Compilers' standpoint

International guidelines

The nomenclature used in the Lists of names complies with the international guidelines, as stated in the "International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants" (ICN; 2018, the so-called Shenzhen Code) and the "International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants" (ICNCP or Cultivated Plant Code; 2016). Especially the latter publication is very important to this edition of the Lists of names, because it gives guidelines for the nomenclature of cultivated plants. The ICNCP (2016) gives new guidelines for the definition and nomenclature of cultivars and cultivar groups (called “groups” in the new ICNCP), which are followed as much as possible in this List of names. Cultivar denominations are now only considered to be correct in their original language, the number of words in a cultivar denomination is no longer limited to three, the number of syllables is no longer limited to 10 and there are some words that may no longer be used in cultivar names (e.g. “variety”, “seedling” and “selection”). On a large number of subjects the code has become much less restrictive. In the new ICNCP the term cultivar group (or group) has received a much wider definition, stimulating more frequent use. Cultivar groups can now be used for classifying cultivars (of Rosa, Rhododendron, Phlox and Paeonia for example), but they can also be used to indicate individual plants. That is why some cultivar groups can be found alphabetised like names within the Lists. Concerning the spelling of Japanese cultivar names: A macron (overscore) above a vocal is used to indicate it should be pronounced long, for example the ō in ‘Shōjō-nomura’. The ICNCP advises to use the Hepburn system to convert Japanese characters into the Roman alphabet. In principle the basic roman alphabet is used for the spelling of names. Specific letters, as used in Polish, Czech and Swedish alphabet for example, are transcribed to basic roman letters according international standards. This makes the list optimally user friendly and international. But of course users are free to use the (cultivar) names in the original language.

New taxonomical interpretations

Our knowledge of the world’s flora is still incomplete. New data and a better understanding, for example gained through DNA research, inevitably have consequences for the classification and nomenclature. Usually, new interpretations are marked improvements on the old ones, and are accepted without much resistance by scientists and nurserymen alike. But it regularly occurs that two or more different interpretations are equally accepted. This means that sound choices have to be made in determining preferred names, based, if possible, on the opinion of experts. The Lists of names indicate names that were not chosen as synonyms, placed between brackets. The names that were not chosen as preferred names, in this case are not “wrong” or “invalid”, strictly speaking. The major criteria for acceptance of changes are that they must be derived from a reliable source, and that the new name is already used elsewhere, for example by the International Cultivar Registration Authorities (ICRA). The chapter “Name changes of well-known plants”, elsewhere in this edition, lists the most important changes. The complete list of name changes can be found on the internet (www.internationalplantnames.com).

Important reference works

For the classification of genera into families there are various views and the nomenclature used is not uniform. This edition of the Lists of names follows the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG IV, 2016). The International Cultivar Registration Authorities have an internationally accepted status as registrars of existing and new cultivar names. Their lists, addresses and other information can be found on www.ishs.org/nomenclature-and-cultivar-registration/icra. After the previous edition of the Lists was published several new important publications and Internet sites have appeared, which have been consulted for this new edition. Important recent general reference works are: “The Plantfinder 2020” and “Zander Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen” (2014) and SKUD. An updated literature list of major reference works can be found in the back of this edition.

Plant breeders’  rights and trademarks - a short introduction

Plant breeders’ rights imply that a certain cultivar is the legal property of the owner of the rights. Without his permission in certain countries and regions this protected cultivar may not be commercially grown. Trademarks do not protect a plant but protect a name. The trademark may not be used without permission of the owner in certain countries or regions. These types of protection must be registered with legally recognised Plant breeders’ rights agencies or trademarks agencies. A plant protected by Plant breeders’ rights must be given a scientifically correct cultivar name. This cultivar name must always be used to indicate the plant, and everyone may freely use it. It is not allowed to use a trademark as the cultivar name of a plant. Only the cultivar name guarantees the identity of the plant and is inseparably connected to one cultivar only. This name can always and in all countries be used to indicate this specific plant. Trademarks and other trade names are not part of the scientific name of plants, but can be given to plants for commercial reasons. One cultivar can have several trade names and one trade name may be used for several cultivars. When using trademarks and trade names the cultivar name of the plant should always be mentioned as well. This can be done in different ways (see chapter “User’s guide”)

Plant breeders’ rights and trademarks in the Lists of names

From the 2005-edition information is given on protection by Plant breeders’ rights in Europe. This is an express wish of the ENA and of many users. The difficulty in providing this information is, that it gets outdated quickly. Also, protection is not valid everywhere, but only in certain countries or regions. There is also the danger of legal claims by owners of Plant breeders’ rights and trademarks. The symbol for Plant breeders’ rights included in this list is based on the information provided by the owners and PBR-offices. The legal offices and owners themselves are responsible for this information. A random sample of the received information has been verified. The correctness of this information is not guaranteed and it is certainly not complete. It should always be checked with the official Plant breeders’ rights agencies! (See chapter: Main registration agencies of Plant Breeders’ Rights and Trademarks, elsewhere in this edition). On the Internet page (www.internationalplantnames.com ) links can be found to the web sites of the official registration agencies. They can provide information on whether the protection is currently valid and for which countries and regions the protection applies. Sometimes the name or protection status provided by the owners has not been accepted by the editors. For example if the request was to indicate a cultivar name as a protected trademark. Also trade names for which the owner did not indicate the cultivar or cultivars it is used for, were not accepted.

For Plant breeders’ rights in Europe there is no legally recognised symbol to indicate the protected status. For this List the symbol that has been chosen is commonly used: PBR for Plant breeders’ rights. From the 2005 to the 2016 editions tradenames that are protected by trademarks rights could be indicated with a symbol (®) on demand of trademarkholders. But in the last two editions no new demands have been made and therefore the information on trademarkprotection was very incomplete. For this new edition trademarks are still incorporated if they are used as a tradename for cultivars, but the indication with the ®-symbol. So it is to responsibility of the users and the trademarkholders to check possible trademark protection of tradenames.

To differentiate between trade names and cultivar names, according to the guidelines of the ICNCP and on demand of commercial users, the trade names have been printed in a different font. Sometimes cultivar names, even years after the introduction of the cultivar, are registered as trademarks, and sometimes the plants are even given a new cultivar name. This type of nomenclature is not allowed by the ICNCP and by PBR offices and has been ignored in the Lists of names. Breeders or growers that want to have their cultivars included in the Lists, can enter them on the website (www.internationalplantnames.com). These new registrations will be checked and added to the website, and will also be incorporated in the next printed edition of the Lists of names.

  The editors of the Lists of names are not responsible for incorrect indications of protection by Plant breeders’ rights or trademarks, nor of lacks of indications. Neither are they responsible for the possibly incorrect orthography of the cultivar names and trademarks involved.