Outcomes of the 2011 Botanical Nomenclature Section at the XVIII International Botanical Congress

Abstract

e Nomenclature Section held just before the 18 th International Botanical Congress in Melbourne, Aus-tralia in July 2011 saw sweeping changes to the way scientists name new plants, algae, and fungi. e changes begin on the cover: the title was broadened to make explicit that the Code applies not only to plants, but also to algae and fungi. e new title will now be the International Code of Nomenclature of algae, fungi, and plants. For the rst time in history the Code will allow for the electronic publication of names of new taxa. In an eort to make the publication of new names more accurate and ecient, the requirement for a Latin validating diagnosis or description was changed to allow either English or Latin for these essential components of the publication of a new name. Both of these latter changes will take eect on 1 January 2012. e nomenclatural rules for fungi will see several important changes, the most important of which is probably the adoption of the principle of " one fungus, one name. " Paleobotanists will also see changes with the elimination of the concept of " morphotaxa " from the Code.