14.1. In order to avoid disadvantageous nomenclatural changes entailed by the strict application of the rules, and especially of the principle of priority in starting from the dates given in Art. 13, this Code provides, in App. II, III and IV, lists of names of families, genera, and species that are conserved (nomina conservanda) (see Rec. 50E). Conserved names are legitimate even though initially they may have been illegitimate.
14.2. Conservation aims at retention of those names which best serve stability of nomenclature.
14.3. The application of both conserved and rejected names is determined by nomenclatural types. The type of the specific name cited as the type of a conserved generic name may, if desirable, be conserved and listed in App. III.
14.4. A conserved name of a family or genus is conserved against all other names in the same rank based on the same type (nomenclatural, i.e. homotypic, synonyms, which are to be rejected) whether or not these are cited in the corresponding list as rejected names, and against those names based on different types (taxonomic, i.e. heterotypic, synonyms) that are listed as rejected1. A conserved name of a species is conserved against all names listed as rejected, and against all combinations based on the rejected names.
14.5. When a conserved name competes with one or more names based on different types and against which it is not explicitly conserved, the earliest of the competing names is adopted in accordance with Art. 11, except for some conserved family names (App. IIB), which are conserved against unlisted names.
14.6. When a name of a taxon has been conserved against an earlier name based on a different type, the latter is to be restored, subject to Art. 11, if it is considered the name of a taxon at the same rank distinct from that of the nomen conservandum, except when the earlier rejected name is a homonym of the conserved name.
14.7. A rejected name, or a combination based on a rejected name, may not be restored for a taxon that includes the type of the corresponding conserved name.
14.8. The listed type of a conserved name may not be changed except by the procedure outlined in Art. 14.12.
14.9. A name may be conserved with a different type from that designated by the author or determined by application of the Code (see also Art. 10.4). Such a name may be conserved either from its place of valid publication (even though the type may not then have been included in the named taxon) or from a later publication by an author who did include the type as conserved. In the latter case the original name and the name as conserved are treated as if they were homonyms (Art. 53), whether or not the name as conserved was accompanied by a description or diagnosis of the taxon named.
14.10. A conserved name, with any corresponding autonym, is conserved against all earlier homonyms. An earlier homonym of a conserved name is not made illegitimate by that conservation but is unavailable for use; if not otherwise illegitimate, it may serve as basionym of another name or combination based on the same type (see also Art. 55.3).
14.11. A name may be conserved in order to preserve a particular spelling or gender. A name so conserved is to be attributed without change of priority to the author who validly published it, not to an author who later introduced the conserved spelling or gender.
14.12. The lists of conserved names will remain permanently open for additions and changes. Any proposal of an additional name must be accompanied by a detailed statement of the cases both for and against its conservation. Such proposals must be submitted to the General Committee (see Div. III), which will refer them for examination to the committees for the various taxonomic groups.
14.13. Entries of conserved names may not be deleted.
14.14. When a proposal for the conservation of a name, or of its rejection under Art. 56, has been approved by the General Committee after study by the Committee for the taxonomic group concerned, retention (or rejection) of that name is authorized subject to the decision of a later International Botanical Congress.
14A.1. When a proposal for the conservation of a name, or of its rejection under Art. 56, has been referred to the appropriate Committee for study, authors should follow existing usage of names as far as possible pending the General Committee's recommendation on the proposal.
(c) 2006, by International Association for Plant Taxonomy. This page last updated 12.03.2007 .