TAXONOMY CLASSIFICATION
Taxonomy
In 2019, a plant new species, Commelina bicolor D. Q. Wang & M. E. Cheng, was published from Anhui Province, China (Wang et al, 2019). However, the botanical specie name Commelina bicolor Poepp. ex Kunth had been published in 1843, which was published as a synonym ofTradescantia bicolor Kunth (Kunth, 1843). Commelina bicolor Poepp. ex Kunth was published with the genus name spelled asCommelyna (Kunth, 1843). Commelyna Dillen ex Endlicher was published in 1836 (Endlicher, 1836) and differs from Commelina L. published in 1753 (Linnaeus, 1753) only in spelling. According to Art. 61.4 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) (Turland et al. 2018), only Commelina L. (Govaerts, 1999) is correct currently.
In 1895, Tradescantia gracilis Kunth (Kunth, 1815) was listed as the heterotypic synonym of Tradescantia bicolor Kunth (Tradescantia bicolor Kunth = Tradescantia gracilis Kunth) (Hooker, 1895). In 1983, Tradescantia gracilis Kunth was revised as a synonym of Callisia gracilis (Kunth) D.R. Hunt (Hunt, 1983).
According to Art. 53.1 of ICN (Turland et al. 2018) which says, “A name of a family, genus, or species, unless conserved (Art. 14), protected (Art. F.2), or sanctioned (Art. F.3), is illegitimate if it is a later homonym, that is, if it is spelled exactly like a name based on a different type that was previously and validly published for a taxon at the same rank (see also Art. 53.3 and F.3.3).” In addition, in the note 2 of Art. 53.1 which says, “A validly published earlier homonym, even if illegitimate, rejected under Art. 56 or F.7, or otherwise generally treated as a synonym, causes rejection of any later homonym that is not conserved, protected, or sanctioned (but see Art. F.3.3).”.
Therefore, Commelina bicolor D. Q. Wang & M. E. Cheng is a later homonym, which is contrary to the Art. 53.1 of ICN. This species name is revised as follows:
安徽鸭跖草 Commelina anhuiensis R. Z. Huang & Han Xu, nom, nov. — 二色鸭跖草Commelina bicolor D. Q. Wang & M. E. Cheng in Journal of West Anhui University, 35(5): 71-73, Figure 4, 2019 non D. Q. Wang, Y. Y. Lu & L. Zhang W1406291 (holotype, PE).