Botanical Nomenclature

The Basics

International Code of Botanical Nomenclature

• Revised every 6 years

• 2006 (Vienna) Code:http://ibot.sav.sk/icbn/main.htm

• 2011 (Melbourne) Code: –Renamed to “International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants”

–In prep

Ficus ficus

Botanical & Zoological Codes are Separate

CecropiaCecropia

Ficus caricus

Iris oratoria

Botanical & Zoological Codes are Separate

Iris versicolor

Culcita novaeguineae(echinoderm)

Culcita coniifolia

Kingdom (-phyta)Division (-ophyta)

Class (-opsida)Subclass (-idea)

Order (-ales)Family (-aceae)

Subfamily (-oideae)Genus

Species

Subspecies Variety Forma

Taxonomic hierarchy

Family names• End in –aceae, but note the following eight

conserved names (alternative old names allowed by the Code):

– Asteraceae Compositae– Hypericaceae Gutifferae– Brassicaceae Cruciferae– Apiaceae Umbelliferae– Arecaceae Palmae– Lamiaceae Labiatae– Fabaceae Leguminosae– Poaceae Graminae

Species names

• Consist of two words– Genus name– Specific epithet

– Author name(s)

Written in Latin

Arethusa bulbosa L.

Antrophyum ensiforme Hook.

Scoliosorus ensiforme (Hook.) T. Moore

Parenthetical author

Combining author

Species names

Scoliosorus ensiforme is a later re-classification (to a different genus) of Antrophyum ensiforme. Both names refer to the same species, shown at right.

Author names

• Lotus corniculatus L.• Lotus heermannii (Dur. & Hilg.) Greene• Hosackia hermannii Dur. & Hilg.

& Rothfels & K. Reed– Always used instead of “and”

ex Humboldt & Bonpland ex Willdenow– Name suggested by Humboldt & Bonpland but published by

Willdenow

in Spring in Martius– Name published by Spring as a chapter in Martius

Infraspecific taxa

• Trinomials– subspecies, variety and form

Solidago simplex subsp. randii (Porter) RingiusSolidago virgaurea var. alpina BigelowSolidago nemoralis fo. pallens Benke

• Quadrinomials– allowed but rarely used– var. or fo. nested within subsp. but not vice versa

Solidago simplex subsp. randii var. gillmanii (A. Gray) Ringius

Types of Type specimen

• A species is described with reference to one and only one type specimen deposited in a herbarium

• The function of types is strictly nomenclatural, anchors the name

• Does not have to be “typical” or representative of the species

Type specimen of Sequoia sempervirens (Coastal Redwood)

Types of types

• Holotype: the single type specimen, housed in a specific herbarium, named at time of publication

• Isotype: copies of the type specimen (“duplicates” bearing the same collection number)

• Syntype• Lectotype • Paratype• Neotype

Synonyms

• Alternative names for the same species

• Two kinds:– Nomenclatural synonyms– Taxonomic synonyms

Nomenclatural Synonyms

• Based on the same type– Also called homotypic or

objective synonyms

• Change in rank or group• Same specific epithet

Eschatogramme panamensis (1929)

Polypodium panamense (1954)

Dicranoglossum panamense (1976)

All the above names are different classifications of the same species

Erythraea muhlenbergii Griseb. (1839)

Centaurodes muhlenbergii (Griseb.) Kuntze (1891)

Centaurium muhlenbergii (Griseb.) Wight ex Piper (1906)

Nomenclatural Synonyms

Combining authorParenthetical author

Basionym authorBasionym

All these names are nomenclatural synonyms.

They are different classifications of the same

species, shown below.

Basionym: the name under which a species was first publishe

Taxonomic Synonyms

• Based on different types– Heterotypic or subjective synonyms

• Taxonomic judgment

• Different specific epithets

Example: Polybotrya caudata Kunze (1834)

Polybotrya costaricensis Brade (1969)

Principle of Priority

• The nomenclature of taxonomic groups is based on the priority of publication.– Starts 1 May 1753, Species

Plantarum

Example: Polybotrya caudata Kunze (1834)

Polybotrya costaricensis Brade (1969)

These names were later found to refer to the same species. Based on priority, the first name must be used. The second name becomes a taxonomic synonym of the first.

Rules for Naming a New Species

1. Can’t use a previously published name or a tautonym

2. Must indicate rank

3. Must designate a type

4. Must effectively publish the name

Now obsolete as of Melbourne code: Provide a description in Latin

Tautonyms• Specific epithet repeats genus• Permitted in Zoological Code, but not in Botanical

Gorilla gorilla

Cardinalis cardinalis

Bison bison

Ensifera ensifera

Naja naja

Salamander salamander

Illegitimate Names

• Do not conform to the rules– A name already published (later homonym)– Tautonym (e.g., Selaginella selaginella)

Polypodium brevinervis Fee (published 1845)Polypodium brevinervis H. Christ (published 1897)

Invalid Names

• Not validly published– Prior to Melbourne code, had to be physically published in a

widely accessible journal– As of Melboure Code, electronic publication now allowed– See codes for rule of effective publication