Plant Names & Identification

Every plant has a botanical or "given" name consisting of at least two words, a first and a last name...sort of like people, except plants put their last name first, and their first name last. Just as you don't like to be called "Shorty" or "Blondie," plants prefer to be called by their given names, not some nickname that we invent. Plant names are actually quite simple. The first name is the genus (always capitalized), while the second is the specific epithet (lower case). If one plant of a species is selected for a particular quality that makes it different from the norm, it is given a cultivar name (always capitalized).

This third name (the cultivar) is always written with single quotes (' '). In some cases, the cultivar is not a selection of a single species, but a hybrid of two or more species. In this case, the genus name is followed immediately by the 'Cultivar'. For example, with Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus', Miscanthus is the genus, while sinensis (which means "from China") is the specific epithet. 'Variegatus' is the name of a particular cultivar with striped leaves that was selected and named. Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus' translated means Chinese striped miscanthus. When the plants are propagated vegetatively from cuttings or divisions, the selections are called clones.

Another exception to the third name being the cultivar name is when a species of plant has naturally occurring distinct forms. These are referred to as varieties, subspecies, or forms. In this case, the plant will have two lower case names after the genus. An example is Amsonia ciliata var. filifolia.

Some cultivars are grown from seed. The most common example is columbine. Although individuals within a cultivar are fairly similar, there is always a small degree of genetic variation. Pronunciation is another matter. If you are worried about pronouncing the Latin names wrong, don't worry...the person you are talking to probably can't pronounce them right either. After all, we live in the South, where we don't pronounce nothin' right, so make something up!

Unfortunately, plant names are often less stable than we would like. Just like people change their names, plants do also. People who cause plant names to change are called taxonomists, although I have heard them called worse. Taxonomists' (high-dollar botanists) sole purpose in life is to give headaches to garden writers and nurserymen by changing plant names. We call it job security.

It seems as soon as we learn the old names, they change. There are several reasons behind the seeming madness of plant name changing. First of all, a taxonomist may discover that someone had previously published a name for the plant, prior to the currently accepted name.

In the nomenclature code, the first published name takes precedent. For example, if it were discovered that someone had named hostas as funkias earlier, the name would have to be changed. Interestingly, the International Botanical Congress adopted a provision that will allow the conservation of the more popular name (although published later), which actually was the case with the example above.

Another part of the problem comes from two divisions of taxonomists - the lumpers and the splitters. The lumpers believe that a species range is large, and that many different looking individual plants can comprise a large species. The splitters, on the other hand, believe that each minute difference warrants making up a new species. Mother Nature, not being one to always cater to our wishes, has not provided clear dividing lines, which makes the taxonomists' task often one of guesswork and opinion.

The new field of genetic fingerprinting promises to make a dramatic impact on the field of taxonomy, and promises a plethora of name changes in the years to come. It is our policy to use name changes that were legitimately published earlier, but we are slow to make those lumper/splitter changes, since many of these are often invalidated only a few years later, as the prevailing thinking changes.

To say we’re a bit anal about correct plant naming (nomenclature), would be the understatement of the century. We use all means at our disposal to make sure the plants are named using correct horticultural nomenclature. This does not mean that we always use the latest, greatest botanical name. Often, plants are renamed incorrectly, such as the genus Sauromatum. In 2003, the Genus Sauromatum was decommissioned and its sole member Sauromatum venosum moved to Typhonium venosum. We remained unconvinced based on our experience, and in 2010, two new scientific publications reinstated the Genus Sauromatum, and added many new members. Just because a bandwagon goes by and everyone you know jumps on, doesn’t make it correct. We are still holding out for the return of the genus Cimicifuga from Actaea, and several others.

Our primary references include the Index Kewensis, The BONAP Database, Mobot's Tropicos Database, England's The RHS Plant Finder, The Genus Hosta, The Hosta Registrar On-Line, The Hosta Handbook, The World Checklist of Conifers, an array of worldwide floras and monographs, and many National Collection holders in the UK. Special thanks also to our friend Barry Yinger for his invaluable contribution with Japanese plants, and Wilbert Hetterscheid, a committee member for the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. If no information exists on a plant (which often happens) we throw a cookout for the neighbors, who after a few drinks begin throwing darts at Jelitto's Perennials I & II, along with the remainder of Hortus III. When botanists differ on correct nomenclature, we hop in the pickup, find a few taxonomists, and throw Cylindropuntia…or is that Opuntia, ( a.k.a. prickly pear) fruit, at them. 

If this kind of thing fascinates you, I strongly recommend a copy of the 2004 International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. This easy-to-read and fascinating book is a must for anyone who is seriously interested in, or involved in any aspect of the plant business.

 

Patents and Trademarks

PPAF or PP #,### indicates that the owner of the plant has applied for or received a US Patent. A patent prevents propagation of the plant for sale without a license for 20 years. Trademarks indicate the origin of the plant but cannot restrict propagation. A single trademark can be used by its owner to market hundreds of different plants, but cannot legally be used to represent a single plant. In an attempt to circumvent US Patent Law, some greedy nurseries have used trademarks to illegally try and protect plant varieties. Trademarks can never be part of a plant name, and those who give new plants non-sensical names and then trademark good names should be ashamed of their corruption of our nomenclatural system.

For more details, read our article called "Name that Plant - The Misuse of Trademarks in Horticulture."