Formal proposals

There are two kinds of formal proposals.

Proposals to amend the Code

Proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants relating specifically to fungi are dealt with by the Fungal Nomenclature Session (FNS) of an International Mycological Congress. Such proposals are published in the journal IMAFungus. The proposals to amend Chapter F that will be considered at the IMC12 FNS are made available here in advance of publication.

• May TW, Hawksworth DL (2024) Proposals for consideration at IMC12 to modify provisions related solely to fungi in Chapter F of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. IMA Fungus in press. 

A Synopsis of the proposals is prepared by the Secretaries of the Fungal Nomenclature Bureau and also published in IMA Fungus. The Synopsis of the published proposals to be considered at the IMC12 FNS is made available here in advance of publication.

• May TW, Bensch K (2024) Synopsis of proposals on fungal nomenclature: a review of the proposals concerning Chapter F of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants submitted to the XII International Mycological Congress, 2024. IMA Fungus in press. 

There is a Guiding Vote on the formal proposals prior to the FNS.

Proposals to conserve or reject names

Proposals to conserve, protect or reject names of fungi, along with requests for binding decisions (such as on the confusability of names) are dealt with by permanent nomenclature committees that report to the General Committee on Nomenclature. Proposals to conserve or reject names of fungi and requests for binding decisions are published in the journal Taxon, while proposals to protect or reject names of fungi (in lists) are published in the journal IMA Fungus. Proposals relating to fungi are considered by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi. Reports of the NCF are published in Taxon and IMA Fungus, at least once a year. Reports of the General Committee are also published in Taxon. Decisions of the NCF and the General Committee are ultimately ratified by the Nomenclature Section of an International Botanical Congress. Names approved for conservation, protection or rejection are listed in Appendices to the Code.

Proposals on nomenclature published in Taxon and IMA Fungus are all open access.

Pdfs of proposals to conserve or reject names of fungi (complete from 2009) are stored here. 

Pdfs of requests for binding decisions, relating to names of fungi, are stored here.

Pdfs of lists of fungi submitted for protection or rejection, produced by working groups, are provided on the ICTF website.

Recent reports of the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi are:

• May TW (2017) Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi – 20. IMA Fungus 8: 189–203 / Taxon 66: 483–495.
• May TW (2017) Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi – 21: lists from working groups. IMA Fungus 8: 205–210 / Taxon 66: 496–499.
• May TW, Lendemer JC (2023) Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi 22. Taxon 72: 1356–1363.
• May TW (2024a) Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi 23. Taxon 73: 281–286.
• May TW (2024b) Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi 24. Taxon 73: 622–630.

Reports of the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (from 1988) are stored here.