Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London - University Library

O PEOCEEDINGS OF THE
as recommendations. A veto is put on the use of the binary form
for subspecific or varietal names.
Publication is restricted to the sale or public distribution of
printed matter or indelible autograph ; the issue of sets of plants
with numbers does not constitute publication. On and after
January i, 1908, new names will not be valid unless accompanied
by a latiia diagnosis, and the same time limit is put on the acceptance
of plates with analyses but without description. Precision in
publication is emphasized by two recommendations, as to the
accurate dating and paging of reprints from Journals.
Priority of place is not recognized ; to the original article of
A. De CandoUe, which provided that for names of the same date
the author chooses which he will adopt, the new code adds " and
this choice cannot be modified by subsequent authors."
In the case of transference of names the Congress upheld the
principle of 1867, which insisted on the retention of the original
name ; a genus, species, or subspecies must retain its generic,
specific, or subspecific name, in case of transference, provided its
rank is unaltered. Betula incana, Linn. f. (1781), when transferred
to the genus Ahms, becomes Alnus incana, Willd. (1805),
in spite of an earlier name under Alnus, viz. A. lanuginosa, Gilib.
(1792). Where, however, the rank changes in the transference
this rule is not insisted on ; thus Primula veris, L., var. acaulis,
L. (1753), is written P. vulgaris, Huds. (1762), since the latter
combination is earlier than Primula acaulis, Jacq. Where, however,
a transference leads to tautology, the resulting combination
is rejected; botanical nomenclature thus becomes freed from
absurdities such as Linaria Linaria.
The articles of the old code dealing with the alteration or
rejection of names were made more stringent ; a name cannot be
rejected on account of the existence of an older homonym which
by general consent is regarded as non- valid—the principle of
"once a synonym always a synonym" is not accepted. IN or, as
was allowed under the old code, may a name be rejected because it
is obviously unsuitable : a name is a name, and once given cannot
be altered unless it is contrary to rules.
The last article of the code provides that the rules of nomenclature
may be altered only by competent authors at an expressly
convened international congress. Several recommendations are
appended urging the exclusive use of the metric system for weights
and measurements and the Centigrade method of expressing
degi-ees of temperature; and authors are requested to indicate
clearly the scale employed in their illustrations.
The speaker expressed the hope that the new code would lead
to uniformity of nomenclature, and thereby save much valuable
time for workers in systematic botany, as well as add to the convenience
of botanists generally.
The discussion M'as opened by the A'ice-President in the Chair,
and carried on by Dr. Stapf, Lieut.-Col. Prain,Mr. John Hopkinson,