CHAPTER 3 



Rules of Nomenclature 

 With. Recommendations 



Section 1 



Naming of Taxonomic Groups (Taxa) of Various Ranks 



RULE 1. The names of all taxonomic groups (taxa) above the rank of genus 

 are substantives or adjectives used as substantives, of Greek or Latin origin, 

 or Latinized words, in the plural number. 



ANNOTATIONS 



Rule 1. Basically the names of all taxa from genus to order inclusive 

 are plural adjectives modifying the word plantae. They are now 

 recognized and treated as nouns. Rule 4 designates special endings 

 that are to be used as suffixes in the formation of names of these 

 higher taxa. The plural adjectival endings in general have the mean- 

 ing of "like" or "resembling." 



RULE 2. Names of all taxonomic groups (taxa) above the rank of family are 

 taken preferably from a combination of characters covering the nature of 

 the taxa as closely as possible, or from a single character of outstanding 

 importance. 



RECOMMENDATION 2a. Names of new orders and suborders should prefer- 

 ably be based upon the name of the type genus of a contained family. 



ANNOTATIONS 



Rule 2. The corresponding Article (16) in the Botanical Code 

 reads: 



The principles of priority and typification do not apply to names 

 of taxa above the rank of order. 



Recommendation 16a of the Botanical Code suggests that certain 

 endings for taxa above the rank of order be used. It states: 



(a) The name of a division is preferably taken from characters in- 

 dicating the nature of the division as closely as possible; it should 

 end in -phyta, except when it is a division of Fungi, in which case 

 it should end in -mycota. Words of Greek origin are generally pre- 

 ferable. 



The name of a subdivision is formed in a similar manner; it is dis- 

 tinguished from a divisional name by an approprate prefix or suf- 

 fix or by the ending -phytina, except when it is a subdivision of 

 Fungi, in which case it should end in -mycotina. 



(b) The name of a class or of a subclass is formed in a siniiliar 

 manner, and should end as follows: 



1. In the Algae: -phyceae (classes) and -phycidae (subclasses); 



2. In the Fungi: -mycetes (classes) and -mycetidae (subclasses) ; 



3. In the Cormophyta: -opsida (class) and -idae (subclasses). 



In bacteriology little or no use is made of names of taxa above that 

 of class. 



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