copyright and latin descriptions

[Susan Farmer]

Someone has asked me, and I don't know ...

How are the formal publications of a taxon name with accompanying
descriptions handled under copyright law?  For instance, what if I
post the description  to the fictious "Rosa alba" to a mailing list
on roses.  What about if I publish or distribute a compilation of named
Rosa species with their original descriptions?

Thanks for your opinions.

Susan Farmer
sfarmer at goldsword.com