Nomenclatural and Distributional Notes on Botrychium lanceolatum

Abstract

Most modern writers accredit Angstroem with the original transference of Gmelin's Osmunda lanceolata to the genus Botrychium. Among botanists who have so given credit to Angstroem may be mentioned Fernald (Rhodora 17: 87-88. 1915),-Maxon (Rhodora 20: 19. 1918), Broun (Index North American Ferns, p. 35. 1938) and myself (Mem. Torr. Club 19(2): 90. 1938). Subsequent to my publication, S. J. Smith mentioned to me that Ruprecht had listed the binomial Botrychium lanceolatum nine years before the date when it was published by Angstroem. Ruprecht's ideas with respect to Gmelin's Osmunda lanceolata evidently underwent change in 1845. On page 33 of part 3 of Beitrage zur Pflanzenkunde des Russichen Reiches, he listed this as 488. Botrychium (Lunaria) lanceolatum* with the synonym Osmunda lanceolata Gmel. jun., 1768. This is the basis for the varietal combination under B. Lunaria cited by me on p. 90 of my Monograph. On p. 92 of part four of the Beitrage, Ruprecht listed Botrychium lanceolatum.* The 1. and * indicated that he regarded B. lanceolatum to be a species new to the flora of St. Petersburg. Ruprecht did not directly cite the basinym, but he cited his 48f/ mentioned above. Here Gmelin's binomial and the date of its publication were indicated, but no bibliographical citation. Ruprecht's intention appears clear. Since he did cite the date of Gmelin's publication, I am now inclined to accredit him with first valid publication of Botrychium lanceolatum. His binomial is neither a nomen nudum nor a nomemn dubium. Its application seems reasonably definite. The citation thus should be: Botrychium lan45