Re: [Aroid-l] Off-topic: examples of botanical nomenclature

From: "Tom Croat" <Thomas.Croat at mobot.org> on 2010.10.01 at 18:25:49(21520) Dear Steve: I think that you will have a hard time coming up with something with more than 55 synonyms. If you do it will be some widespread taxon, like Poa annua, a grass. It would have to be one that is variable and ranges all over the world. Most aroids are too endemic to have many synonyms. Tom +More -----Original Message----- From: aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Steve Marak Sent: Friday, October 01, 2010 11:12 AM To: Aroid list Subject: [Aroid-l] Off-topic: examples of botanical nomenclature Aroiders, This appeal for help is somewhat off-topic, so please excuse it (and delete it, if you're not interested). I'm looking for examples of a couple of things in the area of botanical nomenclature, and I can think of no better group to ask than the people on this list. The first is the most complex example of a valid (and preferably, currently accepted) name, of any plant (i.e., not restricted to aroids), whether that complexity comes from ranks below species or multiple authorities or both. One of the best ones I have now is: Paphiopedilum barbigerum Tang & Wang var. coccineum (Perner & Herrm.) Cavestro which conveniently (for me) even has a synonym, but I'm looking for something even more complex, if it exists. Knowing the publication would be nice, too, but is not essential for what I'm after. (Examples of similar complexity to the above but using other ranks - subsp., f., etc. - would also be appreciated.) The second question is what plant, again regardless of family, has the most synonyms? I'm aware of one poor orchid with, if I counted correctly, 55, but I suspect there are plants even more confused about their identities out there. For my purposes I'm concerned only with whether the name now appears as a synonym of the currently accepted name and not so much how it got there (i.e., whether it was validly published and later reduced to synonomy, nom. illeg., etc). I realize that whatever the answer is, it can change, but again that's not a concern for me at the moment. All help or pointers to good places to find the answer myself will be appreciated. I've spent plenty of time on Tropicos, IPNI, etc., but my oddball questions are not easily answered with those tools - or perhaps I just don't know how to ask them. Steve -- Steve Marak -- samarak@gizmoworks.com _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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