Taxonomy And International Code of

Botanical Nomenclature
 TAXONOMY
Plant Taxonomy is a science that includes
Identification, Nomenclature &Classification
of plants.

Taxonomy= ‘Taxis’+’Nomous’
Taxis means Arrangement & Nomous means
Law or Rule.

Thus , it means classification following

certain rules or principles.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF PLANT TAXONOMY

1. To identify and give scientific names to all the

plants both existent or fossils.

2. To find out the similarities and differences

between the plants identified and named.

3. To arrange the plants in a regular sequence.

4. To provide an inventory of plant taxa by means of

flora.
5.To devise a natural system of classification and
to assign proper status to group of plants

6. To find out the evolutionary history of a

species and to find its relation with others.

7. To construct rules and regulations governing

the method to name a species ,genus or family.
 NOMENCLATURE

A System of naming plants and

animals.

The system of naming Plants on

scientific basis is known as Plant
Nomenclature.
 COMMON NAMES

The names given to plants on the

basis of language of that locality in
which the plants are growing are
known as Common Names or
Vernacular Names.
 Why the common names are disadvantageous?

1. Only scientific names are universal, used the same world-wide;

e.g., Hibiscus- for China rose in English, Gurhal in Hindi & Jaba in
Bengali.

2. Common names are not consistent.

a) A taxon may have more than one common name
b) One common name may refer to more than one taxon (e.g.,
”hemlock” for both Tsuga and for Conium maculatum).

3. Many of the organisms have no common name in any language.

4. Common names tell nothing about rank.

5. Common names are misleading.

 SCIENTIFIC NAMES

To overcome the problem raised by common

names , botanists have given scientific names to
all the known plants, for International
communication. The language selected for this
Naming was LATIN. Because:

1. This language is not being used by any country

or nation at present.
2. Most of the European languages are derived
from Latin.
3. It is considered to be a dead language.
 BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE

Botanical nomenclature is the formal scientific

naming of plants. In early attempts plants names
were usually polynomials e.g., Caryophyllum
saxalitis, folis gramineus, umbellate corymbis.
This cumbersome system was replaced by
Binomial Nomenclature devised by Linnaeus in
1753 in Species Plantarum.
Carolus Linnaeus
1707-1778
 BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE

In this system ,a botanical name consisted of

two latinized words, a generic name followed
by a specific epithet e.g., the botanical name
of Sunflower is Helianthus annuus. Here,
Helianthus designates genus and annuus
designates species of this genus.
 GENERIC NAME

Generic name is usually a noun and singular & may

have different types of origin:

(a) A genera may be named in honour of a botanist

or horticulturist or may be a patron of botany e.g.,
Linnaea in honour of Linnaeus

(b)Some generic names are of poetic or

mythological origin e.g., Nymphaea denotes lovely
water nymphs
 SPECIFIC EPITHET

The specific epithet is an adjective & may have

several origins:

(a) It may be in honour of a person e.g., hookeri

for Hooker

(b) It may be derived from special characteristics

of the plant e.g., alba for white flowered
plant
(c) It may be derived from a geographical location
where the plant grows.

(d) It may originate from an old common name.

(e)It may be named arbitrarily.

Generally, the specific epithet is of one word but if

it has two words then a hyphon should be
placed between them.
Sometimes nomenclature may be of
TRINOMIAL or QUADRINOMIAL type.
In trinomial the third epithet is of
SUBSPECIES & in quadrinomial fourth
epithet is of VARIETY.
E.g : Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (cauliflower)
Brassica oleracea var. capitata (Cabbage)
Brassica oleracea var. caulorapa (Knol-knol)
INTERNATIONAL CODE OF BOTANICAL
NOMENCLATURE [ICBN]

In the nineteenth century it became increasingly clear that

there was a need for rules to govern scientific
nomenclature, and initiatives were taken to produce a
body of laws. These were published in successively more
sophisticated editions. For plants the key dates are 1867
(lois de la nomenclature botanique, ’Paris Code’), 1906
(International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature, 'Vienna
Rules') ,1952 (International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature, 'Stockholm Code) and 1994 (Tokyo Code)
ICBN

The International Code of Botanical

Nomenclature (ICBN) is the set of rules
and recommendations dealing with the
formal botanical names that are given to
plants. Its intent is that each taxonomic
group (“taxon", plural "taxa") of plants has
only one correct name that is accepted
worldwide.
Principles of ICBN

I. Botanical nomenclature is independent of

zoological nomenclature.

II. The application of names of taxonomic

groups is determined by means of
nomenclatural types.

III. The nomenclature of a taxonomic group

is based upon priority of publication.
Principles of ICBN
IV. Each taxonomic group (e.g., family or genus or
species) can bear only one correct name: the
earliest that is in accordance with the Rules, except
in specified cases.

V. Scientific names of taxonomic groups are treated as

Latin regardless of their derivation.

VI. The Rules of nomenclature are retroactive unless

expressly limited.
 RULES OF ICBN
Basic Rules
1. The complete scientific name includes genus and
species,
2. the name of the scientist who first described the
species and the year.
3. By convention that the genus and species are written
in italics (or, where that is not possible, underlined).  
4. The generic name is always capitalized & the species
name is not.
 The first letter of the genus is capitalized; the first
letter of specific epithet usually is not.

EXAMPLES:
Dianthus caryophyllus L. Rosa cinnamomea
Dianthus caryophyllus or Dianthus caryophyllus
“L.” stands for Linnaeus, who is the authority who
first named this plant.

When related species in a genus are in a list, it is

acceptable after the first species to list them by the
first letter of the genus.
EXAMPLE:
Dianthus caryophyllus, D. chinensis, D. giganteus
If we know the genus (eg. Dianthus) but do not
know or do not want to specify the species we
can indicate the plant name as follows:

EXAMPLE:
Dianthus sp.
Or if plural --- Dianthus spp.
 TAXONOMIC RANKS

Taxon is a taxonomic group of plants of any

rank e.g., Hibiscus (genus) is a taxon, Malvaceae
(family) is a taxon. The rules of nomenclature
prescribe the categories for plant classification.
These categories or taxa constitute the unit s of
classification. The basic unit of classification is
species.
 
A typical Linnaean hierarchy has seven taxa represented as
follows:
                                                                                  
 The extended Linnaean hierarchy may consist of the

 
following taxonomic ranks:

                                                                                                                                
Categories below the rank of species
are:
Subspecies .

Varieties

Sub-varieties

Forma

Clone
 Major Rank Endings

Phylum [Division] -phyta

Subphylum [Subdivision] -phytina
Class -opsida
Subclass -idae
Super-order -anae, [-iflorae]
Order -ales
Suborder -ineae
Family -aceae
Subfamily -oideae
Tribe -eae
Subtribe -inae
In accordance to ICBN, some traditional names of
the families are changed to their alternate names
as

(New) (Traditional)
Apiaceae = Umbelliferae

Asteraceae = Compositae

Poaceae = Graminae

Lamiaceae = Labiatae

Arecaceae = Palmae

Cruciferae = Brassicaceae
Thank you
 TYPE CONCEPT

The naming of taxonomic group is determined by

means of nomenclatural types, where a
nomenclatural type is that element, to which the
name of a taxon is permanently attached, either as
a correct name or as a synonym.
Some of the imp. Nomenclatural types are:

1. Holotype – A holotype is the one specimen or

illustration used by the author, or designated by
the author as the nomenclatural type. As long as
a holotype is extant, it fixes the application of
the name concerned.

2. Isotype- An isotype is any duplicate of the

holotype; it is always a specimen.
3. Lectotype – It is a specimen selected from the
original material to serve as the type when no
holotype was designated or if it becomes missing.

4. Syntype – A syntype is any one of two or more

specimens cited by the original author when no
holotype was designated.

5. Neotype – It is a specimen selected to serve as

the type as long as all of the material on which the
name of the taxon was based is missing.
6. Paratype: A paratype is a specimen cited with
the original description other than the holotype
or syntype.

7.Topotype: It refers to the specimen collected

from the same locality.
8. Epitype- An epitype is a specimen or illustration
selected to serve as an interpretative type when
the holotype, lectotype, or previously designated
neotype, or all original material associated with a
validly published name, is demonstrably
ambiguous and cannot be critically identified for
purposes of the precise application of the name of
a taxon. When an epitype is designated, the
holotype, lectotype, or neotype that the epitype
supports must be explicitly cited
 EFFECTIVE AND VALID PUBLICATION
1) Name must be effectively published

2) Name must be published in the correct form,

properly Latinized with the correct rank ending.

3) Name must be published with a Latin description or

diagnosis or with a reference to such. [Vernacular
description typically included].

4) Nomenclatural type must be indicated (for genus and

below).
 AUTHOR CITATION
1. Joint authors - If only two, both should be cited,
e.g. Smith & Jones, or Smith et Jones, if more
than two then Smith et al.

2. Name proposal - Sometimes one author

proposes but doesn't validly publish the name
him/herself. In this case the one who proposed it is
listed first followed by ex and the author who
validly published it. Ex means validly published by.
For example,. Arenaria rossii R.Br. ex Richards.
1823.
3. Publication in anothers work - Sometimes
one person supplies the new name for
publication in anothers work, e.g. many floras.
He/she should get credit so cited as Smith in
Jones, or if shortened Smith.

4.Abbreviated names: Usually the names are

cited in abbreviated forms but never
underlined or italicized e.g., Vitex Linn.,
V .trifolia Linn. etc.
5.Double Citation: If a genus or taxon of lower
rank is altered in rank or position, but retains its
name or epithet, the name of the author who first
published the name or epithet (basionym) must
be cited in parenthesis folowed by the name of
author who effected the change e.g.,Leucaena
latisiliqua (Linn.) Gillis (1974)..Basionym: Mimosa
latisiliqua.
 RULE OF PRIORITY

Law of Priority says that if a genus or

species has been accidentally given two
names, only the earlier one is valid.  The
later name becomes a "junior synonym”.

Polygala L.(1753) , Poligalia Neck.(1768),

Polygaloides Agosti (1770).
 REJECTION OF NAMES
1. Synonym - a rejected name due to
misapplication or difference in taxonomic
judgment.
2. Basionym - a specific epithet or infraspecific
epithet that has priority and is retained when
transferred to a new or different taxon, e.g.
Arnica cordifolia Hook. if transferred to Senecio
by Smith becomes Senecio cordifolia (Hook.)
Smith. The type specimen for Senecio cordifolia
is actually that of Arnica cordifolia.
3. Homonym - one of two or more identical
names based on different types, only one of
which can be legitimate i.e. identical names can
not be applied to different taxa.

4. Tautonym - an illegitimate binomial in which

the generic name and specific epithet are the
same, e.g. if transfer Arnica cordifolia Hook. to
the genus Cordifolia would make Cordifolia
cordifolia (Hook.)
5. Autonym - an automatically created name
for infrageneric or infraspecific taxa, e.g. Arnica
subgenus Arnica or Arnica cordifolia Hook.
subspecies cordifolia. Not genuina or typicus.

6. Nomen nudum- It is a name that does not

fulfill the criteria set by ICBN.
 RETENTION OF NAMES
Of
Taxa which are divided
When a genus/species is divided into two or more
genera/spp. The original name must be retained
for the type species.
E.g.,
Lychnis dioica was divided by Miller into 2 species
which were named as L. dioica L. emend Mill. And
L. alba Miller.
 RETENTION OF NAMES
Of
Taxa on Transference
If a species is transferred to another genus without
change of rank, its original name must be retained
if a species with that name does not exist in other
genus. The name of original author is bracketed
followed by the name of second author. For
example, Hydrocotyle asiatica L. when transferred
to genus Centella was named as Centella asiatica
(Linn.) Urban.
 CHOICE OF NAMES
Following are the criteria for the choice of name
of a taxon:

1. When the taxon rank is changed, for e.g., a

species becomes a genus, the earliest legitimate
name in its new rank is its correct name.
2. When 2 or more taxa of the same rank are
united into one, e.g., two or more genera are
united , the oldest legitimate name of these
taxa should be retained as the name of united
taxon.
 TAXONOMY AS A SYNTHETIC DISCIPLINE
Taxonomy provides a classification based on evolutionary
relationships. But the goal of attaining a truly natural
system of classification remains unfulfilled. So ,it is
essential to have a comprehensive knowledge of the taxa
from various aspects and various branches of botany.
Therefore ,various aspects of botany like anatomy,
embryology, phyto-chemistry and the newly developed
techniques of molecular biology and new aspects of
taxonomy i.e. numerical taxonomy are include under
taxonomy and thus, taxonomy has now become a
synthetic discipline.
Thank you