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cultivated taxonomynews Issue 4 ■ February 2016 The first European Cultivated Plant Taxonomists Forum

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Telephone 020 8641 7796 Tel: 0775 858 3706 HORTAX cultivated plant group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016 Expanding into the future

James Armitage Editor

The organiser of any gathering, from a meeting of nations to a get-together, will know the feeling of anxious anticipation that unsettles the mind on the eve of the event. Will all the effort be worth it? Will it be a success? About Hortax HORTAX cultivated group In April 2015, at RHS Wisley, I foundHortax, formedTaxonomists in 1988, Forum can be held in 2017, shortly Above. Delegates at the first myself the nervous convener of the firstis a small committeebefore the XII International Symposium on the European Cultivated Plant European Cultivated Plant Taxonomistsof Forum, European plantTaxonomy of Cultivated . Taxonomists Forum, April prey to just such a sense of trepidation.taxonomists I needn’t and 2015. The three-day event have worried. Within moments of the delegateshorticulturists One with of the things arising from the event in April was jointly hosted by the assembling I knew all would be well, sucha professional was was a decision to broaden the membership RHS and the Cultivated Plant the mood of mutual purpose and good interestcheer in theof classification Hortax to include and anyone with an interest Taxonomy Group (Hortax), that here, at last, was an opportunity to talk to in cultivated plant taxonomy. Under this new Photo. Barry Phillips. of cultivated plants. colleagues and discuss common problems. arrangement the Group as it was previously constituted becomes the Executive Committee, Over the course of three days we heardThe 18 talks committee which meets will to continue to meet regularly. However, covering an impressive range of topics,discuss giving topics nowof relevance there will be a wider membership who thoughtful and thought-provoking perspectivesto the International will receive Code agendasof and minutes and have the on issues which ultimately affect everyoneNomenclature opportunity for Cultivated to Plants have their say by email. The hope dealing with cultivated plants. The PowerPoint(ICNCP) and seeksis to bring to find together solutions a community of people presentations associated with each of theseto the plentifulinterested problems inpresented the classification of cultivated plants talks can be found on the Hortax websiteby (humanity’swww. and attempts keep them to better informed of relevant hortax.org.uk/european-cpt-forum.htmlclassify). In the plantsissues it grows.and developments. Membership is entirely addition the content of six of the talks are without charge and if you would like to become a featured in this special edition of CPT NewsTo find. out moremember about of the Hortax please contact hortaxgroup@ committee orgmail.com the conference,. Best wishes for a happy and healthy euRopean Cultivated If a suitable venue can be found it is veryemail much [email protected] 2016. ■ hoped that a second European Cultivated Plant plant taxonomiStS

Right. japonica, painted by an unknown 19th- century Japanese artist (RHS, Lindley Library). Cover. 2 ‘Nicotine’ (RHS / Carol Sheppard). HORTAXFoRum 2015 3 cultivated plant taxonomy group useful links & publications The Hortax leaflet on the names of garden plants: ► www.hortax.org.uk/hortax-leaflet.html RHS GaRden Wisley issues of Cultivated Plant Taxonomy News: Tues 7 – Thurs 9 April 2015 ► www.hortax.org.uk/cultivated-plant-taxonomy-newsletter.html information on the lost Names Project: #cptaxo ► www.hortax.org.uk/lost-names-project.html rhs.org.uk/science The Hortax plant discussion forum: ► www.hortax.org.uk/forum.html#nabble-td4635193|a4635194 RHS Reg Charity No: 222879/SC03862 CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

Chris Stapleton Muddles and has studied for misapplications many years in the Himalayas and has Taxonomic difficulties worked for US and UK botanic . associated with He is author of the bamboos in cultivation Identification website and here discusses what makes the taxonomy of these plants so troublesome and how progress can be made in resolving their Above. The main morphological use names that refer to more major groups of bamboo distinction between temperate desirable , invent new originated by hybridisation. classification in the (left) and tropical bamboos (right) unpublished species names or Our current polyploid groups future. is considered to be that they have employ trade designations. – the temperate, tropical 3 rather than 6. However, and herbaceous bamboos some temperate bamboos (e.g. – all arose as hybrids between Sasa) have 6 stamens. Photos. Chris Splitting and diploid lineages. Hybridisation amboo plants are Stapleton. has obscured distinctions poorly labelled weaving between interwoven groups in European same plant can vary widely, We are in a mess, but why? ever since they first evolved. Bhorticulture. In especially between European Bamboos are certainly quite This has made it difficult to supermarkets, garden countries. difficult to split into groups define and separate genera and centres and botanic gardens and classify, because groups species, even when substantial inappropriate names are Bamboos cultivated for are not well separated. differences are apparent. often in use. , species, centuries may still be grown Taxonomic groups at all levels and may all be under different names. Newly have indistinct interwoven Within the temperate incorrect, and names for the introduced bamboos are boundaries with overlapping bamboos we do see plenty frequently even worse. Because characters and understanding of variation. There are their taxonomy has not been of the characters that differences in compression of studied adequately, we often distinguish groups has been , e.g. separating cannot identify bamboos in poor. Thamnocalamus, Borinda Left. A close up of of the wild. Consequently, when and Fargesia. There are also at Jungle Giants, new bamboos are introduced, One reason for this is differences in vegetative Shropshire. Photo. RHS / Tim Sandall. sellers may guess at names, hybridisation. Even the characters. The semi-flattened 4 HORTAX 5 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

internodes of Phyllostachys Foresters and horticulturists Right. Phyllostachys in . were recognised 150 years preferred vegetative The long flowering interval of ago. Branching patterns and characters. Molecular biologists some bamboos leads to a slow have more recently expected DNA to solve this rate of molecular evolution. In been found to show great conflict, but all temperate P. bambusoides, for instance, an variability, now distinguishing bamboos have very similar interval of 130 years has been Fargesia, Himalayacalamus DNA. recorded. Photo. RHS / Tim Sandall. and Thamnoocalamus clearly. Similarly, are now The solution is to use all these reduces the number of better understood, different characters together. This is generations. Only after many forms leading to different called integrative taxonomy. generations will DNA and clumping or spreading However, groups are still often physical characters become behaviour, which is critical for hard to separate, with members well differentiated. horticulture. that have odd characters weaving and blending across DNA is useful to reveal So we have many characters, boundaries. Hybridisation has convergent evolution (species but which are most important? certainly occurred between which appear similar but are Conflict has arisen when genera and species in the near not closely related). Species researchers have prioritised and distant past. Moreover, of larger, older groupings different characters. Grass temperate bamboos diversified such as broadly defined taxonomists favoured those relatively recently, and long , Sinarundinaria of the familiar . periods between flowering and Thamnocalamus were shown to be less closely related than expected. More, smaller genera are now recognised. Isolated bamboos such as Thamnocalamus tessellatus from and Arundinaria densifolia all published names, following need improvement and from Sri Lanka were shown by advice from around the world. consolidation. their DNA to be unrelated to It became a benchmark, and others such as Thamnocalamus started a sense of stability. Much work remains. A spathiflorus from the Himalayas The of China bamboo large number of plants in and Arundinaria gigantea from account (2006), supported cultivation are not well known, the USA. New genera were by molecular phylogeny, and there are many new required, e.g. Sarocalamus, described half the world’s species and yet to Bergbambos, Oldeania and bamboos. be discovered, named and Kuruna. described. Collections need Above. Collections of Fargesia nitida Since 1981 the American to be documented. Fieldwork from 1895 (neotype; top) and 1999 Bamboo Society Species & is still necessary, undertaken (epitype). The species was not Stabilising Sources List has documented collaboratively with local properly published and typified bamboo species and cultivars taxonomists. Information on until 2015, 129 years after it was influences for sale, like a bamboo bamboos in needs to introduced to horticulture (1886). Building a consensus on equivalent of RHS Plant Finder. be harmonised and presented names to recognise is not It now has nearly 500 entries better. Funding difficulties and Right. The compressed bracteate easy without strong DNA and standardises names of red tape remain problematic, inflorescence of Thamnocalamus, evidence, but names are now bamboos in cultivation across but the knowledge, skills and contrasted with open, ebracteate stabilising. Several important the USA. Several other internet technology are now available to Borinda (inset). Photos. Chris publications have helped along reference sources are also stabilise and improve bamboo Stapleton. the way. Bamboos of the World available, not all following names. Mechanisms to support (Ohrnberger 1999) compiled standardised names. They this work are required. ■ 6 HORTAX 7 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

How can we ensure suitability in the Agricultural (386,014; Vegetable (152,733; 43%) 17%) naming of cultivars registered in statutory EU registers? Jean Maison, Deputy Head of the Technical Unit with CPVO, argues in favour of an all-embracing database of cultivated plant varieties and urges greater cooperation in to achieve it. sector undefined (48,105; nder European law, UPOV Convention and is valid letters’ difference between the 5%) Ornamental (274,444; cultivars (hereafter within the territories of the 28 denominations of related taxa. 30%) varieties) of member states of the EU. In order to test denominations (47,741; 5%) U agricultural and for similarity in a practical vegetable species have Avoiding nomenclatural way, a database and a search Number of records in the database by crop . As of March 2015, more than 900,000 varieties had been to be registered in so- confusion tool are necessary and for this recorded. called National Listings as reason the CPVO started the a condition for marketing Assessment of the eligibility Finder project. The Upon entry of the proposal for The system is freely available variety at all levels in the EU, in the European Union. In of variety denominations ambition is that this database a denomination, the system on the internet and widely in statutory and non-statutory order to be acceptable for for National Listing and for should contain varieties from searches similar denominations used by and national registers. At the statutory listing, varieties must show Community all relevant statutory and of varieties of the same genus authorities. This situation is level, national authorities all Distinctness, Uniformity Rights protection is subject non-statutory registers and be in the database. The similarity considered an improvement implement the same rules for and Stability (DUS) and to the same legal framework maintained so as to be as up search tool works on the on the past, when national the suitability of denominations possess a suitable name and is implemented following to date as possible. In practice, basis of simple statistical tests authorities all had to maintain and all use the Variety Finder. (hereafter denomination). a common set of rules. An it contains the Plant Variety and ranks results by order of a different database and tested Though this has been the In addition, it needs to be important aspect of these rules Rights and National Listing similarity in order to facilitate denominations for similarity situation for some , in the demonstrated that varieties is that there is an impediment registers of all EU (collected by the work of the examiner. using different criteria. past there was a clear need of agricultural species to the designation of a variety CPVO) and non-EU (collected Nevertheless, each case needs for improvement because, have an added Value for denomination if it is identical by UPOV) countries. It also to be considered individually Enhanced cooperation though the rules are the same, Cultivation and Use. to, or may be confused with, contains data from some and it is not possible for a between statutory authorities they were not implemented in a denomination under which ICRAs, including KAVB, and computer to make the decision, the same way by all statutory Breeders of any variety can another variety of the same or commercial registers such since phonetic and conceptual This service should contribute authorities. Consequently the also, if they wish, apply for of a closely related species is as Plantscope and lists of aspects are taken into account to the aim of having a unique CPVO launched the enhanced National or Community entered in an official register of names of woody and perennial in the analysis. denomination designating a cooperation project and now Plant Variety Rights. The plant varieties or if it has been plants in the Netherlands. national authorities have the Community Plant Variety marketed in a member state of The maintenance of such a ability, via the Variety Finder Office (CPVO) is responsible the EU. large dataset requires full website, to ask for the opinion for the management of the cooperation from contributors, of the Office in respect of Community Plant Variety The CPVO Variety Finder who regularly send an update Each case needs to be considered a denomination proposed Rights System which provides of their data to the CPVO. under their national purview. protection via intellectual In order to implement this Nearly one million variety individually; it is not possible for a computer However, the final decision rights for new plant rule the principle has been denominations from various to make the decision, since phonetic and remains at national level. All EU varieties. This system is established that in general sources are today included in conceptual aspects are taken into account. national authorities participate based on the 1991 Act of the there should be at least two the Variety Finder. ‘ in the service and in practice, 8 HORTAX 9 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

Other registers (94,339; 10%)

National listing (361,783; 40%)

Plant Breeders’ Rights (261,783; 29%)

PLP (27,892; 3%) CTM (31,288; 4%)

Number of records in the database by of register. The database includes more than 100,000 records from commercial registers.

advice was given on more than participation in the enhanced It is also important that the 6,500 occasions in 2014, 90% cooperation service started in harmonisation work between of the time within 24 hours. 2014 with the approval of the the ICNCP and the EU set of CPVO Administrative Council. rules is continued in order Cooperation with non- to reach common decision statutory authorities: Future cooperation criteria for the suitability of the example of KAVB denominations. Finally, the To ensure consistent CPVO is always ready to In the sector, breeders nomenclature, the CPVO exchange views regarding often first register new recognises denominations the interpretation of the legal varieties with KAVB in the of varieties registered by framework in which it operates Netherlands before they non-statutory authorities and reviews its rules from time apply for Community Plant must be taken into account. to time. Such an exercise is Variety Rights. In the past, However, it is difficult for expected to take place in 2016 situations occurred where the statutory authorities to do and non-statutory authorities denomination approved by this if such denominations are will be welcomed to join the the KAVB was later refused by not available in the Variety discussions as part of breeders’ the CPVO, indicating that more Finder which is the central associations. ■ cooperation was necessary place to assess the suitability between the two bodies. The of denominations in their CPVO naming rules were procedures. More cooperation outlined to representatives is necessary in this respect of the KAVB which now uses through the exchange of the Variety Finder to test its data which could be rapidly Nearly one million variety denominations from various sources are today included in the Variety Finder. Photo. denomination proposals and advanced. The establishment of Lesley Kane. regularly sends contributions better links between databases to update the database. Its could be explored in the future. 10 HORTAX 11 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

What is SKUD? the production of oils, dyes and The technical products. The SKUD (Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas) database The nomenclatural data Swedish is loaded with information, consists of scientific names, and particularly with names horticultural names, common of Swedish cultivated plants. names and product names. Cultivated It is therefore primarily a The usefulness of each plant nomenclatural reference is detailed and its database, intended to cover all (annual, succulent, etc.) and and Utility horticultural and utility plants natural geographic range found in Sweden. provided. Plants SKUD was originally a pilot the long-time ambition for research project within the SKUD is that it should account Swedish Program for the for any name of a plant that Database Diversity of Cultivated Plants, can be verified as ever having under the Swedish National been cultivated in or imported Board of . The initial into Sweden. Work with the (SKUD) goal was to establish a new database has presented a national name standard for number of challenges of Above. Golden Tiara believe that some sort of The time for which names in For more than a Swedish horticultural plants general interest which are (‘Kugotia’) and fruticosa standardisation is necessary. trade are locked is decided but it was soon found that discussed here. Marian Red Robin (‘Marrob’). Both The question is, how? by the trade but there is a quarter of a century this needed to plants have PBR, registered under minimum of five years during Björn Aldén be extended to code names, and are sold under Intermittently produced which time nurseries can all utility plants. more attractive trade designations. standards, like the European update to the current name if of Gothenburg The database is Photos. RHS . Name Lists, printed every 5th they wish. maintained by year, function as medium- IT experts at the to long-term nomenclatural has been studying Swedish University I strongly believe that some guides, helping to avoid Presenting the taxonomy of of Agriculture have increased accordingly. frequent name adjustments. and the data set sort of standardisation is A comparison made between horticultural cultivated plants. is curated by necessary. The question is, databases including SKUD, The A more continuous means names Here he outlines three taxonomists how? Plant List, GRIN and the RHS of providing a lag phase his work on the working part- ‘ Horticultural Database shows between name changes and As a young taxonomist in time. In spite of that at least 200 major changes their implementation in trade the 1970s, having worked ornamental and its national importance, SKUD to genus or species names is available in SKUD where with Greek alpine plants, and useful plants lacks long-term funding. Alleviating the need to be considered for well-established names can recently started as a However, for the last two years instability of plants in European trade. be locked under the heading and taxonomist at of Sweden and some financial support has Namn i handeln (“name in Gothenburg Botanical Garden, been available through the scientific names It is claimed that changes in trade”), though the currently I did not expect to be much discusses some green trade, though much of plant nomenclature cost the approved name remains that involved with clones. But my present and future the work is still voluntary. A few decades ago many horticultural trade millions, as accepted by modern taxonomy. institute took an interest in botanists were claiming that marketing information has to For instance, japonica horticulture and I found myself challenges. SKUD deals with plants changes to scientific names be updated. To some extent appears as a name in trade studying cultivars as I have (including and green would rapidly decrease. They this must be questioned as alongside the current name been now for the last 25 years. ), red and were wrong. Molecular data many growers still use names japonicum. and fungi used for ornamental, has increased our ability to largely abandoned in the Information on when and why My first acquaintance with agricultural, silvicultural, reflect evolutionary history 1950s, but undeniably there are the name was changed in SKUD coded nonsense names in culinary, medicinal and using and nomenclatural inconsistencies and for how long it is valid as a the late 1990s made me quite cosmetic purposes, as well as changes in scientific name within horticulture. I strongly name in trade is given. upset, but since then I have 12 HORTAX 13 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

Right. Calibrachoa Million Bells Trailing Pink (‘Sunbelkupi’) (Million Bells ). Though such names Not every name is a may benefit the by suggesting some level of protection, the acceptance of them as free name names that make sense is minimal. Photo. RHS / Graham Titchmarsh. Under the banner of “one cultivar – one name”, Johan van Scheepen, taxonomist and Registrar of bulbous plants tried to take a calmer approach with the KAVB (Royal General Bulbgrowers Association), and deal with the realities of trade. I believe the didactic addresses some thorny issues concerning cultivars, trade element of the ICNCP is very names and . important and SKUD provides the fullest name possible, presented according to the There are several types of authority, or listed in National When they are trademarks, ICNCP. Coded PBR names, such names used for cultivated Lists, or are not listed at all. trade designations identify as Rosa (Floribunda Group) plants: These epithets are placed in only the origin of a product ‘Poulac007’, are treated as normal script between single and as such do not identify synonyms referred to the full ►► Cultivar epithets – rules quote marks to make them the product itself and are name with its trade designation, regarding these names stand out from the part not identical to cultivar as in Rosa (Floribunda Group) are either governed by the of the name. When a cultivar epithets. Trademarks are not Aladdin Palace (‘Poulac007’). ICNCP or the regulations of is protected by PBR some freely available to use and the Plant Breeders’ Rights companies indicate this by are registered by Further to names treated in (PBR) authorities and the adding PBR or PVR at the end offices. Trademarks are not the ICNCP is added a Swedish Plant (PP) Office of the epithet in superscript. marked officially as such in the entity, frökälla or fk (“ in the USA. The latter two Unfortunately there is no EU, but registered trademarks source”), presented as, for are based on the UPOV official symbol for PBR or PVR. are marked in the USA as ®. instance, fk GÖTEBORG. convention. TM is used in the USA for non- these names may benefit single cultivars. How should registered trademarks. the breeder by suggesting we treat trademarks such as ►► Trade designations – these Is there a future for some level of protection, the these – as cultivar names, thus are “names” used in trade These different names each acceptance of them as free challenging the trademark for cultivars and can have a different scope and are free names? names that make sense is (perhaps a reasonable be unprotected names, therefore used in all kinds of Over the years the ICNCP minimal. Further, for those approach), or as trade trademarks or registered ways. To establish infringement has tried to modernise in working with horticultural designations, but with no actual trademarks. Only the last of a cultivar epithet needs, response to market realities. names, the effort needed to name? This phenomenon is category is governed by any in general, a lot of specific A big step was to allow coded find PBR denominations is a fact – it occurs in hundreds, rules, in this case trademark knowledge. So detecting the PBR denominations as cultivar considerable. Breeders often even thousands, of cases where laws and the relevant infringement of PBR or PP in names. Another was to start hide denominations, using only trademark offices accept as international treaties. most cases is not easy. The use giving recommendations on trademarked designations. In trademarks word combinations of a trademark (word mark) the use of trade designations. doing so one could claim that which must also act as names. Just to make the difference is much easier, although the they make their trademark We really have no solution clear between the above- However, it is still rare in generic and open to challenge. to this yet and it remains a mentioned categories: cultivar commerce to see names significant problem facing epithets identify the cultivar; presented as An extension of this is a new those who classify cultivated the cultivar epithet can be used Left. Princess Leyla Madeira Crested Ivory phenomenon, namely breeders plants. ■ freely by everyone to indicate (‘Stapriley’) is protected by Plant (‘Bonmadcivy’) or Calibrachoa that skip the expensive PBR the specific cultivar. These Breeders’ Rights under EU PVR Grant Million Bells Trailing Yellow process altogether and only denominations are registered 8114, and the “Princess” component (‘Suncalkuki’). Though register a trademark to protect with the relevant ICRA or PBR of the name is a registered trademark. 14 HORTAX 15 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

Names such as , , Pink Lady, and Cox might be better lack tar understood if written B S as ‘Granny Smith’, ►► ‘Black Star’PBR NZ June ‘Elstar’, ‘’ (Pink 2004 Lady®), ‘Fuji’ and ‘Cox’s Pippin’ (left; RHS / ►► ‘Brilliant’PBR EU Nov 2004 Lindley Library). ►► ‘Brilliant’ KAVB registration 2005

►► ‘Edge of Night’ PP 2004

►► ‘Black Star’ PP 2004

►► Brilliant® in Benelux up to 2019

►► Black Star® trademark up to 2012

►► Edge of Night trademark

scope of the trademark will be learned from this example: When a breeder has registered only become clear after a ruling let everybody cooperate as and received PBR for his should be performed when of the court. much as possible to get one promising new cultivar, the a trademark is deposited or name for one cultivar. A global future might still be darkened a designation of protected But it is not always easy to challenge! by trademarks or protected origin is granted. It would be an understand. Zantedeschia designations of origin. It does advantage if the nomenclatural ‘Black Star’ was granted PBR These puzzles are not restricted happen that trademark owners rules drawn up by each of the in New Zealand in June 2004. only to ornamentals. It is quite or parties acting for protected bodies regulating plant names However, the same cultivar common to find the following designations of origin claim were, as far as possible, the was officially listed later that names together to indicate more than they have. It is a same. The KAVB expressed this year as ‘Brilliant’ in the EU PBR : Granny Smith, Cox, game where bluffing comes wish at its 150th anniversary register, and received USA Plant Elstar, Pink Lady and Fuji. These as much into play as lawful symposium on nomenclature. as ‘Edge of Night’ and could be better understood rights since in many cases it is Today the KAVB and CPVO ‘Black Star’. Up to 2019, Brilliant when correctly written as apple regarded as too expensive to work closely together to try is a registered trademark in ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Cox’s Orange go to court. The different laws to ensure the maxim “one Benelux and Black Star was Pippin’, ‘Elstar’, ‘Cripps Pink’ (Pink and regulations are drawn up cultivar – one name” is upheld. a registered trademark up Lady®) and ‘Fuji’. And this list is to cope with the present day Cooperation with all other to 2012. To complete this only based on the European situations. It is vital with the organisations involved is now nomenclatural nightmare, situation. Listing the correct registration of a cultivar epithet needed more than ever, in Edge of Night is also a names in research papers is that not only other epithets in order to realise this maxim for trademark. KAVB, the ICRA for sometimes more complicated the same denomination industry, amateurs and the Zantedeschia, has registered than the research itself, as one are taken into account but also general public. ■ ‘Brilliant’ and has added the has to keep in mind the different trademarks and the protected two other names as synonyms trademarks and names all designations of origin, but or trade names. The lesson to around the globe. equally the reciprocal process 16 HORTAX 17 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

Buxus ICRA records 1043 cultivar names, while for that same genus, the RHS database has 235 entries, with 293 on the OCVV database (merging the PLUTO database and the Naamlijst). The respective numbers for are 323 (ICRA), 289 (RHS), 421 (OCVV), but the overlap between these lists is not evaluated. If this work is most pressing for cultivars and other Left. Front infraspecific names, even cover of the at the specific level Reveals 1911 catalogue (2012) shows the importance of of the Parisian digging into the cultivated plant nursery Vilmorin- literature. On this point, we also Andrieux, clearly lack good and extensive showing Cineraria records of what is cultivated hybrids “À Grand and available in many countries Fleur Étoile” (RHS, (except for crop plants that do Lindley Library). have mandatory national lists, and ornamentals in the UK with Far left. RHS Plant Finder). Making such Vegetables in a records or even undertaking Understanding man-made plants: trug (RHS / Jason the more complex task of Ingram). writing horticultural Floras appears to be a very important what do we need, to do cultivated As with any taxonomic study as catalogues, indexes or step. done on wild taxa, cultivated newspapers, are available plant taxonomy requires only in very small numbers. As regards collections, living plant taxonomy? access to bibliographical We do have a large number collections are not that information, dry (herbarium) of databases that record common (relative to the books Valéry Malécot is Associate Professor of Botany at and living collections, and cultivated plant names (IPNI, already discussed), and clearly an ever-increasing amount Mansfeld’s Database of their longevity is correlated Agrocampus Ouest in Angers and a member of the Horticulture of descriptive data (from Agricultural and Horticultural to their administrative status. and Seed Research Institute (IRHS), where he works on the morphology to molecules). , Grin Taxonomy, the Public collections live longer RHS Horticultural Database, than those in private hands taxonomy and nomenclature of wild and cultivated plants. With regards to bibliographic Naamlijst van houtige but even then there are Here he asks fundamental questions about what is required to information, there is available gewassen en vaste planten, difficulties in keeping alive all a huge volume of literature, Vegebase, PLUTO database, accessions. Additionally, access classify cultivated plants. dispersed between nursery ICRAs’ databases), but even to living plants in collections catalogues, indices seminum with such a diversity of is physically limited compared ultivated plant existing between them. that are grown for their and articles in databases, we may lack a to that permitted for other taxonomy is the It also includes naming produce, including staple journals and encyclopedias. large subset of what has been collections by the modern scientific study of and classifying them, crops, fruit and vegetables However, within this volume named. To understand the technologies of the internet Cthe diversity and and has a very strong (less than 100 genera), of literature, information on complete coverage of names and digital scanning. In several variety of plants made historical content. As used as well as ornamental a particular may be in a genus effort must be such collections, access to and cultivated by people, here, “man-made plants” plants (in excess of 1800 very scarce. Additionally, concentrated in comparing original collection information as well as the relationships indicates all the plants genera). some of these sources, such sources. For example, the is difficult because of time. 18 HORTAX 19 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

Tulip cultivars, Horticultural trainees at RHS Garden from Johann Wisley using the RHS Colour Chart to Wilhelm assess flower colour in a herbarium Weinmann’s specimen. Photo. RHS / Paul Debois. Phytanthoza iconographia (1737–1745). Collections of horticultural drawings such as those in the RHS Lindley Library are an important resource for cultivated plant taxonomists. Photo. RHS, Lindley Library. Herbarium collections of important works comparing From genetic resource cultivated plants are even less the various cultivars. networks to botanical gardens, common: some are relatively through plant protection well known and promoted (B.K. Finally, cultivated plant authorities and scientific or Boom at L, WSY), but in most taxonomy works in a strong horticultural societies, all of herbaria cultivated material historical context. Not only us are in need of good names is relegated to the end of the because of the age of the indexes, an availability of generic folders and is only literature required, but because relevant literature, records of rarely checked by specialists of it concerns both plant speciation cultivation, and homogeneous the genus. When compared to and selection, the former descriptions. In a similar way names indexes, it can be seen is commonly represented today to what is being achieved with that both living and herbarium as phylogenetic , implying wild taxa (see, for example, collections conserve only a millions of years of evolutionary Euro+Med, Europaea small proportion of what was divergence and the latter or FishBase), at the heart of selected (for example there occurring in the relatively short our requirements is the need were at least 344 selections of timescale of a few centuries or, to compile descriptions and Noisette’s during the 19th at most, millennia. In addition, records of occurrence linked century; by 1902 only 54 were cultivated plants often have a through scientific names. The still in existence). much more reticulate ancestry applications arising from an because of recurrent crossing. integrated system of this sort Description of material is very Cultivated plant taxonomists are many and various. We important in cultivated plant must try to name and hope that such a structure may taxonomy as morphological classify under these peculiar be established in the coming differences may be very small. circumstances, where some taxa years. ■ Molecular markers have been (particularly those vegetatively of incredible value in sorting propagated such as interspecific out living collections, but are hybrids) may be known by only References less applicable to herbarium a handful of . samples. Trials and DUS Reveal, J.L. (2012). A testing are also very useful in From this survey, we can see divulgation of ignored comparing material, even if great opportunities for those or forgotten binomials. applying only to living plants dealing, wholly or in part, with Phytoneuron 28: 1–64. they may result in some cultivated plant taxonomy. 20 HORTAX 21 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016

Hybrid genera

Like grexes, genera Stretching require neither a type nor a description for valid publication: only a statement of parentage is required.

In 1776 J.G. Kölreuter (1733– nomenclature 1806) published the first hybrid genus, Lychni-Cucubalus for the provision of names in a fecund family Cucubalus × Lychnis. Grexes are names widely used for orchid hybrids and are Almost a hundred years later, in 1872 Maxwell T. Masters, considered by some to have potential wider applications. But editor of Gardeners’ Chronicle, is their status in the taxonomic hierarchy clear? Julian Shaw, published × Philageria for International Orchid Registrar, offers his thoughts. × Philesia. Oct 1897 saw publication of × he application of to the progeny of a particular Consider how hybrids of Sophrolaeliocattleya Hurst, the most plant names, hybrid. Subsequently it was godefroyae × first trigeneric hybrid. including genera, used extensively for orchid P. adductum can be named: Tspecies, varieties, hybrids, and hybrids in other By the early 1900s Groups and cultivars, is plant groups, including ►► P. godefroyae × Brassolaeliocattlonitis based on the interpretation and bromeliads. var. godefroyae × had become the first of a type or description. P. adductum var. adductum quadrigeneric . Only among hybrids do we The insistence by OHRAG (the find parentage-based, non- RHS Orchid Hybrid Registration ►► P. godefroyae × Sophrolaeliocattleya Camden , painted in 1897 by Nellie Roberts (RHS, In 1910 E.A. Bowles proposed typifiable, non-described Advisory Group) that grex var. leucochilum × Lindley Library). Sophrolaeliocattleya was the first trigeneric hybrid. the use of eponyms with –ara categories. These are the parents must be at species P. adductum var. adductum terminations for three or more nothogenus, or hybrid rank appears to be based on order to stabilise nomenclature, comparable to a botanical multigeneric names; × genus, a condensed formula an assumption that grex and ►► P. godefroyae this calls for a sub-grex comb. nov. is possible. Instead a Gard. Chron. ser. 3, 71: 98, 107 representing the parental species are equivalent ranks. var. godefroyae × category. laborious descriptive publication (4 March 1922) was the first of genera involved, and the This creates nomenclatural P. adductum var. anitum is required, but the data to do these. grex (plural greges or problems in three areas, which Subsequently, the ICNCP this is often unavailable. grexes), a collective name will be briefly considered: ►► P. godefroyae Commission was approached In 1950 the Stockholm applied to all progeny arising var. leucochilum × to request a sub-grex – i.e. a Botanical Congress adopted from a particular hybrid 1. Change of rank in a P. adductum var. anitum parentage-based unit. Curiously, Making the grex –ara terminations under the cross. previously accepted grex they responded by raising the ICBN. parent, e.g. species becoming P. godefroyae var. leucochilum grex above the rank of Group, widely available? The Latin word grex originally ; and P. adductum var. anitum so that grexes could contain The IUBS Code Commission, referred to a “flock” of . have both been recognised at Groups – i.e. description-based meeting in Beijing in 2013 had The term was introduced by 2. The lack of collective names specific rank, and still are by units. The positive effect is a formal proposal to extend formation to other plants. William T. Stearn, who in 1953 for grexes with infraspecific some authors. Consequently that now it is possible to name the use of grex to all other Additionally, it was perceived had drafted the first ICNCP, parents; the possible hybrids are named new infra-grex Groups, but plants, which initially met with there was a wide degree of and also coined the term grexes when their parents only by description-based a positive response. However, variation in the way a number cultivar. In the late 1950s, 3. No rank co-ordination become species and disappear units. The negative effect is it felt there were problems in of other user groups would like he formally introduced the possible with grex × natural (become nameless) when the that it is impractical to operate simply applying the current to use grex or had been using collective term grex to apply hybrid backcrosses. parents become varieties. In since no rapid change of rank orchid-centric rules on grex grex-like units already. 22 HORTAX 23 cultivated plant taxonomy group CPT News ■ ■ February 2016 CPT News

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editor. James Armitage. design, layout & production. Richard Sanford. About Hortax

Hortax, formed in 1988, is a small committee of European plant taxonomists and horticulturists with a professional interest in the classification and nomenclature of cultivated plants.

The committee meets to discuss topics of relevance to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants Inside a nothospecies: the progeny of loddigesi (top right) × C. walkeriana (bottom). (ICNCP) and seeks to find solutions to the plentiful problems presented by humanity’s attempts to classify the plants it grows.

Hence there is currently a grex and a nothospecies can no by the provision in the ICNCP quandary facing the IUBS longer share the same epithet, of a sub-grex as a parentage- Executive Committee Members Code Commission: should the and a grex representing a based unit or, alternatively, ICNCP specify a remit for grex backcross is below species rank. by accepting that the grex is James Armitage (Chair) Koen Camelbeke use for every group of plants in effect rankless; but there Saskia Bodegom Dawn Edwards for which it is employed, so In the example above, all the would remain still the challenge Chris Brickell Gert Fortgens that, for instance, bromeliads, grexes within Cattleya × dolosa of how to make the grex Phil Clayton Rafaël Govaerts , orchids, are below species rank. This available for use in all plant Natalie Iwanycki Daniel Guillot Ortiz or would means that all their progeny to groups. The micro-legislative Myra Johnson (Secretary) Marco Hoffman each operate a somewhat any generation, indicated by approach would involve Sabina Knees Eike Jablonski different definition of a grex? the number in the box, will all creating numerous rules and Sophie Leguil Ulrike Lohwasser be below species rank. definitions so that each group Tony Lord Lottie Nilson Speculation over this question of plants had its own variant of Valéry Malécot David Victor leads to another interesting Thus the grex, as used in the grex. This seems unlikely Victoria Matthews Rupert Wilson consideration: what rank is a orchids, is a single unit in to work in practice when it is Lesley McCarthy grex? Interesting insights can be horticultural taxonomy which considered that in spite of fairly Sharon McDonald gained from comparing a grex is actually equivalent to a tight regulation in orchids, the Elizabeth Scott with a nothospecies of the same mixture of ICN ranks, with grex has become a multi-rank Tim Upson putative parentage. A grex and the consequence that a rule taxon. One wonders if the a nothospecies with the same limiting grex parents to species grex is already rankless and, www.hortax.org.uk parentage are not equivalent rank is meaningless. consequently, if it would work @cptaxo units because a nothospecies as a free-floating unit, without includes all backcrosses, It might be possible to tight definitions. ■ Cover. Disa uniflora ‘Carlton’ (RHS / Carol Sheppard). whereas each backcross is a recognise the infraspecific separate grex. Consequently a rank of the parents of grexes 24 HORTAX 25 cultivated plant taxonomy group