TAXON (IAPT International Association for Plant Taxonomy)

IAPT - International Association for Plant Taxonomy

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Fensome, R. A., Jansonius, J. & Skog, J. E.: Typification and names of fossil plants – a review and discussion. – Taxon 47: 695-702. – ISSN 0040-0262.

The rules surrounding the designation of nomenclatural types to fossil plant taxa, including the definitions of the various kinds of type and the related requirements for valid publication, are found in several provisions of the International code of botanical nomenclature. In part because of the necessarily piecemeal nature of these rules, problems and ambiguities in interpretation have arisen that merit discussion. These problems and ambiguities include: the definition of the term lectotype; the use of isotypes and epitypes; the appropriate treatment of macrofossil types that are represented by more than one specimen; the application of Article 37.4 and the citation of collectors’ names; the nature of the type of a generic name; the definition of "original material"; and the imperative to indicate the repository of a type. In our view, the increasing rate of change of the Code, which would reach a climax with the possible introduction of a BioCode, is also promoting ambiguities, and hence potential instability in plant nomenclature.