Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
(3044) Bubon rigidius L., Sp. Pl.: 254. 1 Mai 1753 Angiosp.: Umbell., nom. utique rej. prop. Typus: non designatus. Linnaeus (Sp. Pl.: 253–254. 1753) published at the rank of species four names in the genus Bubon L. (Apiaceae) (B. galbanum, B. gummiferum, B. macedonicum, B. rigidius). Three of these species are currently placed in other genera (i.e., Peucedanum galbanum (L.) Benth. Barrelier, l.c.) include illustrations that can be considered as original material. Boccone's drawing "Ferula durior, seu rigidis et brevissimis foliis" (l.c.: t. 76) illustrates a complete plant, with leaves and fruits, and a detail of three fruits. The illustration published by Barrelier (l.c.: t. 77) represents a mirror image of Boccone's drawing. Either of these two illustrations would be eligible as the lectotype of the name and they match the Linnaean diagnosis ("foliolis linearibus"). There is a relevant herbarium sheet in the Clifford Herbarium at BM. The specimen Herb. Clifford: 95, Bubon 1 (barcode BM000558276) bears an immature plant, with leaves and flowers, but no fruits, and it is annotated "Ferula | durior, seu ri- | gidis et bre- | vissimis foliis | Bubon rigidius" and "p. 95. Bubon. 1" at the base of the sheet (https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/d3335d88-8d4c-445b-bcfa-26e5707dce7b/1713657600000). This specimen is incomplete (lacks diagnostic features relevant for the Apiaceae, such as the fruits). Unfortunately, we have not been able to locate any further original material in any Linnaean and Linnaean-linked herbaria. The identity of Bubon rigidius has never been clarified and the application of the name is uncertain. Unfortunately, the protologue published by Linnaeus does not provide sufficient information for a precise identification, and the taxonomic identification of the immature and incomplete original specimen BM000558276 is very complicated. In addition, the interpretation of Barrelier's and Boccone's illustrations seems ambiguous. Gussone (Fl. Sicul. Prodr. 1: 366. 1827), although citing Ferula rigida Ten. in synonymy in the protologue of F. geniculata Guss., made clear that he was excluding Tenore's synonym, Bubon rigidius. Gussone (l.c. 1827) included Boccone's illustration albeit with a question mark. Fifteen years later Gussone (Fl. Sicul. Syn. 1: 355. 1842) in the account of his Ferulago geniculata (Guss.) Guss. added some other synonyms but retained his exclusion of the Linnaean binomial from Ferula rigida Ten. and referred Barrelier's and Boccone's illustrations to Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl. (in Quart. J. Sci. Lit. Arts 19: 7. 1825, based on Laserpitium ferulaceum L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2: 358. 1762) ("Non immerito Cl. Bertol. in fl. ital. 3. p. 379 icones Bocc. et Barr. ab hac specie excludendas esse notat, siquidem quoad habitum magis Prangos ferulaceam referunt, sub qua inde citavi" (Not undeservedly the famous Bertoloni in Fl. Ital. 3: 379 1837 notes that the images of Boccone and Barrelier are to be excluded from this species, since in regard to their habit they refer rather to Prangos ferulacea, under which hence I have cited them) (see also Bertoloni l.c. on Ferula geniculata Guss.: "Figura Ponae superius allata bona, licet rudis, nec ullo pacto dubia; sed dubia profecto est Ferula durior seu rigidis et brevissimis foliis Barrel. Ic. 77. Bocc. Mus. di piant. tab. 76., cum caulis in hac careat geniculis tumentibus, et sit foliatus ab imo ad summum" – The figure of Pona mentioned above, although crude, is not in any way doubtful; but Ferula durior seu rigidis et brevissimis foliis Barrel. Ic. 77. Bocc. Mus. di piant. tab. 76 is certainly doubtful because the stems in this one lack the swollen nodes, and are foliated from the bottom to the top). Jarvis Gussone, l.c. 1842) or Ferula geniculata (see Troia Bartolucci & al. in Phytotaxa 196: 80. 2015). However, rejection of this proposal would permit the resurrection of Bubon rigidius, an obscure name not used for more than two centuries. Thanks to Dr. John McNeill and Dr. John Wiersema for their advice, assistance, and valuable comments that improved this proposal.
Ferrer‐Gallego et al. (Thu,) studied this question.