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#1
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Plant Nomenclature
In the thread "ID requested on scarlet lawn weed", we got off topic onto nomenclature. In response to Richard Wright's comment:
"My chief amateur's hate is the introduction of the rule that a family must have a genus with the name that produces the name of the family - Hence long entrenched family names Umbilliferae and Brassicaceae were thrown out of the window." PvR stated: "Actually there is no such rule: it is perfectly within the rules to use Umbelliferae. It has become somewhat nfashionable, but any complaints should be directed against the writers of flora's and textbooks, not against the rules. "The confusion you note is probably worse at the level of order and above" Of course people can use whatever terms they like, but rationale of Linnaen nomenclature is standardisation, so as reduce confusion. Unfortunately over the centuries inconsisitencies have accumulated, giving rise to an international forum (International Committee for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants?) charged with sorting this out. Whatever one thinks of the results, serious botanical authors (of Flora or whatever), have to use the current generallly agreed nomenclature, within whatever system is being used (Cronquist, APG etc). So surely "Umbilliferae", for instance, is no longer an option. It is not the authors' fault, but the makers of the rules. I sympathise with Richard, having grown up with descriptive family names - Umbrella or Crucifer are more descriptive of what the species look like, than the type genus criteria now in use. My favourite was "Papiloniaceae" - "Fabaceae" does nothing for me. Peter |
#2
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Plant Nomenclature
Peter wrote:
In the thread "ID requested on scarlet lawn weed", we got off topic onto nomenclature. In response to Richard Wright's comment: "My chief amateur's hate is the introduction of the rule that a family must have a genus with the name that produces the name of the family - Hence long entrenched family names Umbilliferae and Brassicaceae were thrown out of the window." PvR stated: "Actually there is no such rule: it is perfectly within the rules to use Umbelliferae. It has become somewhat nfashionable, but any complaints should be directed against the writers of flora's and textbooks, not against the rules. "The confusion you note is probably worse at the level of order and above" Of course people can use whatever terms they like, but rationale of Linnaen nomenclature is standardisation, so as reduce confusion. Unfortunately over the centuries inconsisitencies have accumulated, giving rise to an international forum /(International Committee for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants?)/ charged with sorting this out. Whatever one thinks of the results, serious botanical authors (of Flora or whatever), have to use the current generallly agreed nomenclature, within whatever system is being used (Cronquist, APG etc). So surely "Umbilliferae", for instance, is no longer an option. It is not the authors' fault, but the makers of the rules. I sympathise with Richard, having grown up with descriptive family names - Umbrella or Crucifer are more descriptive of what the species look like, than the type genus criteria now in use. My favourite was "Papiloniaceae" - "Fabaceae" does nothing for me. Peter Peter, While what you say is generally true, there are 8 families whose ancient names are "conserved," meaning they are legally preserved as options, regardless of the other rules. Here's an abstract of an article about the subject: Article 18.5 and Art. 18.6 of the present International Code of Botanical Nomenclature authorise the use of alternative names in the following eight cases of families of flowering plants: Compositae/Asteraceae, Cruciferae/Brassicaceae, Gramineae/Poaceae, Guttiferae/Clusiaceae, Labiatae/Lamiaceae, Leguminosae/Fabaceae, Palmae/Arecaceae, and Umbelliferae/Apiaceae. The first name in each of these pairs is not based on the name of an included genus, and permission to use these names under the Code has become increasingly controversial in recent years. Our present note looks briefly at the history of the alternative usages and then aims to indicate the extent to which the two alternatives are used in the literature today, laying a basis for any potential discussion of future action. A strong case is noted for maintaining Leguminosae rather than Fabaceae when this family is treated in a broad sense. Taxon. 52(4):853-856. |
#3
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Plant Nomenclature
"Malcolm Manners" wrote in message ... Peter wrote: In the thread "ID requested on scarlet lawn weed", we got off topic onto nomenclature. In response to Richard Wright's comment: "My chief amateur's hate is the introduction of the rule that a family must have a genus with the name that produces the name of the family - Hence long entrenched family names Umbilliferae and Brassicaceae were thrown out of the window." PvR stated: "Actually there is no such rule: it is perfectly within the rules to use Umbelliferae. It has become somewhat nfashionable, but any complaints should be directed against the writers of flora's and textbooks, not against the rules. "The confusion you note is probably worse at the level of order and above" Of course people can use whatever terms they like, but rationale of Linnaen nomenclature is standardisation, so as reduce confusion. Unfortunately over the centuries inconsisitencies have accumulated, giving rise to an international forum /(International Committee for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants?)/ charged with sorting this out. Whatever one thinks of the results, serious botanical authors (of Flora or whatever), have to use the current generallly agreed nomenclature, within whatever system is being used (Cronquist, APG etc). So surely "Umbilliferae", for instance, is no longer an option. It is not the authors' fault, but the makers of the rules. I sympathise with Richard, having grown up with descriptive family names - Umbrella or Crucifer are more descriptive of what the species look like, than the type genus criteria now in use. My favourite was "Papiloniaceae" - "Fabaceae" does nothing for me. Peter Peter, While what you say is generally true, there are 8 families whose ancient names are "conserved," meaning they are legally preserved as options, regardless of the other rules. Here's an abstract of an article about the subject: Article 18.5 and Art. 18.6 of the present International Code of Botanical Nomenclature authorise the use of alternative names in the following eight cases of families of flowering plants: Compositae/Asteraceae, Cruciferae/Brassicaceae, Gramineae/Poaceae, Guttiferae/Clusiaceae, Labiatae/Lamiaceae, Leguminosae/Fabaceae, Palmae/Arecaceae, and Umbelliferae/Apiaceae. The first name in each of these pairs is not based on the name of an included genus, and permission to use these names under the Code has become increasingly controversial in recent years. Our present note looks briefly at the history of the alternative usages and then aims to indicate the extent to which the two alternatives are used in the literature today, laying a basis for any potential discussion of future action. A strong case is noted for maintaining Leguminosae rather than Fabaceae when this family is treated in a broad sense. Taxon. 52(4):853-856. Malcolm Thanks. I was not aware of these exceptions. I wonder if any recent work uses the first named terms. Things are further complicated by the partial adoption APG nomenclature alongside Cronquist and splitting Liliaceae into several separate families. It is difficult for an old, amateur botanist to keep up! Peter |
#4
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Plant Nomenclature
Peter wrote:
In the thread "ID requested on scarlet lawn weed", we got off topic onto nomenclature. In response to Richard Wright's comment: "My chief amateur's hate is the introduction of the rule that a family must have a genus with the name that produces the name of the family - Hence long entrenched family names Umbilliferae and Brassicaceae were thrown out of the window." PvR stated: "Actually there is no such rule: it is perfectly within the rules to use Umbelliferae. It has become somewhat unfashionable, but any complaints should be directed against the writers of flora's and textbooks, not against the rules. "The confusion you note is probably worse at the level of order and above" ==== Of course people can use whatever terms they like, but rationale of Linnaen nomenclature is standardisation, so as reduce confusion. Unfortunately over the centuries inconsisitencies have accumulated, giving rise to an international forum /(International Committee for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants?)/ charged with sorting this out. Whatever one thinks of the results, serious botanical authors (of Flora or whatever), have to use the current generallly agreed nomenclature, within whatever system is being used (Cronquist, APG etc). So surely "Umbilliferae", for instance, is no longer an option. It is not the authors' fault, but the makers of the rules. I sympathise with Richard, having grown up with descriptive family names - Umbrella or Crucifer are more descriptive of what the species look like, than the type genus criteria now in use. My favourite was "Papiloniaceae" - "Fabaceae" does nothing for me. Peter "Malcolm Manners" wrote in message Peter, While what you say is generally true, there are 8 families whose ancient names are "conserved," meaning they are legally preserved as options, regardless of the other rules. Here's an abstract of an article about the subject: Article 18.5 and Art. 18.6 of the present International Code of Botanical Nomenclature authorise the use of alternative names in the following eight cases of families of flowering plants: Compositae/Asteraceae, Cruciferae/Brassicaceae, Gramineae/Poaceae, Guttiferae/Clusiaceae, Labiatae/Lamiaceae, Leguminosae/Fabaceae, Palmae/Arecaceae, and Umbelliferae/Apiaceae. The first name in each of these pairs is not based on the name of an included genus, and permission to use these names under the Code has become increasingly controversial in recent years. Our present note looks briefly at the history of the alternative usages and then aims to indicate the extent to which the two alternatives are used in the literature today, laying a basis for any potential discussion of future action. A strong case is noted for maintaining Leguminosae rather than Fabaceae when this family is treated in a broad sense. Taxon. 52(4):853-856. Malcolm "Peter" schreef Thanks. I was not aware of these exceptions. I wonder if any recent work uses the first named terms. Things are further complicated by the partial adoption APG nomenclature alongside Cronquist and splitting Liliaceae into several separate families. It is difficult for an old, amateur botanist to keep up! Peter *** What Malcolm Manners says is basically correct, except that there are 9 names (also Papilionaceae), and that the fact that these are conserved is irrelevant. All the important names of families are conserved (hundreds), so that is nothing special. Also Art 18.6. says "The use, as alternatives, of the family names indicated in parentheses in Art. 18.5 is authorized."; the primacy is with Palmae, with Arecaceae indicated in parentheses. And, personally, it looks to me that Cronquist did more to cause confusion in plant names than APG ever did. However, keeping up is indeed hard to do. PvR |
#5
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Plant Nomenclature
SNIP
However, keeping up is indeed hard to do. PvR Thanks. And only if one has time. I am used to Cronquist and intend to stick to it. In UK, amongst my colleagues, I find little if any inclination to use APG. I feel that the allowed exceptions continue to muddy the issue. Peter |
#6
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Plant Nomenclature
SNIP
All the important names of families are conserved (hundreds), so that is nothing special. Also Art 18.6. says "The use, as alternatives, of the family names indicated in parentheses in Art. 18.5 is authorized."; the primacy is with Palmae, with Arecaceae indicated in parentheses. And, personally, it looks to me that Cronquist did more to cause confusion in plant names than APG ever did. However, keeping up is indeed hard to do. PvR Oh dear! And I thought that the purpose is standardisation! In UK, Cronquist seems to be principle system in use, with little sign of movement towards APG. Peter |
#7
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Plant Nomenclature
Sorry - last was sent because the previous post did not seem to
go. |
#8
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Plant Nomenclature
P van Rijckevorsel wrote:
Peter wrote: In the thread "ID requested on scarlet lawn weed", we got off topic onto nomenclature. In response to Richard Wright's comment: "My chief amateur's hate is the introduction of the rule that a family must have a genus with the name that produces the name of the family - Hence long entrenched family names Umbilliferae and Brassicaceae were thrown out of the window." PvR stated: "Actually there is no such rule: it is perfectly within the rules to use Umbelliferae. It has become somewhat unfashionable, but any complaints should be directed against the writers of flora's and textbooks, not against the rules. "The confusion you note is probably worse at the level of order and above" ==== Of course people can use whatever terms they like, but rationale of Linnaen nomenclature is standardisation, so as reduce confusion. Unfortunately over the centuries inconsisitencies have accumulated, giving rise to an international forum /(International Committee for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants?)/ charged with sorting this out. Whatever one thinks of the results, serious botanical authors (of Flora or whatever), have to use the current generallly agreed nomenclature, within whatever system is being used (Cronquist, APG etc). So surely "Umbilliferae", for instance, is no longer an option. It is not the authors' fault, but the makers of the rules. I sympathise with Richard, having grown up with descriptive family names - Umbrella or Crucifer are more descriptive of what the species look like, than the type genus criteria now in use. My favourite was "Papiloniaceae" - "Fabaceae" does nothing for me. Peter "Malcolm Manners" wrote in message Peter, While what you say is generally true, there are 8 families whose ancient names are "conserved," meaning they are legally preserved as options, regardless of the other rules. Here's an abstract of an article about the subject: Article 18.5 and Art. 18.6 of the present International Code of Botanical Nomenclature authorise the use of alternative names in the following eight cases of families of flowering plants: Compositae/Asteraceae, Cruciferae/Brassicaceae, Gramineae/Poaceae, Guttiferae/Clusiaceae, Labiatae/Lamiaceae, Leguminosae/Fabaceae, Palmae/Arecaceae, and Umbelliferae/Apiaceae. The first name in each of these pairs is not based on the name of an included genus, and permission to use these names under the Code has become increasingly controversial in recent years. Our present note looks briefly at the history of the alternative usages and then aims to indicate the extent to which the two alternatives are used in the literature today, laying a basis for any potential discussion of future action. A strong case is noted for maintaining Leguminosae rather than Fabaceae when this family is treated in a broad sense. Taxon. 52(4):853-856. Malcolm "Peter" schreef Thanks. I was not aware of these exceptions. I wonder if any recent work uses the first named terms. Things are further complicated by the partial adoption APG nomenclature alongside Cronquist and splitting Liliaceae into several separate families. It is difficult for an old, amateur botanist to keep up! Peter *** What Malcolm Manners says is basically correct, except that there are 9 names (also Papilionaceae), and that the fact that these are conserved is irrelevant. All the important names of families are conserved (hundreds), so that is nothing special. Also Art 18.6. says "The use, as alternatives, of the family names indicated in parentheses in Art. 18.5 is authorized."; the primacy is with Palmae, with Arecaceae indicated in parentheses. And, personally, it looks to me that Cronquist did more to cause confusion in plant names than APG ever did. However, keeping up is indeed hard to do. PvR Well of course there are plenty of other conserved family names. But only 8 that fail to end in the standard "aceae." |
#9
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Plant Nomenclature
"Malcolm Manners" schreef
Well of course there are plenty of other conserved family names. But only 8 that fail to end in the standard "aceae." *** Well, being conserved is pretty much the default condition for a family name (not being conserved is the exception). And there are 9 family names that are not based on a generic name (that is, there are 9 exceptions), even if one of them ends in -aceae. PvR |
#10
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Plant Nomenclature
A most interesting thread developed. And I thought it was only me. |
#11
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Plant Nomenclature
Well, Richard, at least you and I can continue with the tried and
tested! Peter "Richard Wright" wrote in message ... A most interesting thread developed. And I thought it was only me. |
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