Lithothamnium Philippi, 1837, nom. rejic.
Lectotype species: Lithothamnium byssoides (Lamarck) Philippi
Publication details: Philippi, 1837: 387
Currently accepted name for the type species: Lithophyllum byssoides (Lamarck) Foslie
Original publication: Philippi, R.A. (1837). Beweis, dass die Nulliporen Pflanzen sind. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 3: 387-393, figs 2-6, pl. IX.
Request PDFType designated in: Lemoine, Mme P. [=M.] (1911). Structure anatomique des Mélobésiées. Application à la classification. Annales de l'Institut Océanographique, Monaco 2(2): 1-213, 14 figs, 3 folded tables, pls I-V.
Precise date of publication: 1837 (more precise date not determined). The requirements for valid publication are specified in the ICBN (International Code of Botanical Nomenclature).
The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-08-18 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Lithophyllum.
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as neuter.
Nomenclatural notes
"[incl. also Lithothamnium gracile, L. rubrum, L. crassum ?, L. ramulosum, the latter species designated LT by L.R. Mason, Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 26: 322 (1953); incorrectly lectotypified with L. fasciculatum (Lamarck) Areschoug (Millepora fasciculata Lamarck 1816) by Schmitz, Flora 72: 455 (1889) and with L. calcareum (Pallas) Areschoug (Millepora calcarea Pallas 1766) by Hamel & Me. Lemoine, Arch. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. [Paris], ser. 7, 1: 79 (1953)]" [INA] - (18 August 2024) - M.D. Guiry
The ICBN rules cited below are those adopted by the Seventeenth International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria, July 2005 (McNeill et al. 2006).
In accordance with ICBN Art. 13.3, the name Lithothamnium Philippi is treated as pertaining to a non-fossil taxon because its type is based on a non-fossil specimen. Both fossil and non-fossil species have been assigned to the genus.
The generic name Lithothamnium Philippi is typified (ICBN Art 10.1) by the type of L. byssoides, one of five species originally (Philippi 1837) included in the genus. Philippi (1837) did not choose a type species, and Lemoine (1911: 66) was the first author to designate one of the originally included species as lectotype. As noted by Mason (1953: 323), the earlier choice of L. fasciculatum (Lamarck) Areschoug by Schmitz (1889: 455) is not tenable because that species was not originally included in Lithothamnium by Philippi. Mason (1953: 322, 323), unaware of the earlier designation of Lemoine, chose L. ramulosum Philippi as lectotype and was followed by Woelkerling (1983, 1985, 1988), who also was unaware of the Lemoine designation.
Lithothamnium Philippi(1837) is an earlier homonym of the conserved name Lithothamnion Heydrich (1897) and thus unavailable for use (see Art. 14.10 of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature). Lithothamnion Heydrich (1897) is listed in the Nomina Generica Conservanda (ICBN, Appendix III, A9). Further data relating to the conservation of Lithothamnion Heydrich against Lithothamnium Philippi (listed opposite Lithothamnion Heydrich in Appendix III, A9) are provided in Woelkerling 1983: 193-194, Woelkerling 1985, and Woelkerling 1988: 173. The spelling Lithothamnium should not be used for species belonging to Lithothamnion Heydrich but rather should be changed without alteration to authorship or date in accordance with ICBN Art. 55.3. - (28 August 2009)
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Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 18 August 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 15 June 2025
