You decide that the taxon Xiphidium coeruleum Aublet should...

Name: Problem 35, Chapter 16: Plant Systematics
Uploaded: 2021-04-15T19:16:44-08:00
Duration: 2 min 8 s
Channel: Christina Sorrentino
Description: You decide that the taxon Xiphidium coeruleum Aublet should be transferred in position to the genus Schiekia. What is the required new name (including authorship)? What if the new name had already been validly published?

You decide that the taxon Xiphidium coeruleum Aublet should be transferred in position to the genus Schiekia. What is the required new name (including authorship)? What if the new name had already been validly published?

Key Concepts

Authorship in Nomenclature

Authorship in botanical nomenclature signals who originally described the taxon and who later revised its classification. When a species is transferred to a new genus, the original describer's name is placed in parentheses, followed by the author who established the new combination. This practice maintains a clear historical record of taxonomic decisions and revisions.

Homonymy and Priority

Homonymy arises when the same name (or combination) is used for two different taxa, which is not permitted under nomenclatural rules. Priority dictates that the earliest validly published name retains its status. If a new combination would result in a name that is already in use, then the later name becomes illegitimate, and an alternative or replacement name must be provided.

New Combination

A new combination occurs when a taxon is transferred to a different genus while retaining its original specific epithet. This process requires that the author of the original name (the basionym) is cited in parentheses, followed by the author responsible for the new combination. The new combination must be unique within the receiving genus to avoid nomenclatural conflicts.

Basionym

The basionym is the original name of a taxon on which any new combinations or nomenclatural changes are based. It provides the historical baseline for the species' identity and serves as the reference point when making taxonomic revisions such as transfers between genera.

Taxonomic Transfer

A taxonomic transfer involves reassigning a species from one genus to another, usually following new research insights or reinterpretations of phylogenetic relationships. This type of change requires adherence to formal nomenclatural rules, ensuring that the modified name accurately reflects its revised classification.

Please give Ace some feedback