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Re: [PRIMROSES] Companion plants - Corydalis

Diana, you wrote


> Thank you for your posting replying to my message regarding Corydalis,and
> noting the recent book about Corydalis.
>
> I do have this book, and have been aware of the name changes, although at
> this time I am not really comfortable in using them. This is a classic
> example of the nomenclature problems that we as nursery people face
> frequently. I think it will be along time before anyone is familiar with
> these new names, (Pseudofumaria -- etc.). I do think however, that we
have
> a responsiblility to the horticultural/botanical community to make these
> names known.  Since you seem to be aware of both ends of this field, can
> you tell me - when does a new name become truly accepted?  I have heard
of
> examples where newly proposed name changes have never been 'accepted' and
> so are no longer used, and the old name holds.  Can you tell me what the
> European gardening/nursery community is now calling these plants? The
North
> American Rock Garden Society seed list still calls them Corydalis.


You asked me when a new botanical name is finally truly accepted. Yes, that
was a tricky one. I have no formal training in taxonomy and probably will
get rapped on my knuckles by any professional taxonomist reading this ;-)

Of course a new name is not automatically accepted. It may not be in
accordance with the provisions of ICBN (International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature) and be rejected for that reason or the taxonomic reshuffling
leading to the new name is not  accepted by other botanists.

However, when a new name has won acceptance in authoritative floras and
compilations and official databases I think the time is ripe also for the
gardening community to change.

In the specific case of Corydalis lutea, C. ochroleuca and C. sempervirens,
these names are now considered synonyms to the accepted names Pseudofumaria
lutea, P. alba, and Capnoides sempervirens, repectively, in Flora Europea (
the Flora  Europea database can be searched on
http://www.rbge.org.uk/forms/fe ). Pseudofumaria lutea and not Corydalis
lutea is the name used in the North American flora database at
http://trident.ftc.nrcs.usda.gov:80/plants/ . It is probable that new
botanical works will use the new and accepted names.

On the other hand, the new RHS Dictionary of Gardening from 1992 and also
AGS Encyclopedia of Alpines from 1993 does not recognize the new names,
while The European Garden Flora, vol 4 from 1995 gives both sets of names
while preferring the older names 'because most gardeners will not be
familiar with it'.

Personally I think that the time now has come to use the new names while
giving the older names as synonyms. This will restore harmony between
botanical and gardening usage.

I am certain that seed lists present a special problem as synonyms can not
easily be given if the lists are to be compact and readable. Obviously
those responsible for seed lists wrestle with these questions every year.

Hubert

Hubert Agback, Uppsala Sweden. Winter Min Temp -25C, unreliable
snowcover.
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