Nomenclatural problems with corrected orthography and possible solutions: the curious case of “Caloplaca L. B. Moorii” Zahlbr. (Teloschistaceae)

We review the nomenclatural history of the name published as “Caloplaca L. B. Moorii Zahlbr.”, based on a specimen collected in 1934 in Aotearoa / New Zealand by Ms. Lucy Beatrice Moore. Although validly published, the name was later unnecessarily replaced with the illegitimate name C. mooreae D.J. Galloway due to a misinterpretation of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature then in force. Based on Article 60 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN, Madrid Code), we examine some aspects of the orthographic treatment of personal names used in epithets. In this specific case, we consider various options for expansion of the personal names originally published as initials in epithets. We conclude that at least three corrected versions are equally possible under the current ICN, in particular, Caloplaca lucybeatricemooreae (but not ‘lucy-beatrice-mooreae’), C. lucyae-beatriceae-mooreae, and/or even C. luciae-beatricis-mooreae. However, due to the number of possible corrected versions, the authors favour resolution of the uncertainty with a proposal to conserve the illegitimate replacement name C. mooreae, which is in current use, against “Caloplaca L. B. Moorii Zahlbr.” and all its corrected variants. This will be prepared in due course.