LES ORIGINES ET LES PRINCIPES DU DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA NOMENCLATURE BINAIRE EN BOTANIQUE

Summary The use of the binary nomenclature in botany, attributed to Linné, is deeply rooted as far back as in antiquity. Its beginning, principles and way of forming can be followed in the work of Theophrastos, enlarged later by Dioscorides and especially in the encyclopedian work of Plinius, in which the binary nomenclature is about 62%, certainly without genus or species concept. In the works of the above‐mentioned authors, one can recognize rudiments of the hierarchical arrangement of plant groups, antithetical keys in identifications, priority, indication of author names, antagonistic tendencies of splitting or lumping, separation of synonyms from the standardized names, as well as recognition of inadequate names.