THE TWO ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS OF NOMENCLATURE PROPOSED AND USED FOR ORCHIDS BY DU PETIT‐THOUARS, WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO CORYMBORKIS THOUARS

Summary The principles of botanical nomenclature proposed by Thouars in his works on orchids are reviewed. Throughout these works Thouars rather consistently coined names according to his own principles, as alternatives to names in accordance with traditional nomenclature. The alternative specific names were used as binary combinations and can be accepted under the present rules of botanical nomenclature. For this reason they must be taken into consideration in cases where the traditionally formed names have earlier homonyms. It is shown that O. Kuntze's interpretation of Thouars' nomenclature is erroneous.