Abstract: Two morphotaxa of ginkgoalean fossil plants from China bear illegitimate specific names, viz. Sphenobaiera biloba S. N. Feng (1977) and S. rugata Z. Q. Wang (Dec. 1984), that are heterotypic later homonyms of S. biloba Prynada (1938) and S.? rugata Z. Y. Zhou (Mar. 1984) respectively. Under Art. 53.1 and 7.3 of the Vienna Code, new specific names are proposed to supersede these illegitimate names. Two other names, viz. Baiera ziguiensis F. S. Meng (1987) and Ginkgoites elegans S. Yang, B. N. Sun & G. L. Shen (1988), were not validly published, because no nomenclatural type was definitely indicated. New species are instituted for the two morphotaxa here. Although the specific name Ginkgoites elegans Cao (1992) was antedated by Ginkgoites elegans S. Yang, B. N. Sun & G. L. Shen (1988), it still remains available for use, as the latter name has no status under the Vienna Code (Art. 12, 37) and thus no priority over Ginkgoites elegans Z. Y. Cao.

Key words: Ginkgoales, Ginkgoites, Baiera, Sphenobaiera, morphospecies, nomenclature