I second Jensen's comment

[Harvey E. Ballard, Jr.]

I agree with Dick Jensen's comment regarding the sanctioned "ii" endings to
botanical latin names: the Code requires that botanical names use such an
ending and that's that.  A good share of botanical latin is bastardized
from classical latin; nevertheless, the rule has been maintained as an ICBN
rule.  Until the rule is formally changed, any action not in accord with
such a rule is invalid.  Were I to obtain a book or paper not in accord
with sanctioned botanical latin endings, I would take my pen and correct
them all.  Any works resulting from this project may have significant
intellectual value aside from the terms or names used in it, but I would
question the wisdom of publishing such a work when the usage of names is
incorrect.  Far from serving the stability of present nomenclatural
practices and contributing to the field, purposeful neglect of
nomenclatural rules for botanical, zoological and other names undercuts and
debilitates nomenclatural stability and interpretation of such names by
scientists who would use them.  I wouldn't buy such a work on that basis
alone, and I wonder about the ulterior motives behind the belligerence in
adopting nomenclatural practices that serve a critical function in
standardizing communication within botanical and zoological circles.  Until
such time as a universal standardized Code for botanical, zoological and
other names is fully worked out AND voted on AND distributed and supported
in its use, abandoning currently available usage as defined by the ICBN or
other works is simply a big step backward and, in my mind, devalues the
worth of the project using such an "anarchist" approach.

Harvey Ballard

Harvey E. Ballard, Jr.
Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Honorary Fellow, Department of Botany
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Tel USDA: 608-262-0159; FAX work: 608-262-4743
Tel UW Herbarium (eves.): 608-262-2792
email: hballard at students.wisc.edu