Linnaeus Goes Viral: Descriptions of New Taxa Can Now be Written in English and Published Electronically

摘要

FOR MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF centuries — since 1753 when Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist, wrote Species Plantarum, still considered the origin of plant nomenclature — anyone who discovered a new plant has been required to follow a set of rules and recommendations that govern nomenclature. These rules, which became the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, specify how and where new names are published such that they meet requirements for valid publication. Since 1953, these rules have required that any new species described had to be published in a book or journal, and since 1935 have required all non-algal or fossil publications to include a description written in Latin. No more. Descriptions of new species can now be published in English and online. The changes for recording new taxa were approved last summer at the July meeting of the XVIII International Botanical Congress in Melbourne, Australia.