The date of publication of the Forsters' Characteres Generum Plantarum revisited

Abstract

The Characteres Generum Plantarum of J.R. Forster and G. Forster incorporates many of the botanical discoveries made during Captain Cook's second voyage to the Pacific (1772–1775). Copies of this book dated 1775 and 1776 are known, and since the 1970s the 1775 folio copies have been regarded as the effective publication for taxonomic purposes. From newer evidence it is concluded that the rare 1775 copies do not constitute effective publication, which occurred only with the quarto edition in 1776. The generic name Griselinia J.R. Forst & G. Forst. is therefore not effectively published. Griselinia G. Forst. is a later homonym of Griselinia Scop. and a previously rejected proposal to conserve it should be revived. The association of the Forsters with the family name Griseliniaceae is shown to be erroneous.