Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 71(Suppl. 2):53-85. 2019 53 doi: 10.26492/gbs71(suppl. 2).2019-07 G.C. Oeder’s conflict with Linnaeus and the implementation of taxonomic and nomenclatural ideas in the monumental Flora Danica project (1761–1883) I. Friis Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK–2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
[email protected] ABSTRACT. Hitherto unpublished parts of the history of the Icones … Florae Danicae (1761–1883), one of the largest illustrated botanical works published, are analysed; it covered the entire flora of the double monarchy of Denmark–Norway, Schleswig and Holstein and the North Atlantic dependencies. A study of the little noticed taxonomic and nomenclatural principles behind the Icones is presented. G.C. Oeder, founder of the project, approved the ideas of Buffon and Haller and rejected Linnaean binary nomenclature because of its lack of stability of genera. In the Icones …, Oeder cited all names used for each plant in chronological order, with the binary Linnaean name last, to which principle Linnaeus reacted. By the end of the 18th century, Linnaean nomenclature had become standard, apart from in Flora Danica and a very few other botanical works. Applying Linnaean nomenclature elsewhere, O.F. Müller, editor 1775–1782, and M. Vahl, editor 1787–1799, followed Oeder’s norm in the Icones. J.W. Hornemann, editor 1810–1840, followed Oeder in his first fascicles, but began experimenting with changes towards Linnaean nomenclature from 1810. After 1840, subsequent editors consistently applied Linnaean principles for accepted names and synonyms. Keywords. Accepted names, genera, natural classification, species, synonymy Introduction In his excellent monograph on how the Linnaean reforms gained general acceptance among botanists, Stafleu (1971: 260) specifically stated that he left out a discussion of C.G.