A nomenclatural correction in Caltha (Ranunculaceae)

In a comprehensive treatment of Caltha, Petra Smit (Blumea 21: 119—150. 1973) unfortunately chose an incorrect name for her fourth variety under C. palustris L. Instead of var. radicans (Forst.) Beck, this taxon should be called C. palustris var. flabellifolia (Pursh) Torrey & Gray (Fl. N. Am. I: 27. 1838). Forster’s C. radicans was described in 1807 (Trans. Linn. Soc. 8: 324) and reduced to varietal status by Beck in 1886 (Verh. Zool. Bot. Gesellsch. Wien 36: 350). According to the current International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, no name has priority outside of its rank (cf. Art. 60). Inasmuch as C. palustris var. flabellifolia was the name first established for Smit’s variety d’, as such it has priority over C. palustris var. radicans (Forst.) Beck by 30 years.