7 78 International Code of Nomenclature 



Rule 28. Sect. 7. Orthography and Gender of Names 



RULE 28. The gender of generic names is governed by the following regu- 

 lations: 



(a) A Greek or Latin word adopted as a generic name retains its classical 

 gender. In cases where the classical gender varies, the author has 

 the right of choice between the alternative genders. In doubtful 

 cases general usage should be followed. 



(b) Generic and subgeneric names which are modern compounds formed 

 from two or more Greek or Latin words take the gender of the last. 

 If the ending is altered, the gender is that of the new ending in the 

 language of origin. 



(c) Arbitrarily formed generic names or vernacular names used as 

 generic names take the gender assigned to them by their authors. 

 Where the original author has failed to indicate the gender, the next 

 subsequent author has the right of choice. 



ANNOTATIONS 



Latin words used as generic names are relatively rare, Latin 

 compounds are not abinidant. The most common generic names are 

 Greek compounds; many others are derived from personal names. 



Rule 28 (a) . Bacillus, a staff or rod (masculine) and Sarcina, a 

 packet (feminine) are examples of Latin nouns used without change 

 as generic names. Vibrio, that which vibrates, is derived from the 

 Latin and is feminine. 



Latinized Greek nouns used as generic names are Bacterium, small 

 rod or staff, and Clostridium, a small spindle, both neuter. 



Rule 28 (b) . A few generic names are compounded from Latin 

 words, as Lactobacillus, milk rodlet (masculine) , and some hybrid 

 Greek-Latin as Thiobacillus, sulfur rod (masculine) , and Thiosarcina, 

 sulfur packet (feminine) . 



Throughout biology, including bacteriology, generic names are 

 commonly Latinized Greek compounds. Examples: 



Masculine: Azotobacter nitrogen rod, Actinomyces ray fungus, 



Arthrobacter jointed rod, Haemophilus blood lover. 

 Feminine: Pseudomonas false monad, Crenothrix spring (foun- 

 tain) hair, Spirochaeta spiral thread, Zoogloea animal glue. 

 Neuter: Chromobacterium colored rodlet, Mycoderma fungus 

 skin, Polyangium many vessels, Rhizobium root dweller, Rhodo- 

 spirillum red spiral, Treponema turning thread. 

 A few generic names of bacteria do not conform to Recommenda- 

 tion 5a (4) . They are adjectival in derivation and form. In some 

 of these cases ithe gender is not indicated by the nominative ending, 

 e.g., in Alcaligenes and Bacteroides. Custom has fixed these as mascu- 

 line. 



