Electronic publication of new taxa

[Joe Laferriere]

I saw Jim Beach's note the other day announcing the first publication of a
new taxon in the Internet. Unfortunately, I deleted the message without
noticing whether this was a plant or an animal. If the former, the name
does not appear to me to be valid. The 1994 (Tokyo) version of the ICBN
says:

"29.1. Publication is effected, under this Code, only by distribution of
printed matter (through sale, exchange, or gift) to the general public or
at least to botanical institutions with libraries accessible to botanists
generally."

Distribution of electronic bits does not seem to qualify as "distribution
of printed matter." I would be surprised if this did not change in the
future, but it will not be until the next Botanical Congress in 1999 that
the ICBN can be changed.