Nymphaea alba Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1: 510. 1753, typ. cons.
"Habitat in Europae & America aquis dulcibus." RCN: 3856.
Lectotype (Mitra in Nayar & al. in Fasc. Fl. India 20: 16. 1990): Herb. Linn. No. 673.4 (LINN) .
Generitype of Nymphaea Linnaeus, nom. cons.
Current name: Nymphaea alba L. ( Nymphaeaceae).
Note: Mitra’s choice of the material in LINN as type is unfortunate because detailed morphological and palynological studies show that it belongs not to N. alba but to N. Candida C. Presl & J. Presl (which Mitra recognised as a species distinct from N. alba). The two taxa are usually treated as distinct, though often at subspecific rank. Although Art. 57.1 provides some temporary protection for the name, a conservation proposal appears to be necessary.