[Taxacom] Nothofagaceae

[Rob Smissen]

Stephen,

You are entitled to your opinion, although I would not characterise it as humble. Our (Heenan, myself and co-thinkers) opinion was not  "... all just about the Linnean ranks (genus vs. subgenus) linked to lineage age".

Among other things it was also about the recognition of Nothofagaceae as distinct from (and not sister to) Fagus and the resulting situation of having perfectly good taxa named at subgenus rank instead of genus within a monogeneric family. No-one competent would create that de novo, it's a historical accident. Your disagreement is really about keeping an objectively inferior classification to avoid disruption. That's fine, it is a reasonable and defendable position, but I am entitled to hold (and publish) my view without it being misrepresented by you. By all means take issue with arguments Heenan and I actually made. Still, "There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

Rob



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