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Botanical nomenclature

This document discusses botanical nomenclature and the rules for naming plants. It begins by explaining that botanical nomenclature is the process of naming plants according to international rules proposed by botanists. It then discusses the history of plant naming including the development of the binomial system by Linnaeus and establishment of Latin as the language for plant names. The document concludes by outlining some of the key principles and rules of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature including requirements for valid publication of new plant names.

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MR.D.L.GAVANDE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE AND ARTS COLLEGE, CHIKHLI. Botanical Nomenclature
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)  Name is the means of reference to all living and non-living things.  Any object known to human being is given a name to describe and communicate ideas about it.  The name may be different in different languages and at different places.  The art of naming the object is known as Nomenclature.  And when it comes to naming of plants it is called Botanical nomenclature.  “The process of naming plants based on international rules proposed by botanists to ensure a stable and universal uniform system is called Botanical nomenclature.”  Common name is the same of the plant in a particularly area or locality given by the people of that particular area.
Such names vary from place to place and language to language. To overcome the problems of common names, scientists suggested name in such a way that it is accepted in the world and is used internationally. But again, the problem remains the same, i.e., the language which is not universal.  So the botanists agreed to lay down certain rules and conditions. The main suggestion was that the language of the name should be Latin.
It is because: The language is not a national language of any country at present. European languages derived from Latin only. Past European scholars learnt their subjects in Latin. A lot of previous botanical literature is written in Latin only. During 1600 to 1850 AD Europe, particularly Greece, had dominated the world of science. The language was Latin but the script was Roman.
Binomial Nomenclature:  Linnaeus for the first time proposed that every living being has bionomial name, i.e., a name with two epithets.  One is generic and the other is specific epithet.  If an organism has a variety also, then the name becomes trinomial.  Linnaeus proposed some rules for generic names of plants in Fundamental Botanica (1736) and Critica Botanica (1737).  A.P.de Candolle for the first time proposed rules for nomenclature of plants which are passed by International Botanical Congress at Paris (1867).  For the first time it was a Swedish Naturalist Carolus Linnaeus who started naming plants in 1753 as Binomial names.
 It was published in his book “Species plantarum”.  The generic name is always a noun showing colour, name or adjective, e.g., Sarracenia named after a scientist Michel Sarracin.  Species is always an adjective, e.g., for white flower, it is alba., for edible one it is sativa, black colour-nigrum etc.  These names are not used always. Species may be a Pronoun, e.g., americana, indica, benghalensis, etc.  It may be shape of a leaf (character of plant), e.g., sagittifolia, name of other scientist to whom the plant is dedicated, e.g., Sahnii etc.  Before the middle of 18th century, plant names were generally polynomial consisting of several words in a series.
 Linnaeus proposed the elementary rules in Philosophia Botanica in 1751.  In 1813 A.P.de Candolle proposed details of the rules regarding plant nomenclature in Theorie elementaire de la botanique.  Alphonse de Candolle son of A.P.de Candolle after a long time convened an assembly of botanists of the world to present a new set of rules.  Candolle convened the first International Botanical Congress at Paris in 1867.  Linneaus to Tourneforte to A.P.de Candolle made Laws of Botanical Nomenclature.  In 1867 it was put before Paris Botanical Congress with principles of priority as Basic code with no exception.
Earlier to this in 1787 Tourneforte laid 7 laws:  i. Plants of one genus must have same generic name.  ii. Plants of different genera must have different generic name.  iii. If two plants have same name then it should be banished from one place.  iv. He who establishes a new genus should give a name.  v. Polynomials are invalid.  vi. Generic name based on plant character should be encouraged.  vii. Technical term in place of generic name is invalid.
Principles of International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, (ICBN)  I. Botanical nomenclature is independent of zoological nomenclature. The code applies equally to names of taxonomic groups treated as plants whether or not these groups were originally so treated (Plants do not include Bacteria).  II. Application of names of taxonomic groups is determined by means of nomenclature types.  III. The nomenclature of a taxonomic group is based upon priority of publication.  IV. Each taxonomic group with a particular circumscription, position, and route can bear only one correct name, the earliest that is in accordance with the rules, except in specific cases.  V. Scientific names of taxonomic groups are treated as Latin regardless of their derivation.  VI. The rules of nomenclature are retroactive unless expressly limited.  The Principles were laid down in 1983.
Some Important Rules and Recommendations  1. All those plants which belong to one genus must be designed by the source generic name (Rule 213).  2. All those plants which belong to different genera must be designated by different generic names (Rule 214)  3. He who establishes a new genus should give it a name (Rule 218).  4. Those generic names are best which show essential characters of plants or its appearance (Rule 240).  5. Generic names one and a half foot long or difficult to pronounce or unpleasant are to be avoided (Rule 249).  6. The specific name must distinguish a plant from all its relatives (Rule 257).  7. Size does not distinguish species (Rule 260).  8. The original place of plant does not give specific difference (Rule 264).  9. A generic name must be applied to each species (Rule 284).  10. The specific name should always follow the generic name (Rule 285).
 In accordance with the ICBN some traditional names of the families are changed to their alternate names as:  Compositae is now known as Asterceae.  Gramineae is now known as Poaceae.  Labiatae is now called as Lamiaceae.  Palmae is now called as Arecaceae.  Umbelliferae is now known as Apiaceae.  A unique exception to article 52 of the code is that the name Leguminosae is sanctioned only as long as it includes all three subfamilies Papilionoideae, Caesalpinoideae and Mimosoideae.  If the subsfamilies are upgraded to family status the Papilionaceae shall be called Fabaceae.
Author Citation  A name cannot be complete without an author’s name.  The author’s name is abbreviated, e.g., Linneaus is abbreviated as Linn or L, Benthm as Benth; Hooker as Hook, Roxburgh as Roxb, Lamark as Lamk etc.  According to Article 46 the indications of name of a taxon are to be accurate and complete.  It is necessary to cite the name of the author who first validly published the name.  According to Article 49 when a genus or taxon of a lower rank is altered in upper rank but retains its name or epithet, the author who first published this as a legitimate name or epithet must be cited in parentheses; followed by the name of the author was effected the alternation e.g., Citrus auranium var. grandis L; when raised to rank of species it become Citrus grandis (L) Obseck. Here L is the first author and Osbeck altered it.
Publication of Names  The name of a Taxon should fulfill certain requirements before its effective publication, e.g.,  (1) Formulation:  It should indicate.  (a) sp. nov (species nova) for a new species  (b) Comb, nov (combination nova) for change in the epithet of basionym The name of the original author should be kept in Parantheses.  (c) nom. nov (Nomen novum) when the original name is completely replaced.  (2) Latin diagnosis:  Name of New Taxa should have a Latin diagnosis, i.e., translation of all features in Latin language.  (3) Typification:  Holotype should be designated.  The name of new Taxon is valid only when the type of the name is mentioned after January 1, 1990.  The name of the taxon whose type is a specimen or unpublished illustration; the herbarium or institution in which the type is conserved must be specified.  (4) After January 1, 1996 the name of new taxon of fossil should be accompanied by a Latin or English description of character.  Article 32, 1-2 or Tokyo Code (ICBN) is amended as new names of plants and Fungi will have to be registered in order to be validly published after January 1, 2000.
Type Concept  Different Kinds of Types:  (i) Holotype:  Single specimen, may be whole plant or a part of it with which the name of taxon is permanently attached, is known as holotype.  (ii) Isotype or Cotype:  Fragments from the same plant from which the Holotype is made or plants with same field number are isotypes.  (iii) Paratype:  Specimen other than holotype and Isotype is called Paratype. The specimen may bear a different field number as it is collected from different localities by different collectors.  (iv) Syntype:  The specimen which is the basis of new taxon when no holotype is designated by author is known as syntype. If author studies collection from different localities and by different collectors and decides to establish a new species, labels all of them as types, all these specimen become syntype.
 (v) Lectotype:  It is type chosen to serve as Holotype, when either an earlier designated holotype was lost or destroyed or Holotype was never designated and from the Isotype, Paratype or Syntype a specimen is chosen by a specialist to serve as the type.  (vi) Neotype:  If Holotype, Isotype, Paratype or Syntype are lost or not available a Neotype is selected from other specimens, to serve as Type. Some taxonomists call it Standard Specimen.  (vii) Topotype:  When no original type material is available and a specimen is collected from type locality is chosen to serve as type it is called Topotype.  (viii) Epitype:  Specimen is selected to serve as an interpretive type when the holotype, lectotype, Neotype etc. could not effectively be identified to name the taxon, it is called Epitype.
Taxonomic Rank
Botanical nomenclature