Read & Philcox 1985 (Article)

Bull, you say?

Author(s):—R.W. Read & D.Philcox

Publication:—Taxon 34(2): 294. (1985)

Abstract:—Mr. William Bull offered "New Plants for 1874" as a full page advertisement in The Gardeners' Chronicle for January 17, 1874, wherein he "Begs to announce that he is now sending out the following novelties:--" Billbergia saundersii; Boronia megastigma; Campsidium filicifolium; Dracaena formosa; D. grandis; D. illustris; D. nigrostriata; D. picta; D. princeps, Dyckia lemaireana; Erythrina parcelii; Gymnogramma decomposita; Maranta concinna; Notonia grandiflora; and Plectocomia andersoni, each with a paragraph of validating description. We must regard this as equivalent to a catalog offering in full compliance with the ICBN. We cannot simply hope it will be forgotten, or disappear.
Article 29.1 of the ICBN (1983) allows that "Publication is effected, under this Code, only by distribution of printed matter (through sale, exchange, or gift) to the general public . . ." and Article 29.5 allows publication prior to 1 January 1953 "in tradesmen's catalogues or nonscientific newspapers, . . ." etc. Therefore, can there be any reason not to accept the publication of fourteen (14) names in an offering by Mr. William Bull of King's Road Chelsea, London? Only two names, to my knowledge, had prior publication. Six are cited in Index Kewensis as "Hort. ex" or "Hort. Bull." Since seven names were not found in Index Kewensis at all, and those that were have citations to publications subsequent to Mr. Bull's publication, it seemed advisable to bring this publication to the attention of the scientific community.
I don't believe the acceptance of these names will upset much nomenclature. For example, Erythrina parcelii Bull is no doubt E. picta of Linnaeus, a variegated form of E. indica commonly found in cultivation today. Dyckia lemaireana Bull establishes valid publication of a name listed as a nomen nudum by L. B. Smith and R. J. Downs in their monograph of the Bromeliaceae (1977). However, Bull's publication is the earliest valid publication of the name Billbergia saundersii. Although cited in Index Kewensis as Billbergia "Saundersii, Hort. Bull, ex Floral Mag. N.S. t. 106" the correct citation should read: "Bilbergia [sic] Saundersii hort. ex K Koch (Ed.), Wochenschr. Vereines Beford. Gartenbaues Konigl. Preuss. Staaten 12: 116. 1869. Nomen nudum.
Neotype: Plate 106 Floral Magazine n.s. 1874 (here designated).

Taxonomy:—Billbergia nobilis Validly described by William Bull in his List of New Plants in 1901, a horticultural catalogue. Considered a synonym of Billbergia porteana Brongn. ex Beer Neotype designated: Icon. in Bull, Cat. Plants 377: 5 (1904) (p.294).—Billbergia saundersii Neotype: Plate 106 Floral Magazine 1874 .