pastilleja

Pastilleja is a botanical name that has appeared in historical classifications but does not correspond to an accepted genus in modern plant taxonomy. In some older botanical works, Pastilleja was used to group certain species, but subsequent taxonomic revisions have reassigned these species to other genera. As a result, the term is largely considered obsolete in current nomenclature.

Etymology and usage of the name are not well standardized. The form appears to derive from a root related to the word for a small loaf or pill in some European languages, but there is no consensus on a precise origin or defining characteristic that justified the original genus placement. Because the taxonomic concept behind Pastilleja varied across authors, there is little consistent morphological description attached to the name in reliable sources.

In contemporary literature and databases, Pastilleja is rarely encountered. Major plant-nomenclature databases and reference works do not recognize it as an accepted genus, and references to it typically appear only in historical discussions of classification or as a note on superseded nomenclature. When encountered, the term should be treated as a historical synonym or an initial misclassification rather than a valid, currently recognized taxon.

See also:

- Pastille (lozenge) and related etymology

- Taxonomic synonymy and reclassification in botany

If researching a historical text that mentions Pastilleja, cross-check the cited author, year, and described species against modern classifications to determine the current accepted names.

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