Hybrid name (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, a hybrid may be given a hybrid name, which is a special kind of botanical name, but there is no requirement that a hybrid name should be created for plants that are believed to be of hybrid origin.[1] The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants provides the following options in dealing with a hybrid:[2]
- A hybrid may get a name; this will usually be the option of choice for naturally occurring hybrids.
- A hybrid may also be indicated by a formula listing the parents. Such a formula uses the multiplication sign "×" to link the parents.
A hybrid name is treated like other botanical names, for most purposes, but differs in that:[2]
- A hybrid name does not necessarily refer to a morphologically distinctive group, but applies to all progeny of the parents, no matter how much they vary.
- E.g., Magnolia ×soulangeana applies to all progeny from the cross Magnolia denudata × Magnolia liliiflora, and from the crosses of all their progeny, as well as from crosses of any of the progeny back to the parents (backcrossing). This covers quite a range in flower colour.
- Names of hybrids between genera (called nothogenera) can be published by specifying the names of the parent genera, but without a scientific description, and do not have a type. Nothotaxon names with the rank of a subdivision of a genus (notho-subgenus, notho-section, notho-series, etc.) are also published by listing the parent taxa and without descriptions or types.[3]
- Special rules apply for forming the names of hybrids between genera or between subdivisions of genera.[4]
Forms of hybrid names
A hybrid name can be indicated by:
- a multiplication sign "×" placed before the name of an intergeneric hybrid or before the epithet of a species hybrid. An intervening space is optional. e.g.:
- Sorbaronia or ×Sorbaronia or × Sorbaronia is the name of hybrids between the genera Sorbus and Aronia,
- Iris germanica or Iris ×germanica is a species derived by hybrid speciation
- or by the prefix notho- attached to the rank,
- Crataegus nothosect. Crataeguineae
- Iris germanica nothovar. florentina.
The multiplication sign and the prefix notho- are not part of the actual name and are disregarded for nomenclatural purposes such as synonymy, homonymy, etc. This means that a taxonomist could decide to use either form of this name: Drosera ×anglica to emphasize that it is a hybrid, or Drosera anglica to emphasize that it is a species.
The names of intergeneric hybrids generally have a special form called a condensed formula, e.g., Agropogon for hybrids between Agrostis and Polypogon. Hybrids involving four or more genera are formed from the name of a person, with suffix -ara attached, e.g., ×Beallara.[4]
See also
- Grex (horticulture), different rules for naming orchid hybrids
- graft-chimaera names look similar, but use an addition sign "+".
- Glossary of scientific naming
Notes
- ↑ (McNeill 2012, Article H.3, Note 1)
- 1 2 (McNeill 2012, Articles H.1 to H.12)
- ↑ (McNeill 2012, Article H.9)
- 1 2 (McNeill 2012, Article H.6 and H.7)
References
- McNeill, J.; et al. (Barrie, F.R.; Buck, W.R.; Demoulin, V.; Greuter, W.; Hawksworth, D.L.; Herendeen, P.S.; Knapp, S.; Marhold, K.; Prado, J.; Prud'homme Van Reine, W.F.; Smith, G.F.; Wiersema, J.H.; Turland, N.J.) (2012). International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code) adopted by the Eighteenth International Botanical Congress Melbourne, Australia, July 2011. Regnum Vegetabile 154. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag KG. ISBN 978-3-87429-425-6.