Conferva hospita Mertens ex Chamisso, 1821: 178, pl. V: figs. 2–5 (in part), 6 (type locality: Cape of Good Hope, South Africa).—Krauss, 1846: 215.
Cladophora hospita (Mertens ex Chamisso) Kützing, 1843b: 271.—Grunow, 1867: 38.— Reichardt, 1871: 21.— Hemsley, 1884: 280.— Askenasy, 1888: 5.— Barton, 1893: 55.
Lychaete hospita (Mertens ex Chamisso) Areschoug, 1851: 11 (including Indian Ocean record).
INDIAN OCEAN DISTRIBUTION: St. Paul Island, South Africa.
Note: The taxonomic and nomenclatural history of this species, including the conspecificity of Conferva hospita and C. mirabilis C. Agardh (1820b: [4], pl. IX; type locality: Cape of Good Hope), was discussed by Papenfuss (1940b: 5–6). Conferva mirabilis Dillwyn (1808 [1802–1809]: pl. 96; type locality: Penllergare, near Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales) (Scytonema mirabile Bornet, 1889a: 155) is an earlier homonym of C. mirabilis C. Agardh, but when later starting points are observed in the nomenclature of blue-green algae, it becomes a devalidated name because it applies to a member of the Nostocaceae heterocysteae, for which valid nomenclature does not begin until 1 Jan. 1886 (see Art. 13.1(e)). Devalidation of C. mirabilis Dillwyn gives legitimacy to C. mirabilis C. Agardh, which then would take priority over C. hospita. When later starting points are abandoned, as in the present catalogue, the correct name for this species is Cladophora hospita.