[Taxacom] A small nomenclatural detail?

[Paul van Rijckevorsel]

From: <Tony.Rees at csiro.au>
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 1:36 AM
[...]
>  Prunus dulcis Mill. ex D.A. Webb   - expressing that Webb's 
> work is the first valid publication of Miller's name, previously
> not validly published.

***
That would be correct, except that it is a little odd to describe this
as "Miller's name".
* * *

> On the other hand if the intention was simply to refer to a new 
> combination (change in genus placement) or change of rank, 
> Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb would be the correct 
> orthography (probably what is intended here).

***
Just about. As Prunus dulcis is a combination based on 
Amygdalus dulcis Mill. (1768) that is indeed the intent here.
However, orthography means spelling of the name and refers
to "Prunus dulcis", not to the author citation. 

Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D.A.Webb would, under pre-1972 versions
of the Code, refer to a name validly published by Webb inspired
by a pre-1753 publication of Miller. 

Using this for a new combination is not to be discouraged, but is 
disallowed (Art. 49.1) and has been disallowed since the 
Cambridge Code (so, for some eighty years, or to put it 
differently, for as long as there have been validly published 
names, historically, that is, not nomenclaturally).

Paul