Critica Botanica

Critica Botanica is the title of a work by Carl Linnaeus, in which he explained the 210-324 aphorisms contained in Fundamenta Botanica in Chapters VII-X. He thus laid the foundations for the rules of modern biological nomenclature.

Work

The first and only edition was published in 1737 under the full title Critica botanica in qua nomina generica plantarum: specifica & variantia examini subjiciuntur, selectoria confirmantur, indigna rejiciuntur; simulque doctrina about denominationem plantarum traditur. Seu Fundamentorum botanicorum pars IV Accedit locust Browallii De necessitate historiae naturalis discursus in Leiden at Conrad Wishoff. [E 1]

The first edition is dedicated to a native of Germany and worked in England, botanist Johann Jacob Dillen. [E 2]

Content

In Fundamenta Botanica Linnaeus had of theses outlining his ideas for the transformation of the fundamentals of botany. The aphorisms contained in Chapters VII to X, 210-324, which deal with the naming of genera, species, varieties and synonyms are discussed in detail by him. In Genera Plantarum and Hortus Cliffortianus he put these rules a short time later to also practical.

Although Linnaeus primarily employed in Critica Botanica with the correct naming of plants, he turned the herein established rules also in his zoological and mineralogical works. Many of his principles have been incorporated into the resulting early 20th century rules for botanical and zoological nomenclature and thus have valid today.

Some examples of the principles established by Linnaeus:

Generic name - Nomina Generica

  • § 213 " All plants that belong to the same genus to refer to the same genus name. "
  • § 214 " All plants that belong to different genres to describe the different generic names. "
  • § 217 " If one and the same name was used to denote various kinds, he must give way at one point. "
  • § 230 " generic names of plants, which are also used in the nomenclature of zoology and mineralogy, must, if they have been selected by botanists later be returned to their original meaning. "
  • § 243 "If a generic name is appropriate, as it is not allowed to change it for a more suitable. "
  • § 244 "It should be marked no new generic name, as long as there are appropriate synonyms. "
  • § 247 "Greek genus name should be written with Latin letters. "
  • § 248 " The endings of generic names and their emphasis should be as simple as possible."
  • § 249 " generic names that are a mile long, difficult to pronounce or disgusting, must be avoided. "
  • § 251 " The same principles as for the genera apply to the names of classes and orders. "
  • § 255 " The name of a class or order should consist of a single word. "

Species names - nouns specifics

  • § 256 " A plant named completely if it is provided with a genus name and a species name. "
  • § 283 "One must exercise care can thus not a variety is mistaken for a type. "
  • § 284 " The genus name should be attached to any species of the genus. "
  • § 285 " The species name should always stand by the generic name. "
  • § 286 " A species name without generic name is like a bell without clapper. "

Names of varieties - nouns Variantia

  • § 306 "On the genus and species names can be a Varietätenname be added, if such is desirable. "
  • § 307 " genus, species and Varietätenname should be written with different sized letters. "
  • § 316 " cultivation, which is the mother of so many varieties, is also the best test for a variety. "
  • § 317 "The one who the varieties of the right kinds assigns proves no less service than the one who assigned the species to the correct species. "

Synonyms - Synonyms nouns

  • § 318 " Synonyms are other names that botanists have given the same plant, and can the species, the type or variety concern. "
  • § 322 " When quoting of synonyms of the author's name, the book and the page should always be attached to the end of the reference. "

Named in honor of persons

Numerous plant species named by Linnaeus people. He followed in the footsteps of Charles Plumier, who had called about two -thirds of the newly described species in honor of people in Nova Plantarum Genera Americanarum (1703).

Linnaeus also wanted to get through the selection of a person's name for the genus or species name of a plant at the same time the character of this person expressed. For example, he named the genus Browallia by Johan Browall. The name of the species Browallia demissa he chose to describe Browall as a teacher: fawning and soft. Browallia elata reflects the characteristics of Browall as Bishop resist: proud and tall. Browallia alienata describes his character as a politician. Fickle and unreliable [E 3]

Requirements

Reviews

  • New papers by learned things. Leipzig 1737, pp. 793-796
  • Nova Acta Eruditorum. Leipzig 1739, pp. 455 and 458
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