Solanum ferox L., 1762

Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part S), Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London: Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum, pp. 806-877 : 860

Solanum ferox Linnaeus , Species Plantarum, ed. 2, 1: 267. 1762.

"Habitat in Malabaria." RCN: 1477.

Type not designated.

Original material: none traced.

Current name: Solanum ferox L. ( Solanaceae ).

Note: Symon (in J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 4: 106. 1981) indicates type material in LINN (which had been seen on a microfiche in AD). However, there seems to be no material at LINN annotated in a way that can associate it with this name and it is therefore not clear what material Symon intended. However, Whalen & al. (in Gentes Herb. 12: 100. 1981) say that Linnaeus’ calyx description rules out the traditional application of S. ferox , and take up S. lasiocarpon Dunal for that taxon. They say that S. involucratum Blume is a much more likely identity for Linnaeus’ plant. There appear to be no original elements, and a neotype may be needed, although there may also be a case for proposing the rejection of the name altogether.