Byssus flos-aquae Linnaeus, nom. inval. 1753
Publication Details
Byssus flos-aquae Linnaeus, nom. inval. 1753: 1168
Published in: Linnaeus, C. (1753). Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Vol. 2 pp. [i], 561-1200, [1-30, index], [i, err.]. Holmiae [Stockholm]: Impensis Laurentii Salvii.
Publication date: 1 May 1753
Original description: 
Type Species
The type species (lectotype) of the genus Byssus is Byssus jolithus Linnaeus.
Status of Name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet & Flahault.
Source of Synonymy
Spencer, M.A., Irvine, L.M. & Jarvis, C.E. (2009). Typification of Linnaean names relevant to algal nomenclature. Taxon 58(1): 237-260.
General Environment
This is a freshwater species.
Created: 24 September 2004 by Fabio Rindi.
Last updated: 02 April 2022
Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.
Taxonomic note
Ross & Irvine (1967) note: "Linnaeus's first description of the species is in the Flora Lapponica (p. 371. 1737)
where he says it commonly formed green water-blooms on lakes in Lapland. There
are a number of species of Cyanophyceae, some filamentous (Nostocaceae heterocysteae
or homocysteae), others coccoid, which do this. There is no specimen extant,
however, which could be taken as lectotype. Byssus flos-aquae was selected by
Drouet & Daily (in Butler Univ. bot. Stud. 12: 145. 1956) as lectotype species of
the genus. Unfortunately, the specimen referred to by them as the type of the species
cannot be considered as such, as Drouet has himself since realised. Although the
specimen is in Linnaeus's Herbarium [no. 1278. 1], it is labelled by the younger
Linnaeus only and is not listed by Jackson (Index Linn. Herb. p. 48. 1912) as
having been present at the time of the enumerations of the Herbarium.
If Byssus flos-aquae remains the lectotype of the genus, its typification is not
only problematical but also critical; because of the later starting-points of the
Nostocaceae the validity or otherwise of the remaining epithets is involved." - (01 January 2010) - M.D. Guiry
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=65589
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 02 April 2022. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 March 2025
