[Taxacom] More on Linnaeus

[Paul van Rijckevorsel]

> On 2013-09-04 7:53 PM, Stephen Thorpe wrote:
>> My understanding of what was in Linnaeus' mind is slightly different: 
>> The binomial system was analogous to the binomial system of people's 
>> names, where the genus is analogous to the surname and represents 
>> "family relationship", so classification did have everything to do 
>> with it (and this is independent of creationism/evolutionism). 

From: "Curtis Clark" <lists at curtisclark.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 5:25 AM

> I believe Stafleu would disagree, since the epithet was an afterthought.

***
The epithet was not so much an afterthought as it was an independent
device to find species quickly. It was a mnemonic / typographical
device, and as such not unusual, but rather quite traditional. It is the 
use to which these epithets were put that was new, being combined
with the generic name to become a two-part species name.

Paul