systematics understanding nomenclature B

• During the Middle Ages, plant names were actually short descriptions of the plants (6 to 12 Latin words). This name is a polynomial.
• Using polynomials became hard so:

  • In 1753, Karl Linné (Swedish physician and naturalist; 1707--1778), wrote Species Plantarum ("the kinds of plants") & Systema naturae. The whole book was written in Latin, including the author's name: Carolus Linnaeus.
  • In these two works he devised a simple way of indexing names.
  • He still used the polynomial, but in the margin, he added a "handle" for it.
  • That handle became the binomial (meaning "two names" or two parts to the name).
• Linnaean system gave complications, and created unstable nomenclature:

  ❑ To stabilize the names of plants, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle made a first attempt at an international code of nomenclature (early 1800s).

  ❑ A hundred years later, two codes existed - American vs. European.

  ❑ After decades of arguing, the first International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) was achieved by the international botanical congress in 1930.
• International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)

  • Subsequent IBC (every 6 years) discuss and vote on proposals to modify The Code.

  • Each edition of the ICBN is published in English, French and German. Recently Slovak versions have become available.
• What are two basic activities governed by the ICBN?

  1. Naming new taxa
  2. Determining the correct name for previously named taxa (altered in some way)
• A name may be contrary to the rules.

  ❑ Nomenclatural matters are governed by The Code and all names must be based on provisions in The Code.

  ❑ Individuals are not free to pick and choose among its provisions, or to conduct practices contrary to the Code
• What are legitimate and illegitimate names?

  Legitimate Names – In accordance with the rules of the ICBN

  Illegitimate Names – violate one or more rules of the ICBN
• How are changes to the ICBN made?

  ✓ (17th) Vienna, Austria - JULY 2005

  ✓ (18th) Melbourne, Australia 2011

  ✓ (19th) Shenzhen, China, 2017

  ✓ (20th) Madrid, Spain, 2024.
• PRINCIPLES OF ICBN

  Principle I. Botanical nomenclature is independent of zoological and bacteriological nomenclature.

  In zoology, only the originally publishing author is given, In botany, original author is abbreviated and revising author is given.
• PRINCIPLES OF ICBN



  Principle II. A nomenclatural type establishes the application of a name.

  • For names of species (and lower ranks, except for autonyms) the nomenclatural type is a specimen, called the type specimen.
  • Nomenclature type - Herbarium specimen (usu.) permanently associated with a name
• PRINCIPLES OF ICBN

  Under Principle II., KINDS OF NOMECLATURAL TYPES:

  1. Holotype – primary specimen upon which a name is based, designated at the time of publication.
  2. Isotype – duplicate of the holotype, collected at the same time by the same person from the same place.
  3. Lectotype – selected from the original material to serve as the type when holotype not available.
  4. Neotype – specimen derived from a non-original collection that is selected to serve as the type.
• PRINCIPLES OF ICBN


  Principle III. The nomenclature of a taxonomic group is based upon the priority of publication.

  • Principle of Priority
  • When 3 names refer to a single species, or when 3 species are lumped into 1 comprehensive single entity, the entity must bear the earliest published name. But retroactive only to 1 May 1753, the date of Linnaeus' Species Plantarum
• PRINCIPLES OF ICBN

  Principle IV. Each taxonomic group can bear only one correct name, the earliest that is in accordance with the Rules, except in specified cases.

  Principle IV. Each correct specific epithet must be unique within a genus. The same specific epithet is permitted within a different genus.
• PRINCIPLES OF ICBN

  Principle V. Scientific names of taxonomic groups are treated as Latin regardless of the derivation.

  • The genus name is a Latinized noun, always capitalized, often abbreviated, and can be taken from any source.
  • Gender is indicated by the word's ending.
• PRINCIPLES OF ICBN

  Principle VI. All rules are retroactive unless expressly limited.

  • Just as priority is retroactive to 1 May 1753, various other rules are retroactive to other dates. New rules often have a modern starting date.
• What are the rules vs. regulations of the ICBN?

  • Rules = required

  • Recommendations = not required
• What is RANK?

  Hierarchical classification in which a higher rank is inclusive of all lower ranks.
• What is POSITION?

  Placement as a member of a taxon of the next higher rank
• What is a TRINOMIAL?

  when subspecies or variety name is included
• What is AUTHORSHIP?

  the name of the person who first validly published the name

  authors in parenthesis are the ones who named the basionym
• Taxa at which ranks have types?

  • Giving of type is the rank LOWER than given.
• Two reasons for name change?

  1. Name contrary to the rules (illegitimate).
  2. Additional research has changes definition and delimitation of a taxon.
• Four major ways that names are changed?

  ✓ Divided (because of differences)

  ✓ United (because of similarities)

  ✓ Changed in rank

  ✓ Changed in Position
• What is a BASIONYM?

  The original (now rejected) name, part of which (the epithet) has been used in a new combination. (only within same rank; recommended for change of rank)
• Author(s) in parentheses?

  Person(s) who named basionym. Retained!
• What is an AUTONYM?

  • Automatically created names for infrafamilial, infrageneric, and infraspecific taxa.
  • Created when taxa are divided.
  • Assigned based on priority of publication.
  • Autonyms have no authors.
• What are the main criteria of valid publication?

  ✓ Name must be effectively published

  ✓ Name must be published in the correct form, properly Latinized with the correct rank ending.

  ✓ Must be published with Latin Description

  ✓ Must be published with Vernacular Description

  ✓ Nomenclatural type must be indicated
• What is a SYNONYM?

  • a rejected name, by a particular author or authors.
  • multiple names for same organism
  • indicated in brackets;

  Why rejected?

  1) because illegitimate.

  2) because of taxonomic judgement.
• What is a CORRECT NAME?

  • A legitimate (and therefore validly published) name that is accepted by a particular author or authors.
  • Each taxon can have only one correct name.
• How can a name be legitimate but not correct?

  • There may be 2 (or more) alternative, legitimate names.
  • Only one of these can be correct
• What is a TAUTONYM?

  • binomial in which genus and specific epithets are identical in spelling.
  • not permitted
• ABBREVIATIONS

  • "in" = "in the publication of"
  • "ex" = "validly published by."
  • "x" = a hybrid.
  • "sp. nov." = species novum
  • "cf." = confer, meaning "compare."
• What LANGUAGE?

  Latin, language of the Romans
• Three Latin genders & primary endings:

  masculine = -us

  feminine = -a

  neuter = -um
• Exception to gender endings?

  • Many classical trees are feminine, regardless of ending
• What names are LATIN PLURALS?

  • Rank of families & above
• Commemorative names?

  • Named after some person or place.

  Endings of commemoratives?

  ❑ Male: -ii, -i (after r or y or non-a vowel), -e (after a)

  ❑ Female: usually add -e or -ae
• Prefix of ranks

  • Phylum = -phyta
• Prefix of ranks

  • Subphylum = -phytina
• Prefix of ranks

  • Class = -opsida
  • Subclass = -idae