Austrobaileya 9(3): 461 (2015) 
SHORT COMMUNICATION 
461 
Validating the name Habenaria vatia D.L. Jones ex M.T.Mathieson 
(Orchidaceae) for a threatened orchid species from Queensland 
M.T. Mathieson 
Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Brisbane 
Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia. Email: Michael. 
Mathieson@dsiti. qld. gov. au 
The name Habenaria vatia D.L. Jones (Jones 
2002) was invalidly published under Art. 40.2 
of the International Code of Nomenclature 
for algae, fungi and plants (Melbourne Code) 
(McNeill et al. 2012) as two collections were 
indicated as the holotype (APNI 2015). In a 
subsequent publication attempting to validate 
the name, Jones & Clements (2004) correctly 
designated a single collection as the holotype 
and provided a reference to the original 
Latin description and diagnosis but cited 
all page numbers (“516-524”) of the article 
Jones (2002) (APNI 2015). Therefore the 
reference given by Jones & Clements (2004) 
does not unambiguously refer to the initial, 
previously published description or diagnosis 
of this species as required by ICN Art. 38.13 
(McNeill et al. 2012). 
This species is known only from Mua 
(Moa) island in the Torres Strait and is listed 
as Vulnerable under the Queensland Nature 
Conservation Act 1992. The name Habenaria 
vatia D.L.Jones ex M.T.Mathieson is here 
validated. 
Habenaria vatia D.L.Jones ex 
M.T.Mathieson, sp. nov. - Validating 
description and diagnosis: D.L.Jones, The 
Orchadian 13(11): 519 (2002). Typus: 
Queensland. Cook District: cultivated 
Australian National Botanic Gardens ex c. 1 
km NE of airport, Kubin, Moa Island, Torres 
Strait, 24 October 1990, D.L. Jones 6792 (holo 
CANB!; iso BRI!). 
Acknowledgements 
Thanks to Brendan Lepschi and Emma Toms 
from the Australian National Herbarium 
(CANB) for providing the type material for 
examination. 
References 
Apni (2015). Australian Plant Name Index. IBIS database. 
Centre for Australian National Biodiversity 
Research, Australian Government, Canberra. 
http://www.anbg.gov.au/apni/, accessed 8 July 
2015. 
Jones, D.L. (2002). Four new species of Habenaria 
Willd. (Orchidaceae) from Australia and a new 
combination for a species from New Guinea. 
The Orchadian 13: 516-524. 
Jones, D.L. & Clements, M.A. (2004). Miscellaneous 
new species, new genera, reinstated genera and 
new combinations in Australian Orchidaceae. 
The Orchadian, Scientific Supplement 14(8): xv. 
Mcneill, J., Barrie, F.R., Buck W.R., Demoulin V., 
Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D.L., Heredeen, 
P.S., Knapp, S., Marhold, K., Prado, J., 
Prud’Homme Van Reine, W.F., Smith, G.F., 
Wiersema, J.H. & Turland, N.J. (eds.). (2012). 
International Code of Nomenclature for algae, 
fungi and plants (Melbourne Code) adopted 
by the Eighteenth International Botanical 
Congress Melbourne, Australia, July 2011. 
Regnum Vegetabile 154. Koeltz Scientific 
Books: Konigstein. 
Accepted for publication 15 September 2015 
