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Until mid-1970s, cyanobacteria have been interpreted as algae despite they differed from other members of this taxonomic group by the absence of cell nucleus (that is currently considered among the characters of prokaryotic organization). However, when bacteria were interpreted as prokaryotes, blue-green algae became reattributed as cyanobacteria, and bacteriologists began to study their cultured strains with microbiology methods. But since these objects did not obey the provisions of bacteriological code (ICNB), development of their taxonomy had certain problems, especially regarding nomenclature, that could not be solved until early-2010s. Current changes in taxonomy of cyanobacteria result from the general progress in taxonomy of prokaryotes due to explosive accumulation of 16S rRNA gene sequencing data, particularly for uncultured objects. Advances in description of new cyanobacteral taxa are as follows: (I) based on polyphasic approach, new taxa ranging from species to order were published; (II) "dark" cyanobacteria demonstrating several types of non-photosynthetic metabolism were described; I(II) strains producing red-shifted chlorophylls d and f were published. Advances in nomenclature of cyanobacteria are: (IV) taxa validly published according to botanical code (ICN) are also considered valid under prokaryotic code (ICNP); (V) the category of phylum was introduced into ICNP, and due to valid publication of the type genus Cyanobacterium, phylum name Cyanobacteriota became legitimate; (VI) names of uncultured Candidatus objects could get a standing in nomenclature based on SeqCode in which type material is represented by genomic DNA sequences. Advances in classification of cyanobacteria are: (VII) evolutionary tree of oxygenic phototrophs and related phylotypes was construed; (VIII) phylogenomic system of orders and families was elaborated; (IX) ecogenomic system combining genomie analysis with genome distribution data was offered. A subject for future research is restriction of taxonomic redundancy in cyanobacteria, and further attempts to establish their species concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unambiguous application of fungal names is important to communicate scientific findings. Names are critical for (clinical) diagnostics, legal compliance, and regulatory controls, such as biosafety, food security, quarantine regulations, and industrial applications. Consequently, the stability of the taxonomic system and the traceability of nomenclatural changes is crucial for a broad range of users and taxonomists. The unambiguous application of names is assured by the preservation of nomenclatural history and the physical organisms representing a name. Fungi are extremely diverse in terms of ecology, lifestyle, and methods of study. Predominantly unicellular fungi known as yeasts are usually investigated as living cultures. Methods to characterize yeasts include physiological (growth) tests and experiments to induce a sexual morph; both methods require viable cultures. Thus, the preservation and availability of viable reference cultures are important, and cultures representing reference material are cited in species descriptions. Historical surveys revealed drawbacks and inconsistencies between past practices and modern requirements as stated in the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICNafp). Improper typification of yeasts is a common problem, resulting in a large number invalid yeast species names. With this opinion letter, we address the problem that culturable microorganisms, notably some fungi and algae, require specific provisions under the ICNafp. We use yeasts as a prominent example of fungi known from cultures. But viable type material is important not only for yeasts, but also for other cultivable Fungi that are characterized by particular morphological structures (a specific type of spores), growth properties, and secondary metabolites. We summarize potential proposals which, in our opinion, will improve the stability of fungal names, in particular by protecting those names for which the reference material can be traced back to the original isolate.

We present the catalog of type specimens Mammal´s Collection of the Instituto Humboldt (IAvH-M). This includes three paratypes and a neotype which represent four nominal species. Corrections, additions, and information updating the original descriptions are incorporated for each nominal species. A photo gallery of the types is presented. An electronic version of this catalog with the originals photography in high definition is available at http://colecciones.humboldt.org.co/especimenes-tipo/catalogomamiferos/

The names Arenaria mattfeldii, A. pallens, A. peruviana, A. pintaudii, and A. stuebelii (Caryophyllaceae, Arenarieae) from Peru and Bolivia were studied and neotypified based on specimens preserved at B and P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thorough research on the scientific activity of Guglielmo Gasparrini, Giovanni Gussone and Augustin Pyramus De Candolle allowed the authors to adress a research in several European herbaria looking for the type of the name Senecio pygmaeus DC. The original specimen sent by Gussone and mentioned in the protologue by Candolle is still kept at G-DC and is designated as the lectotype, whilst three other herbarium sheets, preserved at NAP-GUSS, PAL and PAV herbaria respectively, in all probability belong to the same gathering, and are considered as isolectotypes. The authors provide an updated description of this taxon in order to better point out its diagnostic characters. However, further biosystematic and phytogeographic surveys are needed to ascertain the taxonomic value and the distribution range of S. pygmaeus. Indeed, it might represent just a dwarfed, salt-tolerant ecotype of S. leucanthemifolius Poir. or S. vulgaris L., hence be more widespread than previously reported, counting numerous scattered populations along the rocky shores of central and eastern Mediterranean countries.

ABSTRACT The unambiguous application of fungal names is important to communicate scientific findings. Names are critical for (clinical) diagnostics, legal compliance, and regulatory controls, such as biosafety, food security, quarantine regulations, and industrial applications. Consequently, the stability of the taxonomic system and the traceability of nomenclatural changes is crucial for a broad range of users and taxonomists. The unambiguous application of names is assured by the preservation of nomenclatural history and the physical organisms representing a name. Fungi are extremely diverse in terms of ecology, lifestyle, and methods of study. Predominantly unicellular fungi known as yeasts are usually investigated as living cultures. Methods to characterize yeasts include physiological (growth) tests and experiments to induce a sexual morph; both methods require viable cultures. Thus, the preservation and availability of viable reference cultures are important, and cultures representing reference material are cited in species descriptions. Historical surveys revealed drawbacks and inconsistencies between past practices and modern requirements as stated in the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICNafp). Improper typification of yeasts is a common problem, resulting in a large number invalid yeast species names. With this opinion letter, we address the problem that culturable microorganisms, notably some fungi and algae, require specific provisions under the ICNafp. We use yeasts as a prominent example of fungi known from cultures. But viable type material is important not only for yeasts, but also for other cultivable Fungi that are characterized by particular morphological structures (a specific type of spores), growth properties, and secondary metabolites. We summarize potential proposals which, in our opinion, will improve the stability of fungal names, in particular by protecting those names for which the reference material can be traced back to the original isolate.

Many unnamed fungi have been revealed from DNA sequences but cannot be formally named due to a lack of physical materials required for the description of a taxon by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. While the mycological community generally discusses the necessity to amend the code to permit DNA sequence data as the nomenclatural type of these fungal 'dark taxa' (FDT), the standard of DNA sequences is mainly in debate. Here, I suggest to set an approximate fifteen years transition period. During that time, it is recommended to sequence the whole genomes of all known species and newly published species with available physical materials; meanwhile, the FDT can be provisionally named with priority using whole genome data as the type. After the transition period, these provisionally named FDT will become valid, provided no known species from physical materials with a priority can be proved to be conspecific. Moreover, in this new era of fungal taxonomy when the whole genome data will be commonly used as the crucial evidence to delimit fungal species, new taxa should be named along with the deposition of whole genome sequences in public databases, and the whole genome data may be the type of the FDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of revision and arrangement of the Thymus L. (Lamiaceae Martinov) genus collection in the assets of herbarium of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (CWU). At critical study of herbarium specimens and protologues a number of type and original specimens of 15 taxa which were revealed and proposed by Thymus monographs M.V. Klokov and N.O. Desjatova-Shostenko: Thymus armeniacus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. borysthenicus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. daghe­stanicus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. dimorphus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. dimorphus [without rank] steppaceus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. dimorphus Klokov & Des.-Shost.  Th. marschallianus Willd., Th. dubjanskyi Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. eltonicus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. kirgisorum var. creticola Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. migricus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. mugodzharicus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. pseudograniticus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. pulegioides subsp. ucrainicus Klokov & Des.-Shost., Th. tschernjajevii Klokov & Des.-Shost., and Th. ziaratinus Klokov & Des.-Shost. At present, this material includes one lectotype, two isolectotypes, 40 syntypes, 16 isosyntypes, five paratypes, three isoparatypes, and two original specimens. In the provided annotated list of type and original specimens, each taxon is presented with an indication of its Latin name with nomenclatural citation, main synonyms, basic taxonomic literature, information from protologue, nomenclatural type and place of its storage, as well as critical notes on previous typifications and/or individual specimens.

The name Cleome heptaphylla was published by Linnaeus in the second edition of Species plantarum and is still untypified. Analysis of the protologue and the associated pre‐Linnaean names indicated the absence of original material that could serve for lectotypification. A specimen from Miller's herbarium at BM is designated as its neotype. The neotype of C. heptaphylla is also original material of C. erucago, another untypified name in this group, published a few years later by Miller. Cleome erucago is lectotypified using the same specimen and, as such, it is a homotypic synonym of C. heptaphylla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN) was prepared by the Steering Committee of the IAVS Working Group for Phytosociological Nomenclature (GPN). The edition consists of 14 Definitions, 7 Principles, 53 Articles, and 7 Appendices. When compared with the previous edition, the main amendments are: (a) the acceptance of electronic publications (Art. 1); (b) the introduction of binding decisions (Definition XIV, Principle II, Articles 1, 2b, 3c, 29b, 40, 42, 44, Appendices 6 and 7); (c) the mandatory use of the English or Latin terminology for syntaxonomic novelties (Definition II, Principle II, Articles 3d and 3i); (d) the introduction of autonyms for the main ranks when the corresponding secondary ranks are created (Articles 13b and 24); (e) the automatic correction of the taxon names (name‐giving taxa) used in the names of syntaxa in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) (Article 44); (f) the possibility to mutate the name of a syntaxon in using other correct, alternative names for the name‐giving taxa (Article 45); (g) the introduction of inadequate names, a new category of rejected names (Definition V, Articles 43 through 45); and (h) the introduction of a conserved type (Definition XIII, Article 53). The fourth edition of ICPN was approved by the GPN on 25 May 2019 and becomes effectively binding on 1 January 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to an influential twentieth‐century narrative, Linnaeus's taxonomic endeavors rested on a suspect metaphysical basis of "typological thinking" or "essentialism". Since the beginning of this century, historians and philosophers have shown that this narrative is deeply problematic and fails to be supported by the close study of Linnaeus's actual taxonomic principles and practices. Magnus Lidén has recently argued in Taxon that this revisionist literature on Linnaeus nevertheless preserves a residue of unwarranted attributions of typological thinking aimed at Linnaeus. I argue that this is incorrect and contend that Lidén misinterprets the recent literature on the history of "type concepts" in taxonomy, which has nothing to do with typological thinking. With this article, I hope to show that the historiography of taxonomy is helped, not hindered, by enquiring into Linnaeus's use of certain type concepts and his unfamiliarity with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fears expressed by Santos et al. (2016) that description of typeless species (new species described based on field photographs) can be fatal for the practice of taxonomy which will succumb to an uncontrollable stream of "species of questionable delimitation" are, in our opinion, exaggerated. The Code already protects taxonomic practice from subjectivity quite well by limiting opportunities for descriptions of new species based on field photos by rigid requirements, and only skilled taxonomists with extensive knowledge of a group are capable of fulfilling them. If a taxonomist has omitted to compare the new typeless species with the known species externally similar to it, the latter cannot be diagnosed and its name in that case becomes nomen nudum. Typeless species can coincide with species described earlier, but can represent a new species differing in internal features. To describe typeless species without infringement of Article 13.1 a taxonomist should compare this species to all related and similar species described earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The names Arenariamattfeldii , A.pallens , A.peruviana , A.pintaudii , and A.stuebelii (Caryophyllaceae, Arenarieae) from Peru and Bolivia were studied and neotypified based on specimens preserved at B and P., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Daniel B. Montesinos-Tubée, Duilio Iamonico.)

Encyonema leibleinii and E. lacustre were among the first species of Encyonema to be described, in 1830 and 1824, respectively. Until now, however, only light microscopic features (and SEM of non-type material for E. lacustre) of these species have been documented. Here, we provide ultrastructural (scanning electron micrograph) characterization of their type material. We find that the SEM , as well as LM, features of E. leibleiniiare indistinguishable from those of E. prostratum and E. paradoxum. Consequently, the results support the synonomization of the three taxa, with E. leibleinii having priority as the first name applied to this entity. Encyonema leibleinii and E. lacustre have similar ultrastructural characteristics, mainly concerning the internal stria structure, and the terminal and central raphe fissures. Based on this information and SEM characterizations in the literature, ultrastructural features of the genus Encyonema are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last fifteen years, genomics has become fully integrated into prokaryotic systematics. The genomes of most type strains have been sequenced, genome sequence similarity is widely used for delineation of species, and phylogenomic methods are commonly used for classification of higher taxonomic ranks. Additionally, environmental genomics has revealed a vast diversity of as-yet-uncultivated taxa. In response to these developments, a new code of nomenclature, the Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data (SeqCode), has been developed over the last two years to allow naming of Archaea and Bacteria using DNA sequences as the nomenclatural types. The SeqCode also allows naming of cultured organisms, including fastidious prokaryotes that cannot be deposited into culture collections. Several simplifications relative to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) are implemented to make nomenclature more accessible, easier to apply and more readily communicated. By simplifying nomenclature with the goal of a unified classification, inclusive of both cultured and uncultured taxa, the SeqCode will facilitate the naming of taxa in every biome on Earth, encourage the isolation and characterization of as-yet-uncultivated taxa, and promote synergies between the ecological, environmental, physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological disciplines to more fully describe prokaryotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Sarcococca longipetiolata" was not validly published by Cheng (1979) because two gatherings were simultaneously indicated as type, the flowering material using Latin and Chinese and the fruiting material using Chinese alone (contrary to the requirements of Art. 40). "Sarcococca longipetiolata M.Cheng" was not validly published by Li (2009) because the type indicated was a lectotype in conflict with Art. 40.6 (and not correctable; Art. 9.9 Note 6). The name Sarcococca longipetiolata is validated here by indicating a single gathering as the holotype. Given the requirements of Art. 40 of the ICN, researchers and editors need to make sure that type indications made in Latin and a modern language refer to the same gathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since January 1, 2001, the only acceptable nomenclatural type for species under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) has been pure cultures. Here, we argue that this requirement is discordant with the more inclusive nature of nomenclatural types accepted under other codes of nomenclature and posit that the unique rigidity of the ICNP has failed to serve the broad research community and has stifled progress. This case is based on the axiom that many archaea and bacteria are interdependent in nature and therefore difficult, if not impossible, to grow, preserve, and distribute as pure cultures. As such, a large proportion of Earth's biodiversity cannot be named under the current system, which limits our ability to communicate about microbial diversity within and beyond the microbiology research community. Genome sequence data are now encouraged for valid publication of new taxa in microbial systematics journals, and metagenome-assembled genomes and single cell-amplified genomes are being generated rapidly from every biome on Earth. Thus, genome sequences are available for both cultivated and uncultivated microorganisms and can readily serve as a new category of nomenclatural type, allowing for a unified nomenclature for all archaea and bacteria, whether or not they are available as pure cultures. Ideally this would be under a single code of nomenclature but, as we review here, the newly established SeqCode will operate in parallel with the ICNP as a first step toward this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes has held an electronic discussion on proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes in order to allow the use of gene sequence data as type. The scientific discussion is reported. Subsequently members of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes voted on these proposals, which were rejected.

Rule 29 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes caters for the situation where a new genus containing a single species may have a combined description. However, Rule 29 does not clearly state how this is to be implemented with regard to Rules 16 and 27.

Currently, the description of taxa designated Candidatus requires gene sequences and other taxonomically relevant available information in the absence of an isolated pure culture, and Candidatus names are provisional, i.e. without formal standing in nomenclature. If gene sequences are accepted as suitable type material for the description of prokaryotic species, many taxa designated Candidatus would fulfil all the requirements in the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes for priority. Here we propose that upon acceptance of sequence data as type material, all Candidatus names published before 1 January 2020 which are otherwise in accordance with the rules of the Code will have their priority based upon their date of publication in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, either within a paper, a list of names of Candidatus taxa, or a Validation List, unless a synonymous name already exists based upon deposition of type cultures. We further propose that modifications of the superscript 'T' be used to identify the nomenclatural types. If the type material is a culture, the superscript 'T' will continue to be used. If the type material is a sequence, the superscript 'Ts' will be used. If the type material is some other form of description, the superscript 'Td' will be used.

The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes currently caters for the names of ranks from class to subspecies. The form of names and their typification is dealt with under Rules 7-22. The nature of names at different ranks has a direct influence on the structure of the Code. However, with minor changes it is possible to simplify the structure and the links between names and their nomenclatural types, even if the proposed solution may cause some changes that create a degree of upheaval in the short term.

Some have concluded that Sarcococca longipetiolata M.Cheng was not validly published in the 1979 publication where it was originally proposed because, even though only one gathering (Gao 53542) was cited as type in English, two gatherings (Gao 53542, Gao 54811) were indicated as types in Chinese, contrary to Art. 40. However, based on further evaluation of Cheng's trilingual (Chinese, English, Latin) protologue, it is concluded that the Chinese and English portions indicate the same thing, namely, two specimens from two gatherings were cited, with only one (Gao 53542) being given as the type. Therefore, S. longipetiolata M.Cheng was validly published in 1979. A lectotype for S. longipetiolata is designated using one of the two specimens at I BSC from the Gao 53542 gathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]