Petit, F. in Saigey, J.F. & Raspail, F.V. (ed.) (1829), Altheniae novi plantarum generis descriptio. Annales des Sciences d'Observation 1: 451-452, t. 12 [tax. nov.]

• Type: Althenia filiformis F.Petit

• Etymology: "Nomen genericum imposui in memoriam B. Althen, de patriâ nostrâ benè meriti, qui sub medium elapsi seculi, Rubiae tinctoriae culturam, per Gallo-provinciam et occitaniam instituit."

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1888), Key to the System of Victorian Plants 1: 443 [secondary reference]

Black, J.M. (1922), Cyatheaceae - Orchidaceae. Flora of South Australia 1: 47 [secondary reference]

• Etymology: "After J. Althen, a Persian, who took refuge in France and introduced the cultivation of madder, Rubia tinctorum, in 1760."

Chapman, A.D. (1991), Australian Plant Name Index: 171 [secondary reference]

• Comment: Chapman lists the type species of the genus as "Althenia ruppia", a name which does not exist. This is apparently a misinterpretation of the protologue, in which Petit provides a diagnosis to distinguish his new genus from Ruppia L.

Ito, Y., Tanaka, N., Garcia-Murillo, P. & Muasya, A.M. (2016), A new delimitation of the Afro-Eurasian plant genus Althenia to include its Australasian relative, Lepilaena (Potamogetonaceae) – Evidence from DNA and morphological data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 98: 267 [secondary reference]

taxonomic synonym: Lepilaena J.Drumm. ex Harv. legitimate

Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (31 July 2018), Australian Plant Census: - APC [secondary reference]

taxonomic synonym: Lepilaena J.Drumm. ex Harv. legitimate taxonomic synonym: Hexatheca Benth. nom. inval., pro syn. taxonomic synonym: Hexatheca F.Muell. nom. inval., pro syn.

• APC Dist.: WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas

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