Lectotypy

Lectotypy is a process in biological nomenclature, particularly in the classification of plants and fungi, where a new type specimen is designated for a name that has been published without a type specimen. This is necessary to ensure that the name is stable and can be consistently applied to the same organism. The lectotype is chosen from among the specimens that were examined by the original author or were cited in the original publication. The designation of a lectotype is made by a competent authority, typically a botanist or mycologist, and is published in a scientific journal. Lectotypy is a common practice in taxonomy, especially for older names that lack a designated type specimen. It helps to clarify the application of names and prevents confusion in the scientific literature. The process of lectotypy is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), which provides guidelines for the designation of lectotypes and other typification procedures.