DECEMBER, 1906.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 357 
Congress, and are of such importance to Orchidists (among others) that we 
feel justified in calling attention to some of the points agreed upon, as 
after careful perusal we believe that they will do away with some of the 
more objectionable of recent developments. 
Article 1 points out that “ Natural History can make no progress with- 
out a regular system of nomenclature, which is recognised and used by the 
great majority of naturalists in all countries.” 
_ Article 7 states :—“‘ Scientific names are in Latin for all groups. When 
taken from another language, a Latin termination is given them, except in 
cases sanctioned by custom.” 
Article 17 remarks :—No one should change a name or a combination of 
names without serious motives, based on a more profound knowledge of the 
facts, or on the necessity of giving up a nomenclature that is contrary to 
rules.” 
Article 19 provides that “ Botanical nomenclature begins with the 
Species Plantarum of Linneus, ed. 1 (1753), for all groups of vascular 
plants.” Exceptions, however, are allowed by Article 20 for names which 
have come into general use in the fifty years following their publication, or 
which have been used in Monographs and important works up to the year 
1890. A list of these is given in an Appendix, and among them we find the 
following Orchids :—Dendrobium (not Callista or Ceraia), Saccolabium 
(not Gastrochilus), Bulbophyllum (not Phyllorkis or Phyllorchis), Galanthe 
(not Alismorkis or Allismorchis), Eria (not Pinalia), Eulophia Hot 
Graphorkis or Graphorchis), Polystachya (not Dendrorkis or Denrorchis), 
Spiranthes (not Gyrostachys or Ibidium), Stelis (not Humboldtia), Oberonia 
(not Iridorkis), Listera (not Diphryllum), Neottia (not Nidus), Liparis (not 
Leptorchis), Calopogon (not Cathea), Platanthera (not Lycias), Nervilia 
(not Stellorkis), Platylepis (not Erporkis or Erporchis), and CEonia (not 
Epidorkis). The significance of this exception will be ap “eculane scape vig 
stated that a notorious “reformer” has renamed the species of these 
familiar genera (and numerous others), replacing them by the a 
genera mentioned in_ brackets, which happen to be older, thus giving 
hundreds of useless new names. 
Concerning generic and specific na 
mendations, as, not to make names very 
to dedicate genera to persons who are strangers 
avoid specific names formed of age cea ication of the appearance, the 
specific names should, in general, give some indication - ini 
chiracters, the origin, the history and the properties of the species, or 1 
: : ll the name of the one who 
taken from the name of a person It should reca Sas Sack 
discovered or described it, or who is in some way connected with it. Suc 
: tee t when taken from the names 
specific names begin with a small letter, excep 
mes we find some very useful recom- 
long or difficult to pronounce, not 
to natural science, and to 
We are also told that the 
