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Title: (001) A proposal relating to infraspecific names (Art. 24)

Author
item GREUTER, WERNER - Mediterranean Herbarium, Palermo Botanic Garden
item TURLAND, NICHOLAS J - Botanischer Garten Und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem
item Wiersema, John

Submitted to: Taxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/2/2016
Publication Date: 8/30/2016
Citation: Greuter, W., Turland, N., Wiersema, J.H. 2016. (321) A proposal relating to infraspecific names (Art. 24). Taxon 65:905-906.

Interpretive Summary: The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants is revised every six years to incorporate decisions of the Nomenclature Section of successive International Botanical Congresses (IBC) on proposals to amend the Code. The proposal in this paper will be considered at the IBC in Shenzhen, China in 2017, and seeks to clarify some confusion involving a current provision of the Code. The confusion arises because it is recommended in one place in the Code to follow a particular practice in naming taxa below the rank of species, while in another provision this practice would be unknowingly outlawed. A proposed correction of the wording of the latter provision removes this incongruity.

Technical Abstract: The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants is revised every six years to incorporate decisions of the Nomenclature Section of successive International Botanical Congresses (IBC) on proposals to amend the Code. The proposal in this paper will be considered at the IBC in Shenzhen, China in 2017, and seeks to clarify some confusion involving a current provision of the Code. The confusion arises because it has been overlooked that infraspecific names that repeat the epithet of the next higher-ranked taxon, but not that of the species, thus purporting to be based on the same type as that higher-ranking taxon, would not be validly published under the current wording of Art. 24.3, whose intent was to cover an entirely different situation. An adjustment to the wording of this Article is proposed to remedy the problem, with some Examples to illustrate this issue.