Valid name (botany)

In botanical nomenclature, a valid name is a name that meets the requirements in the "ICBN" for valid publication. Valid publication of a name represents the minimum requirements for a botanical name to exist: therefore a botanical name inescapably is always valid. If a name is not validly published then it is not a botanical name. Thus an "invalid name" is not a botanical name: as far as the "ICBN" is concerned an invalid name has the same status as a common name, a vernacular name, etc. That is: it has no status.

Nevertheless invalid names are somewhat in use, this may occur when a taxonomists finds and recognises a taxon and thinks of a name, but delays in publishing this in an adequate manner. A common reason for this is that a taxonomist intends to write a "magnum opus" that provides an overview of the group he is working on, rather than a series of small papers. In practice this causes problems.

See also

* valid name (zoology)