Nomenclature

Introduction:
Botanical nomenclature is the formal, scientific naming of plants. It is related to, but
distinct from taxonomy. Plant taxonomy is concerned with grouping and classifying plants;
botanical nomenclature then provides names for the results of this process. The starting point
for modern botanical nomenclature is Linnaeus' Species Plant arum of 1753. Botanical
nomenclature is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and
plants (ICN), which replaces the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN). Fossil
plants are also covered by the code of nomenclature.

Within the limits set by that code there is another set of rules, the International Code of
Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) which applies to plant cultivars that have been
deliberately altered or selected by humans.
Nomenclature, in biological classification, system of naming
organisms. The species to which the organism belongs is indicated
by two words, the genus and species names, which are Latinized
words derived from various sources. This system, which is called
the Linnaean system of binomial nomenclature, was established in
the 1750s by Carolus Linnaeus. Subsequent to the work of Linnaeus,
a proliferation of binomial names took place as new species were
established and higher taxonomic categories were formed, with the
result that by the late 19th century there was much confusion in
the nomenclature of many groups of organisms. In the 20th
century, the establishment of rules by international committees in the fields of zoology, botany,
bacteriology, and virology has done much to clarify the situation.
Contrary to the widely held view that scientific names, once assigned, are fixed and
universal in their use, continuing research on the relationships of organisms and probing into
the history of names, coupled with disagreements among scientists on the validity of certain
names, results in multiple names being applied to some well-known species. The international
rules, however, are gradually bringing stability to the taxonomy of many groups through the
minimizing of name changes, the use of standard methods of establishing new names, and the
functioning of respected committees to arbitrate controversies.

History & Basic Information of Nomenclature Plants:

The present day binomial system of nomenclature has a long evolutionary development.
In near about 200 B.C. Cato in his monumental work ‘De Re Rustica’ used two names for plants,
although he lacked the modern concept of genera and species. Later on the descriptive Greek
nouns used for genera were translated into Latin, where it took the form of two words, i.e.,
binary generic names.

According to another tendency a descriptive phrase was given for the specific name.
These methods resulted in the so called polynomials. In the middle of sixteenth century,
Brunfels changed many binary generic names to single ones. A few years later Dodonaeus
followed the binomial usage similar in principal to that of today’s binomial system of
nomenclature.

Gaspard Bauhin wrote his monumental work ‘Pinax’ in 1623, in which he has given a list
of about 6,000 plants. He used the binomial system extensively to give names to the plants.

None of these workers could make a permanent impression upon the botanical world of that
time and works of the writers of those days continued to appear having mixed usage—
monomial, binomial, trinomial and polynomial.

In those times the names of the plants were composed

of several words in a series, constituting more or less a
description of the plants. In 1753 Linnaeus published his great
work ‘Species Plantaruni where he employed the binomial
system to name the plants in true sense.

Augustin de Candolle’s Theorie elementaire de la

botanique published in 1813 provided the first significant work
since the publications of Linnaeus on nomenclature and
morphology of the plants. In this work for the first time, a
complete and detailed set of rules on plant nomenclature was
given.

In 1821, Stendel’s Nomenclator botanicus was published, which comprised a list of the
Latin names of all flowering plants known by then. The second edition of this work appeared in
1840. Nomenclature was used universally by the botanists, and formed the basis of the Index
Kewensis.

Botanical nomenclature is the systematic or scientific naming of plants. That means the
name assigned to a particular plant species is based on the rules within the botanical
nomenclature system, particularly the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and
plants (ICN). Binomial nomenclature is related to taxonomy, which is the science of finding,
describing, classifying, and naming organisms, including the studying of the relationships
between taxa and the principles underlying such a classification. Thus, plant taxonomy, in
 particular, is a broader field and is primarily focused on the grouping and classifying of plants.
Botanical nomenclature is concerned with simply naming the plants. Nevertheless, the name
given to a particular plant species (called botanical name) includes the genus it belongs. There
are also botanical names that are comprised of two parts, i.e. the genus name and the specific
epithet. The genus name in the botanical name of a plant species is the first part whereas the
specific epithet is the second part. For example, Musa acuminata (a banana species native in
Southeast Asia) is comprised of the genus name Musa and the specific epithet acuminata.

Nuts and Bolts of Botanical Nomenclature

1. The species is a subset of the genus.

2. The genus begins with a capital letter, whereas the first letter in the specific epithet is
lower-case. Both are italicized.
3. In instances where we translate from Latin to arrive at the common name, we reverse
the order of the names, putting the epithet before the genus. This is true in the case
of Solanum dulcamara (see above), which translates literally as bittersweet (from dulcamara)
nightshade (from Solanum). Note, however, that the common name for a plant is not always a
literal translation of the Latin name. For example, the common name for Celastrus
scandens (see above) is American bittersweet, but the literal translation of the Latin, in this
case, has nothing to do with either "American" or "bittersweet."
4. Sometimes in plant taxonomy, you will see a third name. In such cases, we are simply
getting more specific, accounting for variation within a species. Most commonly, this third
name indicates a cultivar (cultivated variety); it will appear in single quotation marks and its first
 letter is capitalized. But, sometimes, this third name indicates a variety (naturally occurring
variety). A variety name is preceded by the abbreviation, "var." Unless the variety name is a
proper noun, its first letter is not capitalized. But, like the genus name and specific epithet, the
variety name is italicized.
5. Sometimes yet another word is added after the genus name and epithet, which is
neither italicized nor set off by quotation marks—the name of the person who first described
the plant. These names are sometimes abbreviated. When the name is abbreviated as "L," it
stands for "Linnaeus."
6. When you see a genus name followed by the letter "x," followed, in turn, by an epithet,
this is an indication that the plant is a cross between two different plant species—a "hybrid
plant."

We use scientific plant names (or "botanical plant names") to avoid confusion since they are an
international language of sorts. That does not mean that they, themselves are never confusing;
botanists sometimes decide the current plant
taxonomy is "wrong" and change the name.
But, by and large, the use of the binomial
system described above achieves greater clarity
than the use of common plant names.

To look up a particular plant on my website by

botanical name, please consult my list
of scientific names of plants. Do not be afraid to
work with botanical nomenclature. It may seem
intimidating at first, but you will soon recognize
some terms that appear over and over again,
establishing patterns: for example, the use of reptans in the name of a creeper

8 Main Rules of Nomenclature | Plants

Nomenclature: Rule # 1. Nomenclatural Type:
The nomenclatural type is that constituent element (a specimen, or a description or a
figure) of a taxon to which the name is permanently attached. This need not be the most typical
or representative element but is the original material on which the description of the taxon is
based.
Following kinds of types are recognised:

(a) Holotype:
Specimen or other element designated by the author or used by him as the nomenclatural type.

(b) Isotype:
This is a duplicate of the holotype.

(c) Syntype:
When more than one specimen are cited by the author without mentioning which is the holotype, each
specimen is designated as a Syntype.

(d) Paratype:
Specimens cited along with the holotype are designated as Para- types.

(e) Lectotype:
This is a substitute of the holotype when that is lost and is to be selected from the isotypes. When no
holotype was designated by the author a specimen from the original material is selected to be the
Lectotype.

(f) Neotype:
When all original materials are missing a Neotype is selected from other materials.

(g) Topotype:
Specimen of a species collected at the same locality as the holotype.

Nomenclature: Rule # 2. Rule of Priority:

In the case of a family or a taxon below the rank of a family the earliest legitimate name should be

considered as valid (or correct). For this purpose 1st May 1753 is taken as the earliest date for all plants

excepting the Fungi, some Algae, and the Musci other than the Sphagnaceae.This means the names

appearing in Linnaeus’s Species Plantarum are the earliest names for the purpose of consideration of

the Rule of Priority; those published earlier are not to be given priority.

Nomenclature: Rule # 3. Names of Taxa:

The name of a species is a binary combination consisting of the name of the genus followed by a single

specific epithet. The name of a genus is a substantive in the singular number. The specific epithet is an

adjective and is of the same gender as the generic name, or is a noun in apposition to the generic name.

The specific epithet must not exactly repeat the generic name.

The name of an infra-specific taxon is a combination of the name of a species and an infra-specific

epithet connected by a term denoting its rank. The name of a genus or of a taxa of higher rank is spelt

with a capital initial letter.

All specific and infra-specific epithets

should be written with a small initial

letter. Formerly it was the custom to

spell the epithets with a capital initial

letter where the epithets were

derived from the names of persons,

or were vernacular names, or were

former generic names. This is not

followed at present.

The name of a family is derived from the name of the genus which is the type for the family. The name

of a subfamily, a tribe or a sub-tribe is derived from the name of the type-genus belonging to that

subfamily, tribe or sub-tribe

Endings of the names of taxa above the rank of genus should be in the

mannernoted below:
Order —”ales” (e.g. Rosales)

Suborder —”ineae” (e.g. Rosineae)

Family —”aceae” (e.g. Rosaceae)

Subfamily —”oideae” (e.g. Rosoideae)

Nomenclature: Rule # 4. Effective and Valid Publication:

Any printed matter when widely circulated is regarded as effectively published. It is sufficient, if

the printed matter is distributed at least to the botanical institutions with libraries accessible to

botanists generally. The date of effective publication is the date on which the printed matter became

available.

Valid publication of a name of new taxon is necessary to have it effectively published, to have a

correct form and to be accompanied by a description or diagnosis or a reference to a previously

published description. For the name of a new taxon to be valid it is necessary that the description or the

diagnosis should be in Latin.

Those published earlier to 1st Jan. 1935 are considered valid even if the description or diagnosis

were not in Latin. In the case of Algae the date has been fixed as 1st Jan. 1958 instead of 1st Jan. 1935,

In the case of recent Algae, the Latin description or diagnosis of a new taxon must be accompanied by

an illustration or figure.

Publication of a new name of the rank of family or below on or after 1st January, 1958 is not

considered valid if the type is not indicated.

 The name of a taxon below the rank of a genus is not validly published unless the name of the

genus or species to which it is assigned is validly published.

He who first validly published the name of a taxon is the author of that name. It is necessary to

cite the name of the author after the name of the taxon.

Nomenclature: Rule # 5. Retention of Specific and Infra-specific Epithets:

When a species is transferred to another genus without change of rank the specific epithet must

be retained. If the name of a genus is changed being illegitimate, the binary combinations for all the

species under that genus should be changed also and in doing so the new generic name should be used

retaining the older specific epithets.

This rule applies equally to infra-specific taxa. A specific epithet is not illegitimate merely

because it was originally published under an illegitimate generic name; it is to be taken into

consideration for purpose of priority.

Nomenclature: Rule # 6. Rejection of Names:

A name is to be rejected if it is used in different senses and for that reason has become a source

of error. A name is to be rejected if it is based on a type consisting of two or more entirely discordant

elements. A name is to be rejected also if it is based on a monstrosity.

Nomenclature: Rule # 7. Splitting of a Genus:

When a genus is divided into 2 or more genera the original generic name must be retained for

one of the smaller genera which includes the type species of the undivided genus. This rule applies

equally to cases of division of species

Nomenclature: Rule # 8. Synonym and Basionym:

All names of a taxon other than the valid names are synonyms of that taxon. When the name of

a species or of an infra-specific taxon is changed the synonym of which the epithet is to be taken for the

valid name, is Basionym for that taxon.

Reference:

1
Introduction:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_nomenclature#:~:text=Botanical

%20nomenclature%20is%20the%20formal%2C%20scientific%20naming%20of%20plants.&text=Plant

%20taxonomy%20is%20concerned%20with,Linnaeus'%20Species%20Plantarum%20of%201753.

2
History:

 https://www.biologydiscussion.com/plants/flowering-plants/nomenclature-plants-

history-common-names-and-advantages-botany/19282

 https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/botanical-nomenclature

 https://www.biologydiscussion.com/

 https://www.thespruce.com/why-we-use-botanical-nomenclature-2131099