130 GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 



Article 36. On and after January 1, 1908, the publication of names of new 

 groups of living plants will be valid only when they are accompanied by a Latin 

 diagnosis. On and after January 1, 1912, the names of new groups of fossil plants 

 will not be considered valid unless accompanied by a Latin diagnosis and by 

 illustrations or figures showing the essential characteristics. 



Comment. Bacteriologists in general have never subscribed to this 

 rule. It is unusual to find modern bacteriologists giving Latin descrip- 

 tion to new species, in fact the rule may be said to be quite commonly- 

 ignored by botanists. The committee on classification of the Society 

 of American Bacteriologists has recommended that bacteriologists 

 follow the International Botanical Code in the nomenclature of bacteria 

 with the exception of article 36. 



Article 37. A species or a subdivision of a species, announced in a work, with 

 a complete specific or varietal name, but without diagnosis or reference to a 

 former description under another name, is not valid. Citation in synonymy or 

 incidental mention of a name is not effective publication, and the same applies 

 to the mention of name on a ticket issued with a dried plant without printed or 

 autographed diagnosis. 



Plates accompanied with analyses are equivalent to a description; but this 

 applies only to plates published before January 1, 1908. 



Article 38. A genus or any other group of higher rank than a species, named or 

 announced without being characterized conformably to article 37 cannot be 

 regarded as effectively published (nomen nudum). The mere indication of species 

 as belonging to a new genus or of genera as belonging to a higher group, does not 

 allow us to accept the genus or group in question as characterized and effectively 

 published. An exception is made in the case of the generic names mentioned by 

 Linnaeus in the Species Plantarum ed. 1., 1753, names which we associate with the 

 descriptions in the Genera Plantarum ed. 5., 1754 (see article 19). 



Article 39. The date of a name or of a combination of names is that of their 

 effective publication. In the absence of proof to the contrary, the date placed 

 on the work containing the name or combination of names is regarded as correct. 

 On and after January 1, 1908, the date of publication of the Latin diagnosis only 

 can be taken into account in questions of priority. 



Recommendations. Botanists will do well, in publishing, to conform to the 

 following recommendations : 



XVIII. Not to publish a name without clearly indicating whether it is the name 

 of a family or a tribe, a genus or a section, a species or a variety; briefly, without 

 expressing an opinion on the nature of the group to which they give the name. 



When names of new groups are published the author should designate the sub- 

 division which he considers as the type for the nomenclature of the group; he 

 should indicate the generic type in a family, the species type in a genus, the sub- 

 species or variety type in a species. This precaution will prevent difficulties in 

 nomenclature if it should become necessary later to dissociate such groups. 



