Re: "Nepenthes x Curtisii"

From: schlauer@chemie.uni-wuerzburg.de
Date: Mon Jan 31 2000 - 04:26:16 PST


Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 12:26:16 +0000
From: schlauer@chemie.uni-wuerzburg.de
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg280$foo@default>
Subject: Re: "Nepenthes x Curtisii"

Dear Nick & al.,

> Next question: Is N. x Curtisii a valid hybrid name under the ICPS
> rules of nomenclature,

The ICPS does not have its own rules of nomenclature but it applies
the rules of two other clubs, viz. the IAPT (International
Association for Plant Taxonomy) that issues the ICBN
(International Code of Botanical Nomenclature) applicable to the
scientific naming of taxa (usually wild growing plants), and the ISHS
(International Society for Horticultural Science) that issues
the ICNCP (International Code for the Nomenclature of Cultivated
Plants) applicable to the naming of cultivated plants. The ICPS
strives after the universal application of both codes as far as names
of carnivorous plants (both wild and cultivated) are concerned.

> or is it forbidden since it is also a synonym of N. maxima?

Nothing is forbidden in nomenclature. There is only a set of things
that should be avoided because they violate rules that many wise
persons have agreed upon. Breaking the rules does (most
unfortunately ;-)) not render the malefactor liable to punishment, it
rather punishes all the others who obey the rules, because it
promotes confusion.

The use of the name _N. curtisii_ (never with an upper case initial
"C": this is a Latin epithet for a taxon, not a cultivar!) for a
hybrid is violating the rules because the plant described initially
under this name was a non-hybrid plant belonging to what is
interpreted by most authors as _N. maxima_. _N. curtisii_ is based on
another type, so the two names are taxonomic synonyms (according to
the interpretation of taxonomists) but not nomenclatural (by rules
laid down in one of the codes of nomenclature) ones. Formally, _N.
curtisii_ is a *valid* name, but it is considered a later synonym of
another valid name, viz. _N. maxima_, and it is therefore *not
accepted* by most authors. This does, however, not mean that the name
_N. curtisii_ is now "free" for the naming of other plants (e.g.
hybrids). It must remain what it was originally, i.e. a synonym
of _N. maxima_.

There is no valid simple (i.e. non-formula) epithet for the hybrid
_N. maxima_ * _N. albomarginata_at the moment. The name "N.
albomax", however tempting it might be, was never validated by a
published description. This is the reason why this name is
illegitimate (it is a nomen nudum). Furthermore, this epithet would
violate Recommendation H.10A.1 of the ICBN (but this alone would not
be a sufficient reason to reject the name).

The bottom line is, do not use the name _N. curtisii_ (neither
with nor without a multiplication symbol) for any hybrid. Use the
hybrid formula instead.

Kind regards
Jan



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