Nomenclature Section of International Botanical Congress

[Joseph Kirkbride]

The VII Congreso Latinoamericano de Botanica was held in Mexico City from
18 to 24 October 1998.  On Thursday, 22 October, there was a Mesa
Redonda entitled "Discusion ISPT" from 10 am to 2 pm.  It was organized
to inform Latin American botanists about serious issues to be considered
in the Nomenclature Section of the International Botanical Congress in
St. Louis, Missouri next year.

There was a panel whose members made formal presentations of
approximately 20 minutes each.  The focus of the panel was on three
subjects: 1) registration of new names, 2) the Biocode, and 3) the use of
Latin for the description or diagnosis of new taxa.

Werner Greuter participated in the panel, and spoke in favor of the three
ideas.  He also expressed the opinion that the Biocode will not be
presented in the Nomenclature Section at St. Louis.  He handed out a
preprint of proposals 86-96 to be published in Taxon for consideration by
the Nomenclature Section at St. Louis.

Proposals 86-87 are made by Dr. Greuter as Secretary of the Standing
Committee on Lists of names in Current Use.  They encompass a number of
changes for incorporating NCU into the ICBN.  Proposals 88-95 are made by
the IAPT Executive Committee, and make a number of changes in the ICBN to
impliment registration of new names.  Proposal 96 is made by Dr. Greuter
in homage to de Candolle.  It would insert the following Principle ahead
of the present Principle I: "The aim of botanical nomenclature is to
provide clear, efficient rules for the creation and maintenance of
stable, unambuguous names for botanical taxa.  All of the following
principles are subordinate to this overriding goal."

Joseph H. Kirkbride, Jr.
USDA, Agricultural Research Service
Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory
Room 304, Building 011A, BARC-West
Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350 USA
Voice telephone: 301-504-9447
FAX: 301-504-5810
Internet: jkirkbri at asrr.arsusda.gov