors. However, the type of the two generic names, i.e.,Graecobolanthus graecusfrom Greece andBolanthus hirsutusfrom the Levant, undoubtedly belong to the same genus based on morphological and genetic similarity. Importantly,B. hirsutuswas not included in the molecular analysis by the revising authors. In summary, we note that (i)Graecobolanthusis taxonomically superfluous andBolanthusis the correct generic name of the Greek-endemic species; (ii) an extendedPhrynellaand/or a new generic name might accommodate the Turkish taxa currently underBolanthus, which were located on a distinct phylogenetic branch in the study by the revising authors.