Bacteria and Viruses 63 



Rule 12a. Sect. 3. Publication of Names 



RULE 12a. A name of a taxonomic group (taxon) is not validly published 

 unless it is both (1) effectively published (see Rule 11) and (2) accompanied 

 by a description of the taxon or by a reference to a previously and effectively 

 published description of it. 



NOTE. The words "valid" and "validly published" as used in this Code 

 mean "with standing in nomenclature", and the words "invalid" or "not 

 validly published" mean "without standing in nomenclature." 



ANNOTATIONS 



Rule 12a. The Botanical Code adds the parenthetical phrase " (direct 

 or indirect) " following the word "reference." 



The Botanical Code also sitates that a combination (i.e., the name 

 of a species or of a taxon of subspecific rank) is not validly pub- 

 lished unless "the author definitely indicates that the epithet or epi- 

 thets concerned are to be used in that particular combination." 



Botanists have added a rule which requires that, on or after 

 1 Jan. 1953, a new transfer or combination to be validly published 

 must have its basionym* (the name-bringing or epithet-bringing 

 synonym) clearly indicated with full reference to author and original 

 publication. 



Botanists have a long tradition of requiring for valid publication 

 Latin diagnoses of newly described laxa of plants. At various times 

 unsuccessful attempts were made to change the rule. However, there 

 were many botanists who ignored the rule, particularly those who 

 described fungi, algae and bacteria. Final agreement was reached 

 that names of taxa published in languages other than Latin before 

 1 Jan. 1935 may be regarded as validly published. However, the 

 Botanical Congiess of 1930 approved the recommendation of the 

 Microbiological Congress of 1930 that new names of taxa of bacteria 

 are excepted from the general requirement. It was later agreed that 

 new names of algal taxa published before 1 Jan. 1958 do not require 

 Latin diagnoses (Botanical Code Art. 34, 1956) . 



These rules are of interest to all microbiologists in that valid 

 publication of new names of bacterial and protozoan taxa may have 

 the diagnoses in any language, all new names of fungal taxa must 

 have diagnoses in Latin to be validly published, and after 1 Jan. 

 1958 the diagnoses accompanying new names of algal taxa must be 

 in Latin. Further, a new name of an algal taxon is validly published 

 after 1 Jan. 1958 only when accompanied by an illustration or figure 

 showing the distinctive morphological features. 



* Also spelled basonym. 



