ARS | Publication request: Superconservation proposal to conserve Amaryllidaceae( 1805)over Alliaceae(1797)

Submitted to: Taxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 3, 2007
Publication Date: February 14, 2008
Citation: Meerow, A.W., Reveal, J.L., Snijman, D.A., Dutilh, J.H. Superconservation proposal to conserve Amaryllidaceae( 1805)over Alliaceae(1797). Taxon 56: 1299-1300. 2007.

Interpretive Summary: The name Alliaceae has nomenclatural priority over Amaryllidaceae if the two families are treated as one. Amaryllidaceae have long enjoyed name recognition, especially in the horticultural world. We believe that the superconservation of the name Amaryllidaceae will, on the long run, better serve the interest of the users of plant classification, and greatly educe nomenclatural confusion when that family is broadly defined.

Technical Abstract: The name Alliaceae has nomenclatural priority over Amaryllidaceae if the two families are treated as one. We propose that superconservation notes be added to App. IIB of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature to allow use of Amaryllidaceae (1805) instead of the earlier Alliaceae (1797) when the two families are combined. Amaryllidaceae have long enjoyed name recognition, especially in the horticultural world. We believe that nomenclatural stability is best served by superconserving Amaryllidaceae over Alliaceae for those who prefer to recognize a single family.