New names for natural Sarracenia hybrids

[ICPS-bob]

In the December 2008 issue of CPN, Larry Mellichamp describes four new names for natural Sarracenia hybrids: Sarracenia x naczii, Sarracenia x bellii, Sarracenia x casei, Sarracenia x charlesmoorei.

Larry Mellichamp (2008) New names for natural hybrids in Sarracenia. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 37(4):112-117.
www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/Species/v37n4p112_117.html

[gardenofeden]

oh dear....

[schnell]

Several people have asked me about Larry's paper on some new
sarracenia hybrid names. First, they only apply if you subscribe to and use the rosea/alabamensis/jonesii species nomenclature(altogether or any part). You can largely forgo confusion if you use the burkei/rubra sspp. nomenclature . Both are formally described in the literature and it will not matter what appears in the FNA boks as they are published. You can still use either naming--your choice. Secondly, this illustrates the problem of using hybrid names, as also illustrated in Jan's article on a separate subject in the same CPN issue. I always prefer to use the diagnostic names in publications and only may use hybrid names in informal conversation. Thus, S. flava x purpurea(or S. flava x rosea if you use rosea as a species) is always clear, rather than S. x catesbei, for example. Next, the only time you are compelled to use a new name or epithet is if the change has been made to satisfy an ICBN rule that was broken in the original naming. When choosing which single or set of plant names to use if you have a choice, it is wisest to consider ALL studies that have been done (not just those most current), all published opinions, the history of the plant(s), the plant's overall appearance, properties, ecology, etc.--especially compared to the degree of differences in other well recognized species of the genus. As a botanist recently commented, "Remember the plant".

Don Schnell

[Aidan]

Well said.