Use of the rank of forma

[Thomas Lammers]

At 09:57 AM 10/2/00 -0400, Susan Farmer wrote:

> >How do they distinguish between the formae alba in different >subspecies?
>
>Presumable they don't.  I questioned this somewhat vigorously because
>this is supposed to be a database of *published* names, and Planta
>excelsa forma alba was never published anywhere.  I was told that
>Planta excelsa variety glabra forma alba was a classification, but
>that Planta excelsa forma alba was merely a name.  They are in the
>business of recording only names.  Example 1 of article 24.1 was cited
>to me as their justification.

There can be no more than one legitimate f. alba in any species (Art.
54.3).    It is a non-problem.


Thomas G. Lammers, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Curator of the Herbarium (OSH)
Department of Biology and Microbiology
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901-8640 USA

e-mail:       lammers at uwosh.edu
phone:      920-424-7085
fax:           920-424-1101

Plant systematics; classification, nomenclature, evolution, and
biogeography of the Campanulaceae s. lat.
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"Today's mighty oak is yesterday's nut that stood his ground."
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