In
taxonomy, a ''nomen nudum'' ('naked name'; plural ''nomina nuda'') is a designation which looks exactly like a
scientific name
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bo ...
of an organism, and may have originally been intended to be one, but it has not been published with an adequate description. This makes it a "bare" or "naked" name, which cannot be accepted as it stands. A largely equivalent but much less frequently used term is ''nomen tantum'' ("name only").
In zoology
According to the rules of zoological nomenclature a ''nomen nudum'' is
unavailable; the glossary of the ''
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals. It is also informally known as the ICZN Code, for its publisher, the I ...
'' gives this definition:
And among the rules of that same Zoological Code:
In botany
According to the rules of botanical nomenclature a ''nomen nudum'' is not
validly published. The glossary of the ''
'' gives this definition:
The requirements for the diagnosis or description are covered by articles 32, 36, 41, 42, and 44.
[
''Nomina nuda'' that were published before 1 January 1959 can be used to establish a ]cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...
name. For example, ''Veronica sutherlandii'', a ''nomen nudum'', has been used as the basis for '' Hebe pinguifolia'' 'Sutherlandii'.[ Article 21.6]
See also
* Glossary of scientific naming
This is a list of terms and symbols used in scientific names for organisms, and in describing the names. For proper parts of the names themselves, see List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names. Note that many of the abbrevi ...
* ''Nomen dubium
In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application.
Zoology
In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...
''
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nomen Nudum
Botanical nomenclature
Zoological nomenclature
Latin biological phrases