Resolving the Euphorbia neriifolia (Euphorbiaceae) complex: a taxonomy with two new succulent species from Western India

Linnaeus appears to have clubbed three distinct species under Euphorbia neriifolia, a species from China and Indonesia that is the original E. neriifolia, a species from India and Sri Lanka which is now recognized as E. nivulia, and a species from West Africa which is now called E. drupifera. After conducting field studies and examining the applicable protologues, original type material, world literature, and world herbaria, we conclude that for hundreds of years, workers have erroneously clubbed various species from India under E. neriifolia. These species include E. ligularia from Northeast India and two common succulents from Western India described here as new species viz. E. yadavii and E. paschimia. An epitype for E. neriifolia from Indonesia is designated to stabilize the species, E. ligularia is reinstated as a species, a neotype is designated for E. drupifera. E. complanata is synonymized under E. neriifolia, and E. undulatifolia is synonymized under E. ligularia. We present amended descriptions of E. neriifolia, E. nivulia, E. drupifera and E. ligularia.