Nomenclature Problems of the Applied Biologist

Abstract

AT a meeting of the Association of Applied Biologists on November 10 a discussion took place on practical problems of botanical and zoological nomenclature. Dr. J. Ramsbottom (Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History)), in opening the discussion, referred to the common but erroneous idea that systematists have as their main object the upsetting of established names. Paradoxical though it may seem, changes in scientific names are designed to achieve stability. The principle of priority is that the first validly published name for an organism is the one to be used. This principle is perfectly sound in theory, but its practical application is complicated by the fact that many names published in obscure journals are not rediscovered until years afterwards, when well-known names may have to be rejected in their favour.