700 International Code of Nomenclature 



Rule 27. Sect. 7. Orthography and Gender of Names 



NOTE 6. Names of taxa and specific epithets are often compound words, 

 sometimes formed from Latin stems, more often from Greek stems, some- 

 times (less correctly) from stems from two different languages. Such com- 

 pound words formed from the same stems may differ only in the connecting 

 vowel. 



a. In the formation of compound names of taxa and of specific epithets 

 from the Latin the preferred connecting vowel is -i-. Such compound 

 words that differ in spelling only by having the connecting vowel 

 -i- or -o- are to be regarded as orthographic variants. Names of taxa 

 which are such orthographic variants and based upon different types 

 are to be regarded as homonyms. The spelling used for each taxon 

 or specific epithet should be that used by the author when the com- 

 pound was validly published. 



b. The combining vowel in Greek compounds in which the first component 

 is a noun (substantive) or adjective is usually -o-. It may be omitted if 

 the second component begins with a vowel. It is omitted when the first 

 component ends in -y (glycyphyllus). Another combining vowel may 

 be used if there is good Greek precedent, e.g., as in Corynebocterlum. 

 Names of taxa or words used as specific epithets which are Greek 

 compounds and which differ only in the presence or absence of the 

 combining vowel -o-, or have another combining vowel, are to be 

 regarded as orthographic variants. If the names of taxa are based 

 upon different types they are to be regarded as homonyms. The 

 correct spelling is that of the name of the taxon or of the specific 

 epithet used by the author in its initial and valid publication. 



c. Compound words derived from two or more different languages 

 (nomine hybrido) are to be regarded as orthographic variants if they 

 differ only in the combining vowel. The spelling first used by an author 

 in the first valid publication should govern. If the two compounds are 

 names of taxa having different types they are regarded as homonyms. 



NOTE 7. The liberty of correcting a name or epithet must be used with re- 

 serve, especially if the change affects the first syllable, and above all the 

 first letter of the name or epithet. 



NOTE 8. Intentional Latinizations involving changes in orthography of per- 

 sonal names, particularly those of earlier authors, must be preserved. 



