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[SANS] Answer to Jim Waddick

Dear Juan;
        Glad to get you input on the Botanical Code for Cultivated Plants.
Excuse my typos and lack of access to a copy of the appropriate code.
         Let me ask some obvious questions for all our education:

        1)      Concerning Sansevieria 'FKH 424': Even if this flaunts the
recommendation and is still a legitimate name, is it also a valid cultivar
name in accord with other aspects of the code?
        (Without getting too technical- there is quite difference between
"legitimate" and "valid' in taxonomic terminology)

Jim,
 Legitimate is that description that has been validly published. One will
hardly find the word "valid" or 'validly" other than followed by the word
"publish(ed)".
So clearly "valid" has to do with the mechanics of having a name be known
to the world.
Legitimacy, on the other hand, has to do with following the rules of the
Code.

I mentioned before that 'FKH 424' was never validly published, so
according to Article 34 of the Code:
"In order to be legitimate, cultivar names published on or after Jan1959
must be validly published".
S. sp. 'FKH 424' is neither a legitimate name nor has it been validly
published.

Therefore, whether one likes it or not:

Sansevieria sp. 'Horwood' is a legitimate name validly published.
---------
        So if  S. 'FKH 424' is legitimate, its it also THE valid name for
this cv?

No, it is not legitimate as per above

---------
        And as I recall , all cultivars must still be members of a species,
so that technically a name should be printed such as Sansevieria
trifasciata 'Lillian True' and not simply Sansevieria 'Lillian True'. Where
does that leave us with 'FKH 424' ? To which species does this cultivar
belong?...or is 'FKH 424" a (n invalid synonym?) for a species name ( a
'garden name') and therefore NOT a valid culitvar name at all? Or is it S.
sp 'FKH 424' ? Or?

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Lillian True' is correct because we know it is a
trifasciata
and
Sansevieria sp. 'FKH 424'  or S. 'FKH 424' are correct,
We put sp. since we do not know to what species it belongs.
S. sp. 'Horwood' is correct and so is S. 'Horwood'.
I prefer to add  "sp." because this tells me it is a plant suspected to be
a species.  and was field collected. Both are correct.
Buy the way, Grigsby's suggestion on his article that a plant cannot be
described unless it is known where it was collected is not correct.
A plant may be described as a cultivar or as a species even if there is no
field collection data available.

Also, LoWilla I hope you read this:
Sansevieria "horwoodii" (in double quotes) has no botanical standing. It is
simply a quote and should be avoided. For other plants, it should also be
avoided whenever possible.
--------
        I'm still a bit confused even if I totally disregard any usage of
S. horwoodii, S. 'Horwood', S. sp. 'Horwood' etc.

S. horwoodii is a species name that has never been described.
S. "horwoodii" anticipating publication is not to be used because there
exists the legitimate name of
Both S. sp. 'Horwood' and
S. 'Horwood' are correct.
-----------
        2)      Could you please clarify how a name complies with Articles
37-42 of the
Code that you referred to.

By following the prescribed rules. I really do not understand your
question.
-----------
        3)       Wouldn't a registration authority be a good idea? Isn't
there some sort of  registrar for cacti and succulents (including
Sansevieria) that covers all those cultivar names?

A registration authority will be an excellent idea.
------------
        4)       Glad to hear about S. hallii (italics). I missed this
somewhere. I supposed I can still use "Baseball Bat," but now as a common
name for S. hallii.

I believe so, one can call a plant whatever one wants.
------------
        I do hope this doesn't sound too picky (along with LoWilla), but
this seems like the place to clarify all these bits of trivia.

        many thanks             Jim W.

Thank you,

Juan
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