[Taxacom] FW: formation of zoological names with Mc, Mac, et

[Kirkbride, Joseph]

Prior to binomial nomenclature, names served two purposes. Obviously the
names were names, but they were also diagnostic phrases that
distinguished each taxon from all other similar taxa. Each time that a
new taxon was discovered, the names of pre-existing taxa had to be
adjusted to insure that they were all diagnostic. Consequently 'good'
botanists were very careful to cite prior authors to insure that the
history of a taxon could be followed as its name was adjusted to
distinguish it from other taxa then known. Pre-Linnaean names did not
have priority because they could not be 'constant' and fulfill their
dual function. Names in pre-Linnaean literature were changing from
publication to publication. Taxon concepts had priority, so authors
cited earlier publications so that taxa and their associated data could
be traced.

I have often wondered if Linnaeus consciously or unconsciously
introduced binomial nomenclature to stop the continuous changing of
taxon names in pre-Linnaean botany.

Joe K

Joseph H. Kirkbride, Jr.
USDA-ARS, U.S. National Arboretum
Floral & Nursery Plants Research Unit
3501 New York Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002-1958 USA
Tel.: 202-245-4534
FAX: 202-245-4579
E-mail: joseph.kirkbride at ars.usda.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
[mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of
dipteryx at freeler.nl
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 8:51 AM
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] FW: formation of zoological names with Mc, Mac,
et

Van: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu namens Bob Mesibov
Verzonden: do 3-9-2009 13:34

>If you can stomach the Horror!, this gets intriguing as you go
>deeper into the background. [...] 1886 reference [...]

***
It looks to me that if you want to delve into the roots you would
have to go back further than that. It is quite noticeable that, 
say, the 1623 Pinax by Bauhin (also present at the Biodiversity 
Heritage Library) is meticulous in giving the author (and/or 
place of publication) for the synonyms it cites. Obviously, at 
that stage priority, as we know it, did not exist.

Paul
_______________________________________________

Taxacom Mailing List
Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/mailman/listinfo/taxacom

The Taxacom archive going back to 1992 may be searched with either of
these methods:

(1) http://taxacom.markmail.org

Or (2) a Google search specified as:
site:mailman.nhm.ku.edu/pipermail/taxacom  your search terms here