This article deals with the taxonomic identity and nomenclature of the Linnaean name Pharnaceum depressum published in the 2^nd volume of Mantissa Plantarum, variously placed in Caryophyllaceae and assigned to either Polycarpon or Polycarpaea, depending on taxonomic interpretation. Turrill’s indication of the “holotype” of Pharnaceum depressum is here corrected to lectotype according to Art. 9.10 of ICN. The names linked to Ph. depressum (Forsskål’s Alsine prostrata, Delile’s Polycarpaea memphitica, and Kunth & Bouché’s Polycarpaea mozambica) are typified on specimens preserved at, respectively, C (lecto-), MPU (lecto-), and BR (neo-), and synonymised with Ph. depressum. Kindberg’s “Lepigonum prostratum”, reported in several online databases, is invalid according to the Art. 36.1 of the ICN. Morphological studies of types and other specimens confirm the placement in Polycarpon, based on oblong-spatulate leaves and sepals scarious only at margins. The examined material shows similarities with the Mediterranean taxon P. tetraphyllum subsp. tetraphyllum and the Peruvian endemic P. tetraphyllum subsp. peruvianum, but differs in several characters (shape of stipules, arrangement of flowers, structure of the sepals, length of the petals, and length of the fruit). Thus, the taxon originally described by Linnaeus as Pharnaceum depressum, by Forsskål as Alsine prostrata, by Delile as Polycarpaea memphitica, and by Kunth & Bouché as Polycarpaea mozambica, is here proposed to be recognized as a subspecies of Polycarpon tetraphyllum. Since the earlier available epithet (that of Linnae­an Ph. depressum) cannot be used due to the existing legitimate Polycarpon tetraphyllum subsp. depressum Iamonico (a different taxon endemic to California and Mexico), the proposed new combination is based on Forsskål’s name Alsine prostrata.

Keywords: Alsine prostrata, lectotype, Linnaeus, neotype, nomenclatural change, Polycarpaea memphitica, Polycarpaea mozambica, Polycarpon, synonym, typification

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