Fucus cartilagineus var. vindicatus Gunnerus, nom. inval. 1776
Publication Details
Fucus cartilagineus var. vindicatus Gunnerus, nom. inval. 1776: 123 (as 'cartilagineus vindicatus')
Published in: Gunnerus, J.E. (1776 '1772'). Flora norvegica, observationibus praesertim oeconomicis panosque norvegici locupletata. Pars posterior, cum iconibus. pp. [i]- viii, [1]-148, indices, pls I-IX. Hafnia [Copenhagen]: Impensis Frederici Christiani Pelt.
Request PDFType Species
The type species (lectotype) of the genus Fucus is Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus.
Status of Name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Ptilota gunneri P.C.Silva, Maggs & L.M.Irvine.
Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), cartilaginous, flexible but firm and tough (Stearn 1983).
General Environment
This is a marine species.
Created: 27 May 2000 by Fabio Rindi.
Last updated: 06 April 2020
Verification of Data
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Nomenclatural note
Invalid. Treated as a variety in INA. According to Jørgensen (2012: 1091) "This is the designation of a species 'consisting of a generic name followed by two adjectival words in the nominative case', and so is not a validly published name (Art. 23.6(c) of the Vienna Code; McNeill & al., 2006). Gunnerus in all probability was dealing with a form of Ptilota plumosa (L.) Ag. (a species that Gunnerus called Fucus cartilagineus, see Foslie 1886) as indicated by Gunnerus who in a postscript noted that many specimens are difficult to distinguish with certainty from Fucus cartilagineus. "Fucus vindicatus " is therefore certainly not a new species name as published. Probably an alteration of the epithets took place in the prolonged printing process (see the preface), vindicatus probably being intended as a subspecific epithet in the final manuscript (actually in the surviving draft of the Flora it was listed as a species with this epithet). There is reason to believe that Gunnerus at a late stage changed his mind on its status and added the postscript, and at the same time tried to change the rank from species to a subspecific one. However, in attempting to do so, they appeared in the wrong order in print (which he did not see since he died before the book finally was published). Whatever the reason may be, he failed according to the present nomenclatural rules to establish a new species. Since this not a validly published name, it is not appropriate to designate a type specimen." - (06 April 2020) - M.D. Guiry
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=22470
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 06 April 2020. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 14 April 2025
