(041) Proposal to amend Article 35.2 and add a new Example

Abstract

During the preparation of a paper on the correct type of Schizachyrium Nees (Poaceae) (Welker & al., in prep.), we detected that Art. 35.2 of the Shenzhen Code (Turland & al. in Regnum Veg. 159. 2018) has a difficult interpretation considering its current reading. This Article rules (our emphasis in bold): “A combination (autonyms excepted) is not validly published unless the author definitely associates the final epithet with the name of the genus or species, …”. There is no explanation in the Article about the meaning of “associates the final epithet with”. To understand the meaning of these words it is necessary to read the Examples. The four current Examples presented under Art. 35.2 cover different situations in which a combination is validly or not validly published, but none of them explains the full meaning of these words. We believe that an amendment to this Article is necessary to clarify this point. By clarifying these details, it will be easier to determine whether or not a new combination was validly published, especially for those names published before 1953. “35.2. A combination (autonyms excepted) is not validly published unless the author definitely associates the final epithet with the name of the genus or species, or with its abbreviation (see Art. 60.14). This association can be achieved typographically by the position of the final epithet in the text, by use of a symbol, or by the epithet agreeing with the gender of the generic name.” “Ex. n. Andropogon brevifolius Sw. was assigned to Schizachyrium Nees (in Martius, Fl. Bras. Enum. Pl. 2(1): 332. 1829) when Nees described that genus as new: “Hujusce generis species, praeter enumeratas, sunt et Andropogon brevifolius, Sw. (Pollinia Spr.) … [Species of this genus, besides those enumerated, are also Andropogon brevifolius, Sw. (Pollinia Spr.) …]”. However, Nees did not associate the final epithet of the species name with Schizachyrium and did not therefore validly publish a new combination. Schizachyrium brevifolium (Sw.) Nees ex Buse (in Miquel, Pl. Jungh.: 359. 1854) was validly published when Buse wrote “… a Schiz. brevifolio Nees (i. e. Andr. brevifolio Sw.) …”, thereby referring to the basionym and definitely associating the final epithet with Schizachyrium.” We are grateful to Mark Garland for the Latin translation and to Nicholas Turland and John Wiersema for their helpful suggestions to improve this proposal.