Polygala vulgaris L., 1753

Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part P), Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London: Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum, pp. 718-782 : 756

Polygala vulgaris Linnaeus , Species Plantarum 2: 702. 1753.

"Habitat in Europae pratis, & pascuis siccis." RCN: 5136.

Lectotype (Heubl in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 20: 348. 1984): Herb. Linn. No. 882.6 ( LINN) .

Generitype of Polygala Linnaeus (vide Green, Prop. Brit. Bot.: 173. 1929).

Current name: Polygala vulgaris L. ( Polygalaceae ).

Note: Heubl designated 882.6 (LINN) as lectotype, which subsequent study has shown to be identifiable as P. comosa Schkuhr. The nomenclatural consequences of this are marked, with P. vulgaris becoming the correct name for what has been called P. comosa , and the next available name, apparently P. podolica DC., having to be taken up for the species formerly known as P. comosa . Polygala vulgaris therefore appears to be a candidate for conservation with a conserved type and, under Art. 57, this name "is not to be used in a sense that conflicts with current usage unless and until a proposal to deal with it under Art. 14.1 or 56.1 has been submitted and rejected". The name should therefore continue to be used in its traditional sense in the meantime. See brief review by Jonsell & Jarvis (in Nordic J. Bot. 22: 80. 2002).