We prove the existence of projective realizations of the irreducible unitary representations ofSU 3/Z 3 in the Hilbert space of functions $$f(z,\bar z)$$ onC 2, square integrable for a convenient measure ν(z). These realizations supply the usual results of the eightfold way withouta priori introduction of the Nishijima-Gell-Mann formula and of the experimental results±Y=21, ±Y=2I−2. Then it is given a physical interpretation withC 2 identified with the Stokes parameter space, which explains why isospin formalism has no meaning for leptons and photons. Further on it is shown that, in this formalism, the invariance of strong interactions only under twoU 2 particular symmetries inC 2 supplies the same results and does not require any broken symmetry.