The Genus Hovenia Thunb. (Rhamnaceae) in the Indian Subcontinent

The Himalayan Hovenia described by Lindley in 1820 as H. acerba was subsequently merged by him with H. dulcis Thunb., a species occurring in Japan and China. Y. Kimura in 1939 in his revision of Hovenia retained H. acerba distinct from H. dulcis. The authors have studied the literature and material on Hovenia in Central National Herbarium and conclude that H. acerba should be treated as a variety under H. dulcis, H. dulcis var. acerba, comb, et stat. nov. H. parviflora Nakai et Kimura from South China is reduced as synonym of H. dulcis var. acerba. H. dulcis properly named as H. dulcis var. glabra Makino is treated as a taxonomic, if not nomenclatural synonym, of H. dulcis var. dulcis, and is reported from the Indian sub-continent from the Garhwal Himalayas and Arunachal Pradesh.