new names for already described taxon

[METZING DETLEV]

In a small botanical journal I found several new names for taxa of
Cactaceae. In some cases these new species names were used for taxa,
which were already described as varieties of other species. But the
author did not make a new combination, eg. he transferred Planta
mirabilis var. neglecta L. to Planta neglecta (L.) Miller, but he
choosed a new name (e.g. Planta viridis) although the former variety
is listed as basionym.
Is this a correct way in the sense of the ICBN? I know, that a nomen
novum may be choosed, when a transfer from one species to another
genus would result in an illegitime name, but may a nomen novum also
used for the example mentioned above?


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Detlev Metzing
AG Pflanzenoekologie
FB Biologie
Carl von Ossietzky-Universitaet
D - 26111 Oldenburg
Germany

email metzing at hrz1.uni-oldenburg.de
Tel. ++49 441 798 3342
Fax. ++49 4230 1571
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