Isonym (taxonomy)

An isonym, in botanical taxonomy, is a name of a taxon that is identical to another designation, and based on the same type, but published at a different time by possibly different authors.^[1] Citation from that source follows:

When the same name, based on the same type, has been published independently at different times by different authors, then only the earliest of these "isonyms" has nomenclatural status. The name is always to be cited from its original place of valid publication, and later isonyms may be disregarded.

That is, the later isonyms are to be discarded (they are not botanical names), and only the first one is to be used, even though it may not be an accepted name. So the taxon name will be followed by the original authors' names.

An exception is made in article 14.5^[1] for family names that have been conserved; the place of publication listed for those names is considered to be correct and the name valid, even if an earlier publication of the same name is discovered.

References

1. "International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (Melbourne Code), Electronic version, Art. 6, Note 2". Retrieved 10 July 2013.