In botany, an infraspecific name is the scientific name for any taxon below the rank of species, i.e. an infraspecific taxon or infraspecies. A "taxon", plural "taxa", is a group of organisms to be given a particular name. The scientific names of botanical taxa are regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN).[1] This specifies a three part name for infraspecific taxa, plus a connecting term to indicate the rank of the name.[2] An example of such a name is Astrophytum myriostigma subvar. glabrum, the name of a subvariety of the species Astrophytum myriostigma (bishop's hat cactus).
Names below the rank of species of cultivated kinds of plants and of animals are regulated by different codes of nomenclature and are formed somewhat differently.
Article 24 of the ICN describes how infraspecific names are constructed.[2] The order of the three parts of an infraspecific name is:
genus name, specific epithet, connecting term indicating the rank (not part of the name, but required), infraspecific epithet.
It is customary to italicize all three parts of such a name, but not the connecting term.[3] For example:
Acanthocalycium klimpelianum var. macranthum
genus name = Acanthocalycium, specific epithet = klimpelianum, connecting term = var. (short for "varietas" or variety), infraspecific epithet = macranthum
Astrophytum myriostigma subvar. glabrum
genus name = Astrophytum, specific epithet = myriostigma, connecting term = subvar. (short for "subvarietas" or subvariety), infraspecific epithet = glabrum
The recommended abbreviations for ranks below species are:[4]
subspecies - recommended abbreviation: subsp. (but "ssp." is also in use although not recognised by Art 26)
varietas (variety) - recommended abbreviation: var.
Although the connecting terms mentioned above to indicate rank, such as "var.", are the recommended ones, the ICN allows for other connecting terms in validly published infraspecific taxa. It specifically mentions that Greek letters α, β, γ, etc. can be used in this way in the original document[5] and further ranks may be added without limit.[6] Names which use these connecting terms are now deprecated (though still legal), but they have an importance because they can be basionyms of current species. The commonest cases use "β" and "b"; examples mentioned in the ICN are Cynoglossum cheirifolium β Anchusa (lanata)[7] and Polyporus fomentarius β applanatus[8] whilst other examples (coming from the fungus database Index Fungorum) are Agaricus plexipes b fuliginaria[9] and Peziza capula ß cernua.[10] The ICN allows the possibility that a validly published name could have no defined rank and uses "[unranked]" as the connecting term in such cases.[11]
Abbreviation of infraspecific namesEdit
Like specific epithets, infraspecific epithets cannot be used in isolation as names.[12] Thus the name of a particular species of Acanthocalycium is Acanthocalycium klimpelianum, which can be abbreviated to A. klimpelianum where the context makes the genus clear. The species cannot be referred to as just klimpelianum. In the same way, the name of a particular variety of Acanthocalycium klimpelianum is Acanthocalycium klimpelianum var. macranthum, which can be abbreviated to A. k. var. macranthum where the context makes the species clear. The variety cannot be referred to as just macranthum.
Sometimes more than three parts will be given; strictly speaking, this is not a name, but a classification. The ICN gives the example of Saxifraga aizoon var. aizoon subvar. brevifolia f. multicaulis subf. surculosa; the name of the subform would be Saxifraga aizoon subf. surculosa.[13]
Legitimate infraspecific namesEdit
For a proposed infraspecific name to be legitimate it must be in accordance with all the rules of the ICN.[14] Only some of the main points are described here.
A key concept in botanical names is that of a type. In many cases the type will be a particular preserved specimen stored in a herbarium, although there are other kinds of type. Like other names, an infraspecific name is attached to a type. Whether a plant should be given a particular infraspecific name can then be decided by comparing it to the type.[15]
There is no requirement for a species to be divided into infraspecific taxa, of whatever rank; in other words, a species does not have to have subspecies, varieties, forms, etc. However, if infraspecific ranks are created, then the name of the type of the species must repeat the specific epithet as its infraspecific epithet. The type acquires this name automatically as soon as any infraspecific rank is created.[16] As an example, consider Poa secunda J.Presl, whose type specimen is in the Wisconsin State Herbarium.[17]
As soon as a subspecies of Poa secunda was created, then the type specimen of P. secunda immediately became the type specimen of Poa secunda subsp. secunda. The name "Poa secunda subsp. secunda" was automatically created (it is an "autonym"). Soreng created the subspecies Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia (whose type specimen is also in the Wisconsin State Herbarium),[17] thereby making the type specimen of P. secunda also the type specimen of Poa secunda subsp. secunda.
If in addition to the subspecies any variety of Poa secunda were to be created, then the type specimen of P. secunda would automatically become the type specimen of Poa secunda var. secunda. The type specimen would then have the classification Poa secunda subsp. secunda var. secunda.
The same epithet can be used again within a species, at whatever level, only if the names with the re-used epithet are attached to the same type.[16] Thus there can be a form called Poa secunda f. juncifolia as well as the subspecies Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia if, and only if, the type specimen of Poa secunda f. juncifolia is the same as the type specimen of Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia (in other words, if there is a single type specimen whose classification is Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia f. juncifolia).
If two infraspecific taxa which have different types are accidentally given the same epithet, then a homonym has been created. The earliest published name is the legitimate one and the other must be changed.[18]
Specifying authorsEdit
When indicating authors for infraspecific names, it is possible to show either just the author(s) of the final, infraspecific epithet, or the authors of both the specific and the infraspecific epithets.[citation needed] Examples:
Adenia aculeata subsp. inermis de Wilde
This identifies de Wilde as the author who published this name for the subspecies (i.e. who created the epithet inermis). Note that here it was decided not to indicate authority for the species.
Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold subsp. salzmannii (Dunal) Franco
Here, J.F.Arnold is the author who gave the species, European black pine, its botanical name Pinus nigra; Dunal is the author who was the first to publish the epithet salzmanii for this taxon (as the species Pinus salzmanii); Franco is the author who reduced the taxon to a subspecies of Pinus nigra.
Difference from zoological nomenclatureEdit
In zoological nomenclature, names of taxa below species rank are formed somewhat differently, using a trinomen or 'trinomial name'. No connecting term is required as there is only one rank below species, the subspecies.
Although logically below the rank of species (and hence "infraspecific"), a cultivar name may be attached to any scientific name at the genus level or below. The minimum requirement is to specify a genus name.[19] For example, Achillea 'Cerise Queen' is a cultivar; Pinus nigra 'Arnold Sentinel' is a cultivar of the species P. nigra (which is propagated vegetatively, by cloning).
^Brickell, C.D.; Alexander, C.; David, J.C.; Hetterscheid, W.L.A.; Leslie, A.C.; Malecot, V.; Jin, X.; Editorial committee; Cubey, J.J. (2009). International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP or Cultivated Plant Code) incorporating the Rules and Recommendations for naming plants in cultivation, Eighth Edition, Adopted by the International Union of Biological Sciences International Commission for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants(PDF). International Association for Plant Taxonomy and International Society for Horticultural Science.
BibliographyEdit
Turland, N.J.; et al., eds. (2017), International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code) adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017, vol. Regnum Vegetabile 154 (electronic ed.), Glashütten: International Association for Plant Taxonomy, retrieved 2019-02-21
September 28, 2023
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This article is about the scientific names of plants and fungi For the equivalent naming of animals see Trinomen For the names of cultivated plants see International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants In botany an infraspecific name is the scientific name for any taxon below the rank of species i e an infraspecific taxon or infraspecies A taxon plural taxa is a group of organisms to be given a particular name The scientific names of botanical taxa are regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae fungi and plants ICN 1 This specifies a three part name for infraspecific taxa plus a connecting term to indicate the rank of the name 2 An example of such a name is Astrophytum myriostigma subvar glabrum the name of a subvariety of the species Astrophytum myriostigma bishop s hat cactus Names below the rank of species of cultivated kinds of plants and of animals are regulated by different codes of nomenclature and are formed somewhat differently Contents 1 Construction of infraspecific names 2 Abbreviation of infraspecific names 3 Legitimate infraspecific names 4 Specifying authors 5 Difference from zoological nomenclature 6 Cultivated plants 7 See also 8 References 9 BibliographyConstruction of infraspecific names EditArticle 24 of the ICN describes how infraspecific names are constructed 2 The order of the three parts of an infraspecific name is genus name specific epithet connecting term indicating the rank not part of the name but required infraspecific epithet It is customary to italicize all three parts of such a name but not the connecting term 3 For example Acanthocalycium klimpelianum var macranthumgenus name Acanthocalycium specific epithet klimpelianum connecting term var short for varietas or variety infraspecific epithet macranthumAstrophytum myriostigma subvar glabrumgenus name Astrophytum specific epithet myriostigma connecting term subvar short for subvarietas or subvariety infraspecific epithet glabrumThe recommended abbreviations for ranks below species are 4 subspecies recommended abbreviation subsp but ssp is also in use although not recognised by Art 26 varietas variety recommended abbreviation var subvarietas subvariety recommended abbreviation subvar forma form recommended abbreviation f subforma subform recommended abbreviation subf Although the connecting terms mentioned above to indicate rank such as var are the recommended ones the ICN allows for other connecting terms in validly published infraspecific taxa It specifically mentions that Greek letters a b g etc can be used in this way in the original document 5 and further ranks may be added without limit 6 Names which use these connecting terms are now deprecated though still legal but they have an importance because they can be basionyms of current species The commonest cases use b and b examples mentioned in the ICN are Cynoglossum cheirifolium b Anchusa lanata 7 and Polyporus fomentarius b applanatus 8 whilst other examples coming from the fungus database Index Fungorum are Agaricus plexipes b fuliginaria 9 and Peziza capula ss cernua 10 The ICN allows the possibility that a validly published name could have no defined rank and uses unranked as the connecting term in such cases 11 Abbreviation of infraspecific names EditLike specific epithets infraspecific epithets cannot be used in isolation as names 12 Thus the name of a particular species of Acanthocalycium is Acanthocalycium klimpelianum which can be abbreviated to A klimpelianum where the context makes the genus clear The species cannot be referred to as just klimpelianum In the same way the name of a particular variety of Acanthocalycium klimpelianum is Acanthocalycium klimpelianum var macranthum which can be abbreviated to A k var macranthum where the context makes the species clear The variety cannot be referred to as just macranthum Sometimes more than three parts will be given strictly speaking this is not a name but a classification The ICN gives the example of Saxifraga aizoon var aizoon subvar brevifolia f multicaulis subf surculosa the name of the subform would be Saxifraga aizoon subf surculosa 13 Legitimate infraspecific names EditFor a proposed infraspecific name to be legitimate it must be in accordance with all the rules of the ICN 14 Only some of the main points are described here A key concept in botanical names is that of a type In many cases the type will be a particular preserved specimen stored in a herbarium although there are other kinds of type Like other names an infraspecific name is attached to a type Whether a plant should be given a particular infraspecific name can then be decided by comparing it to the type 15 There is no requirement for a species to be divided into infraspecific taxa of whatever rank in other words a species does not have to have subspecies varieties forms etc However if infraspecific ranks are created then the name of the type of the species must repeat the specific epithet as its infraspecific epithet The type acquires this name automatically as soon as any infraspecific rank is created 16 As an example consider Poa secunda J Presl whose type specimen is in the Wisconsin State Herbarium 17 As soon as a subspecies of Poa secunda was created then the type specimen of P secunda immediately became the type specimen of Poa secunda subsp secunda The name Poa secunda subsp secunda was automatically created it is an autonym Soreng created the subspecies Poa secunda subsp juncifolia whose type specimen is also in the Wisconsin State Herbarium 17 thereby making the type specimen of P secunda also the type specimen of Poa secunda subsp secunda If in addition to the subspecies any variety of Poa secunda were to be created then the type specimen of P secunda would automatically become the type specimen of Poa secunda var secunda The type specimen would then have the classification Poa secunda subsp secunda var secunda The same epithet can be used again within a species at whatever level only if the names with the re used epithet are attached to the same type 16 Thus there can be a form called Poa secunda f juncifolia as well as the subspecies Poa secunda subsp juncifolia if and only if the type specimen of Poa secunda f juncifolia is the same as the type specimen of Poa secunda subsp juncifolia in other words if there is a single type specimen whose classification is Poa secunda subsp juncifolia f juncifolia If two infraspecific taxa which have different types are accidentally given the same epithet then a homonym has been created The earliest published name is the legitimate one and the other must be changed 18 Specifying authors EditWhen indicating authors for infraspecific names it is possible to show either just the author s of the final infraspecific epithet or the authors of both the specific and the infraspecific epithets citation needed Examples Adenia aculeata subsp inermis de WildeThis identifies de Wilde as the author who published this name for the subspecies i e who created the epithet inermis Note that here it was decided not to indicate authority for the species Pinus nigra J F Arnold subsp salzmannii Dunal FrancoHere J F Arnold is the author who gave the species European black pine its botanical name Pinus nigra Dunal is the author who was the first to publish the epithet salzmanii for this taxon as the species Pinus salzmanii Franco is the author who reduced the taxon to a subspecies of Pinus nigra Difference from zoological nomenclature EditIn zoological nomenclature names of taxa below species rank are formed somewhat differently using a trinomen or trinomial name No connecting term is required as there is only one rank below species the subspecies Cultivated plants EditThe ICN does not regulate the names of cultivated plants of cultivars i e plants specifically created for use in agriculture or horticulture Such names are regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants ICNCP Although logically below the rank of species and hence infraspecific a cultivar name may be attached to any scientific name at the genus level or below The minimum requirement is to specify a genus name 19 For example Achillea Cerise Queen is a cultivar Pinus nigra Arnold Sentinel is a cultivar of the species P nigra which is propagated vegetatively by cloning See also EditInternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants Cultivar Strain biology Race biology Variant biology Forma specialis an informal naming system for parasites that is included in the botanical code of nomenclature Pathovar a system for naming parasitic bacteriaReferences Edit Turland 2017 a b Turland 2017 Art 24 See the examples in Turland 2017 Art 24 Turland 2017 Art 4 abbreviations from Recommendation 5A Turland 2017 Note 1 to Art 32 1 Turland 2017 Art 4 3 and Art 2 Turland 2017 Art 24 4 Ex 9 Turland 2017 entry Boletus applanatus of Appendix III Agaricus plexipes b fuliginaria page Species Fungorum Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 2019 02 21 Peziza capula ss cernua page Species Fungorum Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 2019 02 21 Turland 2017 for instance Agaricus compactus unranked sarcocephalus in Art 50E Ex 7 or Geranium andicola unranked longipedicellatum in Art 37 3 Ex 5 Turland 2017 Art 24 1 Turland 2017 Art 24 1 Ex 1 Turland 2017 Appendix I Glossary of terms used and defined in this Code entry for legitimate name Turland 2017 Art 7 a b Turland 2017 Art 26 a b Wisconsin Botanical Information System Type Specimens Wisconsin State Herbarium University of Wisconsin retrieved 2011 06 01 Turland 2017 Art 53 3 Brickell C D Alexander C David J C Hetterscheid W L A Leslie A C Malecot V Jin X Editorial committee Cubey J J 2009 International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants ICNCP or Cultivated Plant Code incorporating the Rules and Recommendations for naming plants in cultivation Eighth Edition Adopted by the International Union of Biological Sciences International Commission for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants PDF International Association for Plant Taxonomy and International Society for Horticultural Science Bibliography EditTurland N J et al eds 2017 International Code of Nomenclature for algae fungi and plants Shenzhen Code adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen China July 2017 vol Regnum Vegetabile 154 electronic ed Glashutten International Association for Plant Taxonomy retrieved 2019 02 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Infraspecific name amp oldid 1161032695, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
