Passerina filiformis Linnaeus 1753

Passerina filiformis Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1: 559. 1753.

"Habitat in Aethiopia." RCN: 2839.

Lectotype (Stearn, Introd. Linnaeus’ Sp. Pl. (Ray Soc. ed.): 47. 1957): [icon] "Passerina foliis linearibus" in Linnaeus, Hort. Cliff.: 146, t. 11. 1738. - Voucher: Herb. Clifford: 146, Passerina 1 (BM).

Generitype of Passerina Linnaeus (vide Meyer in Bull. Cl. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.- Pétersbourg 1: 357. 1843).

Current name: Passerina filiformis L. (Thymelaeaceae).

Note: Thoday (in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1924: 148. 1924) apparently regarded 504.1 (LINN) as the type, one of the two sheets bearing Dutch paper urns which he therefore assumed to be from Clifford’s herbarium, and hence either in Linnaeus’ possession in 1753, or seen by him previously. However, the urn of 504.1 is not of a type commonly seen in Clifford’s herbarium and, together with the absence of the Species Plantarum number (i.e. “1”), suggests this was not in his hands in 1753. Stearn subsequently came to the conclusion that the name should be typified by the Clifford plate, which is accepted here. Bredenkamp & Van Wyk (in Bothalia 32: 29. 2002; 33: 85. 2003) apparently overlooked this earlier choice, designating 504.1 (LINN) as lectotype. They suggest (l.c., 32: 31) that the Clifford illustration is identifiable as P. filiformis subsp. glutinosa (Thoday) Bredenk. & A.E. van Wyk, which will cause disruption at subspecific rank if Stearn’s type choice is upheld.