Overview
Goeppertia makoyana (É.Morren) Borchs. & S.Suárez is an accepted species of the family Marantaceae, placed within the genus Goeppertia Nees — the largest genus in the family, encompassing an estimated 260 species [3]. Plants of the World Online, maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, records the species as a perennial herb with a native range restricted to Espírito Santo, a coastal state of southeastern Brazil, and places it within the wet tropical biome [1].
In continued horticultural use the species is frequently encountered under the name Calathea makoyana, which is the basionym and now a synonym under current taxonomy. The transfer to Goeppertia was effected by Borchsenius, Suárez and Prince in 2012, after molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that Calathea G.Mey. as previously circumscribed was polyphyletic [2]. The GBIF Backbone Taxonomy records the accepted name as Goeppertia makoyana (É.Morren) Borchs. & S.Suárez under key 7708211 [3].
The registry currently records the native range and habitat fields for this species as not populated; Plants of the World Online documents the native range as Brazil (Espírito Santo) and the habit as perennial in the wet tropical biome [1]. A conflict between the registry value (null) and the primary source is noted; a registry pipeline update is pending human review.
Nomenclature and Synonymy
The basionym of Goeppertia makoyana is Calathea makoyana É.Morren, published by the Belgian horticulturist Charles Jacques Édouard Morren in Annales de l'Horticulture Belge et Étrangère (abbreviated in some primary sources as Belgique Hort.) volume 22, page 321, in 1872 [1]. The epithet and authority are confirmed by Plants of the World Online [1] and the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy [3].
According to Plants of the World Online, the name passed through several further combinations before the currently accepted epithet was established [1]. Maranta makoyana (É.Morren) T.Moore & Mast. appeared in Gardeners' Chronicle in 1873. Phyllodes mackoyana (É.Morren) Kuntze was published in Revisio Generum Plantarum volume 2, page 695, in 1891. Two names treating what Kew regards as the same taxon are Maranta olivaris H.J.Veitch, published in Gardeners' Chronicle in 1872, and Calathea olivaris (H.J.Veitch) G.Nicholson, published in Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening volume 1, page 238, in 1884. A further synonym is Maranta iconifera W.Bull, published in a William Bull nursery catalogue in 1887. All five are recorded as synonyms by Kew in Plants of the World Online [1].
The registry currently holds two name rows for this taxon — the accepted epithet Goeppertia makoyana and the synonym Calathea makoyana — against the six-synonym list recorded by POWO [1]. The discrepancy is a known registry conflict; the remaining synonyms are to be added as nomenclatural evidence rows by the registry pipeline following human review.
The current combination — transferring the species from Calathea G.Mey. to Goeppertia Nees — was published by Finn Borchsenius, Luz Stella Suárez and L.M. Prince on 1 September 2012 in Systematic Botany 37(3): 620–635 [2]. That paper reported a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Marantaceae and published 246 new combinations, of which Goeppertia makoyana is one [2].
Under the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, a cultivar epithet is enclosed in single quotation marks and is not italicised. No International Cultivar Registration Authority has been appointed for Marantaceae; the International Society for Horticultural Science list of appointed registration authorities does not include this family.
Description
Plants of the World Online characterises Goeppertia makoyana as a perennial herb native to the wet tropical biome [1]. The University of Connecticut EEB Greenhouse holds an accession of the species and records it under the name Goeppertia makoyana, identifying it as native to Brazil Southeast, consistent with the Kew circumscription [4].
The formal morphological description of the species is contained in the protologue published by É.Morren in 1872 in Annales de l'Horticulture Belge et Étrangère volume 22, page 321 [1]. That original text has not been retrieved in full through the searches conducted for this brief. Limited authoritative sources available; further research needed.
Distribution and Habitat
Plants of the World Online records the native range of Goeppertia makoyana as Brazil (Espírito Santo), and characterises the species as a perennial growing primarily in the wet tropical biome [1]. Espírito Santo is a coastal state of southeastern Brazil. The University of Connecticut EEB Greenhouse herbarium record similarly identifies the taxon as native to Brazil Southeast, consistent with the Kew circumscription [4].
No IUCN Red List status, conservation assessment, or protected-area documentation has been retrieved for this species through the searches conducted for this brief. Limited authoritative sources available; further research needed.
No U.S. Plant Patent covering Goeppertia makoyana or Calathea makoyana as a species — as distinct from any named cultivar — is recorded in the Digital Towns registry or was located during the searches conducted for this brief.
In Cultivation
Goeppertia makoyana is documented in cultivation at botanical and academic institutions. The University of Connecticut EEB Greenhouse holds an accession of the species under the name Goeppertia makoyana and records it as a specimen used in EEB 3271 (Systematic Botany) and EEB 2244 (General Ecology) coursework [4]. The UConn record confirms the native range as Brazil Southeast [4].
In continued trade use, the species is frequently listed and sold under the synonym Calathea makoyana. The accepted name under current taxonomy is Goeppertia makoyana as recorded by Plants of the World Online [1] and the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy [3].
Cultivars Recorded in the Registry
One cultivar epithet is recorded in the Digital Towns registry against Goeppertia makoyana: 'Peacock'. Under the ICNCP, the epithet is enclosed in single quotation marks and is not italicised. No originator is documented. This cultivar predates any registration authority for Marantaceae. No plant patent number is recorded against this cultivar in the registry.
Digital Towns operates as an aggregator and applicant; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by the International Society for Horticultural Science or any appointed registration authority. No International Cultivar Registration Authority has been appointed for Marantaceae.