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the division Ferns (Pteridophta) / the division Pteridophta (ferns)

English translation: the division Pteridophyta (ferns)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:the division Ferns (Pteridophta) / the division Pteridophta (ferns)
Selected answer:the division Pteridophyta (ferns)
Entered by: Charles Davis

11:11 Jun 1, 2011
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Botany / taxonomy
English term or phrase: the division Ferns (Pteridophta) / the division Pteridophta (ferns)
It is correct, in academic texts, to use the English name (capitsalised?) of the taxonomic unit in cases such as this one - or do I have to use the Latin (treating English equivalents as common names only and optionally adding them for clarification, if at all)?
The Latin option googles so much better that I'm actually surprised, so I thought maybe someone here is aware of a rule governing this...
Piotr Czyżewski
Poland
Local time: 00:16
the Division Pteridophta (ferns)
Explanation:
It should be like this, using the Latin name, and optionally adding "ferns" afterwards as an explanation. Botanists use the word "Division" instead of "Phylum". "Division" is normally capitalised. The Latin name should not be in italics (only genus and species are capitalised).

See here for examples:

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio106/mosses.htm

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Note added at 19 mins (2011-06-01 11:30:18 GMT)
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I'm very sorry, but I forgot to correct an error in the question: this Division is called Pteridophyta, not Pteridophta.

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Note added at 22 mins (2011-06-01 11:33:41 GMT)
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Another error in my explanation: I meant to say that only genus and species are italicised, not capitalised.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2011-06-01 11:39:31 GMT)
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The fundamental reason why it must be this way round is that the name of this Division is "Pteridophyta", not "ferns". Divisions (like other taxa) have Latin names.

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Note added at 34 mins (2011-06-01 11:45:41 GMT)
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Yet another note, I'm afraid; despite what I said above, I don't think it's true to say that the word "Division" is normally capitalised; it is sometimes, but not usually. So the answer will be: "the division Pteridophyta", followed by "(ferns)" if required.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 00:16
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +5the Division Pteridophta (ferns)
Charles Davis


  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
the division ferns (pteridophta) / the division pteridophta (ferns)
the Division Pteridophta (ferns)


Explanation:
It should be like this, using the Latin name, and optionally adding "ferns" afterwards as an explanation. Botanists use the word "Division" instead of "Phylum". "Division" is normally capitalised. The Latin name should not be in italics (only genus and species are capitalised).

See here for examples:

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio106/mosses.htm

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2011-06-01 11:30:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I'm very sorry, but I forgot to correct an error in the question: this Division is called Pteridophyta, not Pteridophta.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2011-06-01 11:33:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another error in my explanation: I meant to say that only genus and species are italicised, not capitalised.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2011-06-01 11:39:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The fundamental reason why it must be this way round is that the name of this Division is "Pteridophyta", not "ferns". Divisions (like other taxa) have Latin names.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 34 mins (2011-06-01 11:45:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yet another note, I'm afraid; despite what I said above, I don't think it's true to say that the word "Division" is normally capitalised; it is sometimes, but not usually. So the answer will be: "the division Pteridophyta", followed by "(ferns)" if required.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 00:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claudia Luque Bedregal
31 mins
  -> ¡Gracias, Claudia!
agree  Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães
1 hr
  -> Thanks, fvasconcellos!
agree  Jack Doughty
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Jack!
agree  Lourdes Sanchez
5 hrs
  -> ¡Gracias, Lourdes!
agree  Phong Le
11 hrs
  -> Thanks, Phong Le :)
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