The Icones-Braem (Apparent) controversy, Ken; first, Guido Braem is quite right in, if I interpret correctly to his satisfaction (!) that expertise and authority are not the same. You mention Phil Cribb who, in the world I inhabit, is extremely well regarded. However, he is human and in the book he co-authored - The Manual of Cultivated Orchids - there are nomenclatural/taxonomic errors that I'd be embarrassed to have slipping through an editor's scrutiny. Peer review, in taxonomic matters, is notoriously problematical since there can be occasions when a peer reviewer, specialised enough in an authors taxonomic area, may not be available. In the small world of the taxonomy of some plant (or animal) groups a single person may be the only real expert.
and Guido; although I think you are right in being so assertive about your 'correct' viewpoint, I think you should take into account that we mortals in taxonomy, nomenclature and faith in authors need to converse and that we may sometimes be guilty of fuzzy language. You are probably far more used to the avoidance of ambiguity or misinterpretation as anyone familiar with the pitfalls of nomenclatural accuracy have to be. Most of the time, most of us, deal in shades of meaning. Most of the conversations in this forum aren't for 'publication' in the formal sense. You are right to correct us but do remember that we aren't all involved in professional research! That's why I, for one, am learning alot from what looks like a sparring match whether intended or not. I just fear the development of argument turning to a row and that would be no use to anyone. Cheers John ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 11:00 AM Subject: Orchids Digest, Vol 8, Issue 193 > Send Orchids mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Orchids digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. What controversy? (Prof. Dr. Braem) > 6. Re: The Guido-Icones controversies (icones) _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
