(nomenclatural type) The single element (e.g. illustration, specimen, etc.) on which the description associated with the original publication of a name was based. The type of a taxon can be a * holotype , * lectotype , or * neotype , as appropriate. The nomenclatural type of a species or infraspecific taxon of a vascular plant is usually a * herbarium specimen , but some species are typified by an illustration or description, in the absence of herbarium material. The names of some lower plants are based on type cultures, where the type is a living specimen. The type of a genus or infrageneric taxon (i.e. subgenus, section, series, etc.) is a designated species, while that of a family, subfamily, or tribe is a genus. The type of an order is a family, for example, the family Rosaceae is the type of the order Rosales. Because of its importance, most type material is kept in different coloured folders, thereby enabling its rapid recovery in large collections. |
