Abstract
To understand the need for the seemingly regular changes to plant names applied to many tropical forage species, it is necessary to be aware of the rules that govern botanical nomenclature. The binomial naming system, first proposed in 1753, is governed by rules defined in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (ICN). These rules have been strengthened as necessary over the years in the interest of providing practitioners with plant names that are unique for each species, and presented in an hierarchical format that shows the evolutionary relationships between plants. This paper includes a table of name changes accepted by the USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) for species used in tropical forage research and development over the last half century. The need to use legitimate plant names is emphasized and suggestions are made on how practitioners might best deal with the changes.Keywords: Taxonomy, nomenclature, tropical forages.DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(3)34-40
Highlights
Since the hierarchical system of nomenclature was proposed by the Swedish biologist and medical doctor, Carl von Linné (Carolus Linnaeus), in “Species Plantarum” in 1753, and a set of rules to administer it, “Lois de la nomenclature botanique”, was advanced by Alphonse de Candolle in 1867, there has been an ongoing attempt to
The widespread shrub species known as “guaje” and almost 20 other names in its native Mexico, is known as “ipil ipil” in the Philippines or “koa haole” in Hawaii, and by different names in virtually every locality where it is currently found. Regardless of where this plant is growing in the world, it will be identified by botanists as “Leucaena leucocephala”. Another problem with common names is that one common name may be applied to more than one species, if there is a superficial resemblance
The characteristic that all 3 species have in common is that the leaflets exhibit thigmonasty. As demonstrated in the latter example, is that common names tell nothing about the relationship between plants, a factor that can be important in relation to disease susceptibility or, in the case of legumes, selection of an effective rhizobial strain
Summary
Since the hierarchical system of nomenclature was proposed by the Swedish biologist and medical doctor, Carl von Linné (Carolus Linnaeus), in “Species Plantarum” in 1753, and a set of rules to administer it, “Lois de la nomenclature botanique”, was advanced by Alphonse de Candolle in 1867, there has been an ongoing attempt to
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