[Taxacom] The ICN (Melbourne Code) is published

[John McNeill]

Dear colleagues:

The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (the
Melbourne Code) was published today (20 December 2012) both in hardcopy
(as Regnum Vegetabile vol. 154 – see
http://www.koeltz.com/product.aspx?pid=204604 ) and online – see the
International Association for Plant Taxonomy web page at
http://www.iapt-taxon.org/index_layer.php [or:
http://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php ]

This new Melbourne Code, the ICN, replaces the Vienna Code, published in
2006 under the title International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)
and incorporates the decisions taken at the XVIII International
Botanical Congress held in Melbourne, Australia, in July 2011. (see,
e.g.,
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iapt/tax/2011/00000060/00000005/art00030
)

The changes in the rules include provision for electronic publication
and the option of using English instead of Latin for descriptions of new
taxa both of which came into effect on 1 January 2012, and the
requirements for “registration” of new names of fungi coming into effect
on 1 January 2013.

Seasons greetings.

John McNeill

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John McNeill, Rapporteur-général, Nomenclature Section, XVIII IBC,
Melbourne
    Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum;
    Honorary Associate, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
Mailing address:  Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, Scotland,
U.K.
Telephone:    +44-131-248-2848;  fax: +44-131-248-2901
Home office:  +44-162-088-0651
e-mail: jmcneill at rbge.ac.uk (mail to johnm at rom.on.ca is also read)
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