The phrase "Roy. lugdb. 310" found in Linnaeus's Species Plantarum refers to a specific citation method used by Carl Linnaeus to acknowledge previous botanical works and descriptions. In this context, "Roy." is an abbreviation for Adriaan van Royen, and "lugdb." refers to his work Florae Leydensis prodromus (Flora of Leiden), with "310" indicating the page number within that publication [1] [2].

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Linnaeus meticulously cited earlier botanical literature to establish the historical context and prior descriptions of the plant species he was classifying [1]. This practice was crucial for his binomial nomenclature system, which aimed to standardize the naming of organisms. By referencing works like van Royen's Flora Leydensis prodromus, Linnaeus provided a trail of evidence for his classifications, allowing other botanists to trace the origins of his species concepts [1] [3].

Adriaan van Royen (1704-1779) was a Dutch botanist and professor at Leiden University. His Florae Leydensis prodromus, published in 1740, was a significant regional flora that described plants found in and around Leiden [1] [4]. Linnaeus, who had a close relationship with Dutch botanists and spent time in the Netherlands, frequently consulted and cited van Royen's work, among many others, in his own publications, including Species Plantarum (1753) [1] [5]. This particular citation, "Roy. lugdb. 310," would direct a reader to page 310 of van Royen's Flora Leydensis prodromus for further information or a previous description of the plant species being discussed by Linnaeus [1].