Arenaria tenuifolia Linnaeus, 1753

Iamonico, Duilio, 2014, Arenaria tenuifolia versus Arenaria hybrida (Caryophyllaceae): Nomenclatural study and taxonomic implications, Phytotaxa 173 (3), pp. 235-240 : 236

Arenaria tenuifolia Linnaeus

Linnaeus’ (1753: 424) protologue consisted of a diagnosis with two pre-Linnaean synonyms, the first, “ Arenaria foliis subulatis , calyciniis laciniis membrana ipsis angustiore auctis acutissimis ”, was cited from Guettard (1747: 282), and the second was “ Alsine tenuifolia ” taken from Bahuin & Cherler (1651: 364), Vaillant (1727: 7) and Seguier (1745: 418). A provenance was also provided (“ Habitat in Helvetia, Gallia, Anglia, Italia ”). Bahuin & Cherler (l.c.), Vaillant (l.c.) and Seguier (l.c.) provided iconographies (“ Alsine tenuifolia Cap. XCV ”, “ t. 3. f. 1 ”, and “ t. 6. f. 2 ” respectively) and these are original material. Jarvis (2007: 313) also acknowledged the existence of two specimens at S-LINN (nos. 585.3, and 585.38; see IDC 188.11 and IDC 188.19) as well as four sheets at LINN (nos. 585.36, 585.37, 585.38, and 585.39) of which two (585.38, and 585.39) bear Linnaean’s annotations “ Ar [ Arenaria ] tenuifolia ” and “ Arenaria tenuifolia Ard [Arduino]”. Both lack the relevant Species Plantarum number and thus are considered to be post-1753 additions to the Linnaean herbarium and not original material. LINN no. 585.36, however, bears a Linnaean annotation “ tenuifolia 8 ”, the number “ 8 ” matching that in Species Plantarum, and therefore this sheet is certainly original material. Finally, LINN no. 585.37 bears the Linnaean’s script “ 8 Caryophyllus saxatilis fol. tenuiss., flore pulchr. albo B. m. ”. This phrase was not indicated by Linnaeus in his protologue, and therefore it is uncertain if this specimen is original material.

In Burser’s Herbarium at S-LINN there are two annotated sheets: “ Alsine tenuifolia Crantz. Arenaria tenuifolia A. Linne ”, and “ ARENARIA HU [Hortus Upsaliensis] Alsine tenuifolia Crantz ”. Both sheets are considered original material. Concerning the second sheet cited by Jarvis (2007) (image available at http://linnaeus.nrm.se/botany/fbo/ a/arena/arengra. html.en), it bears one plant and the annotations “ Cfr. Arenaria 17 grandiflora ... Alsine mesogitana Boiss. ” and on the verso “ Alsine Arenaria grandiflora a Linne ”. In this case the Species Plantarum number is lacking and thus it cannot be considered original material. Moreover, the plant appears to be a gathering of A. grandiflora Linnaeus (1759: 1034) (pers. obs.).

All the original elements (specimens from LINN and UPS and illustrations by Bahuin, Vaillant, and Seguier), match Linnaeus’ diagnosis. The sheet LINN no. 585.36 is hereby designated as the lectotype of Arenaria tenuifolia (see below).