Illegitimate name is a technical term, used mainly in botany. The abbreviation nom. illeg. for nomen illegitimum, the Latin translation of "illegitimate name", is sometimes used instead, but is not defined in botany.
Definition
An illegitimate name is a validly published name, but one that contravenes some of the articles laid down by the International Botanical Congress.[1] The name could be illegitimate because:
- it was superfluous at its time of publication, i.e., the taxon (as represented by the type specimen) already has a name, or
- the name has already been applied to another plant (a homonym).
For the procedure of rejecting otherwise legitimate names, see conserved name.
Examples
- "The generic name Cainito Adans. (1763) is illegitimate because it was a superfluous name for Chrysophyllum L. (1753), which Adanson cited as a synonym."[1]
- "The name Amblyanthera Müll. Arg. (1860) is a later homonym of the validly published Amblyanthera Blume (1849) and is therefore unavailable for use, although Amblyanthera Blume is now considered to be a synonym of Osbeckia L. (1753)."[1]
- "The name Torreya Arn. (1838) is a nomen conservandum and is therefore available for use in spite of the existence of the earlier homonym Torreya Raf. (1818)."[1]
See also
- Correct name (botany)
- Valid name (zoology)
- Nomen dubium
- Glossary of botanical terms
- Nomen conservandum
References
- ^ a b c d Vienna Code (2006)