Byssus aurea Linnaeus 1753

Current name: Trentepohlia aurea (Linnaeus) C.Martius
Claddagh, Co. Galway, Ireland; on a moss growing on a north-facing wall. - 06 April 2009. Michael Guiry (mike.guiry@nuigalway.ie)

Publication Details
Byssus aurea Linnaeus 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.

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Publication date: 1 May 1753

Original description:  Download PDF

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 Trentepohlia aurea (Linnaeus) C.Martius.

Source of Synonymy
Martius, C.F.P. von (1817). Flora cryptogamica erlangensis sistens vegetabilia e classe ultima Linn. in agro erlangesi hucusque detecta.... pp. [i]-lxviii, [1-2, h. t. and motto], 1-512, 6 folded plates. Norimbergae [Nürnberg]: sumptibus J. L. Schrag.

Type Information
Type locality: Wales: Caenarvon; Italy; (INA 1996) Type: Dillenius (1742: pl. 1: fig. 16): OXF; (INA 1996) Notes: LT fide L.M. Irvine in M.A. Spencer et al., 2009: 240 (INA). There is no evidence that this species was seen live by Linnaeus. Byssus aurea is based on “Byssus capillacea pulverulenta..” of Gleditsch (Meth. Fung., p. 18, 1753). The topotype is apparently lost, but there is every reason to suppose that the name is correctly applied to Trentepohlia aurea (Linnaeus) Martius as currently understood (Ross & Irvine, 1967).

Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), golden.

Created: 02 May 2002 by Fabio Rindi.

Last updated: 20 March 2018

Verification of Data
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Taxonomic note
Ross & Irvine (1967) note: "There is again no evidence that this species was seen live by Linnaeus. Byssus aurea is based on "Byssus capillacea pulverulenta ..." of Gleditsch (Meth. Fung. p. 18. 1753). The typotype is apparently lost, but there is every reason to suppose that the name is correctly applied to Trentepohlia aurea (L.) Mart. as currently understood (see, for example, Printz in Nyt Mag. Naturvid. 80: 153. 1940)." - (01 January 2010) - M.D. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=51992

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 March 2018. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 02 April 2025