Sarcodes Torrey 1853

Firstly described by Torrey (1853, p. 18, pl. 10), accepted by Wallace (1975). Distributed in Oregon, California and northern Mexico.
Confusion exist on the exact date of first publication. The Gray Card Index considers Torrey (1851) as the date of description, Index Kewensis states Torrey (1853). The 1851 publication is the printing of a talk held in August 1850 at New Haven, Conn., before the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Here, Sarcodes sanguinea is introduced by only 5 lines. It lacks a latin diagnosis but the comprehensive description is announced for Vol. III of the Smithsonian Contributions. A latin diagnosis is, according to §36.1 of the Vienna Code, only mandatory for description after the 1st of January 1935 (and can be replaced by an English description after 1st of January 1996, §36.3, although a latin diagnosis is recommended in 36A.1). On the other hand §29.1 states that publication of new names is not valid by communication at public meetings. However, the "Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science" is a publication organ accepted through §29.1 of the Code. Hence, there is good reason for both dates to be considered the first publication. Strictly spoken according to the Vienna Code the earlier date is valid (1851), but the sound information on that new species certainly is only in the later paper.