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Why can some plant names continue to be used in violation of the rules?
Scientific nomenclature plays a vital role in biology, especially in the field of botany. For the naming and preservation of plant names, the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICN) provides a clear framework designed to ensure the consistency and stability of names. However, some plant names are still retained despite violating naming conventions, which makes us wonder: Why is this happening?
Definition of name protection
The so-called "nomen conservandum" (nomen conservandum) means that certain scientific names receive specific naming protection. Even if these names violate certain requirements of the specification, they can still be used legally. This allows them to continue to operate within academia and environmental work, avoiding name changes due to strict application of norms.
"The purpose of naming protection is to avoid adverse naming changes caused by strict enforcement of specifications."
Process of protecting plant names
According to Article 14 of the ICN, the protection procedure for plant nomenclature is designed to ensure that the innovation of scientists will not be affected by minor problems. The scope of protection covers the family level, genus level and species level. Therefore, these names can be preserved to some extent by modifying spelling, type, or precedence.
Spelling protection
Sometimes, when the name is generally accepted, a protected spelling may be used, such as Euonymus instead of Evonymus, even if the original spelling is incorrect. This type of spelling protection allows users of the name to avoid unnecessary confusion and controversy.
Type protection
When a type name is found to incorrectly describe a category, safeguards can be put in place to ensure that the name is not unnecessarily renamed. Such a measure not only protects the continuity of the name and does not cause confusion for users, but also protects the name used in horticulture and ecology.
Named rejection
In addition to protecting certain names, ICN can also reject certain names entirely, known as "nomen rejiciendum" (nomen rejiciendum). This means that the use of these names is no longer permitted, thereby avoiding overlap with protected names. This rule applies to any grade of name.
"The specific measures of rejection are to further simplify the use of names and avoid naming confusion."
Impact of naming protection
Protected names generally have higher priority in academia and are supported by priority decisions. In the face of competition for the same scientific name, the protected name will be regarded as the original name and can continue to be used.
Document processing
All protected and rejected names are recorded in the ICN appendices. These documents make it easy for botanists to find and update the status of names. This will continue to achieve a global consensus on these names and promote academic exchanges and research.
Programmatic confirmation
The procedure for name protection relies on proposals, usually initiated by the relevant journal. Each proposal is subject to consideration of reasons for protection and rejection, and after discussion and review, the relevant committee decides whether to recommend protection of the name. This series of procedures ensures the trust of the scientific community in the name.
Zoological protected names
In zoology, the definitions of "name protection" are slightly different, but the basic principles are the same. The conservation process for animal names ensures consistency of names through the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). This convention allows scientists to still use widely accepted names, such as the dinosaur genus Pachycephalosaurus, rather than other scientific names that are ignored.
"Through ICZN, scientists can maintain a more stable use of names and promote the effective operation of research."
In short, the naming protection system for plants and animals allows certain names to transcend regulatory restrictions and continue to be widely used. This system is not only a need for scientific naming, but also the cornerstone of scientific exchange and cooperation. Now that we understand the principles behind these operations, we can't help but ask: How will the stability of names affect our understanding of biodiversity in future scientific research?
