(079) Proposal to convert Recommendation 41A.1 into an Article

Abstract

Recommendation 41A.1 of the Shenzhen Code (Turland & al. in Regnum Veg. 159. 2018) states that “The full and direct reference to the place of publication of the basionym or replaced synonym should immediately follow a proposed new combination, name at new rank, or replacement name. It should not be provided by mere cross-reference to a bibliography at the end of the publication or to other parts of the same publication, e.g. by use of the abbreviations ‘loc. cit.’ or ‘op. cit.’” However, this Recommendation has not been followed by some authors in their publications owing to strict adherence to the format required by some journals, i.e. “Author(s) (year: page/plate number(s))” with full bibliographic details given in the References section of the paper. This is especially apparent in the journal Phytotaxa, but not in all cases (e.g. Kanokorn & al. in Phytotaxa 162: 120. 2014). Furthermore, there are a few other taxonomic journals such as Blumea and Telopea that follow this format for bibliographic/nomenclatural citation. However, when it comes to new combination, name at new rank or replacement name, a full and direct reference to the place of publication is also given immediately after the basionym or replacement name. As pointed out by Turland (Code Decoded, ed. 2: 39. 2019), we strongly feel that this method of citation is against what the Code recommends, even though it technically complies with what the Code rules. To bring uniformity to such citations, we would like to make Rec. 41A.1 mandatory by upgrading it to an Article by means of an amendment to the existing Art. 41.5, as follows. “41.5. On or after 1 January 1953, a new combination, name at new rank, or replacement name is not validly published unless its basionym or replaced synonym is clearly indicated and a full and direct reference given to its author and place of valid publication, with page or plate reference and date (but see Art. 41.6 and 41.8). On or after 1 January 2007, a new combination, name at new rank, or replacement name is not validly published unless its basionym or replaced synonym is cited. On or after 1 January 2025, a new combination, name at new rank, or replacement name is not validly published unless it is immediately followed by the full and direct reference to the author and place of publication of its basionym or replaced synonym.” We thank the Principal and the Head of the Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Chennai and the Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata for providing facilities. We also thank Dr. John McNeill, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and Nicholas J. Turland, Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin for their comments.