The Names of Plants

This book is a reference for botanists and horticulturalists, including an historic account of names and a comprehensive glossary.

David Gledhill (Author)

9780521685535, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 6 March 2008

436 pages, 8 b/w illus. 5 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.58 kg

'… The increase in information is incredible. The authors of the family treatments and specialists that have contributed to this volume are warmly complimented on the results. … This is an extremely useful, valuable and essential contribution and it is recommended to all who want to know what names 'mean'. I am going to buy this book.' Blumea

The Names of Plants is an invaluable reference for botanists and horticulturalists. The first section gives an historical account of the significant changes in the ways that plants have been known and named. It documents the problems associated with an ever-increasing number of common names of plants, and the resolution of these problems through the introduction of International Codes for both botanical and horticultural nomenclature. It also outlines the rules to be followed when plant breeders name a new species or cultivar. The second section comprises a glossary of generic and specific plant names, and components of these, from which the reader may interpret the existing names of plants and construct new names. With explanations of the International Codes for both Botanical Nomenclature (2000) and Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (1995), this edition contains a greatly expanded glossary, which includes the Greek, Latin, or other source of each plant name.

Preface
The nature of the problem
The size of the problem
Towards a solution to the problem
The rules of botanical nomenclature - Family names
Generic names
Species names
Epithets commemorating people
Geographical epithets
Categories below the rank of species
Hybrids
Synonymy and illegitimacy
The international code of nomenclature for cultivated plants
Graft chimaeras
The glossary
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Botany & plant sciences [PST], Taxonomy & systematics [PSAB]