Delicate, etc., and taxonomy
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Delicate, etc., and taxonomy
- From: J* S*
- Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 07:05:20 -0500
Gene, I'm glad you jumped in there. The thing to do is work with smaller
specialist growers whenever possible. Some of the things you commented on
are reasons why I sell daylilies, not the other things!
The taxonomic questions are fascinating, a little like debating how many
angels can dance on the head of a pin....... Probably, Corydalis lutea
was moved from Corydalis to Pseudofumaria because the taxonomist(s) doing
the revision considered it to be too distinct from the type species (first
one published) of the genus Corydalis to fit. They would then move it to
the next-oldest available name, or create a new genus name.
I had forgotten the on-line databases. I downloaded the aRS-GRIN databases
themselves a couple of years ago, but haven't updated them since. Liden
and Zetterlund listed the North American corydalis species C. sempervivens
as Capnoides sempervivens (L.) Borckh. in their 1997 monograph. They left
micrantha and the others in Corydalis.
By the way, C. ochroleuca is now Pseudofumaria alba according to Liden &
Zetterlund.
Marge and Paul are right in that there is no absolutely "correct" name, and
botanists are free to call it "Corydalis lutea" if they see fit. What does
matter is that everyone know exactly which plant (taxon) is being
discussed. In a horticultural and gardening context, like this list,
either name is perfectly acceptable, I should think. Still, it does not
hurt to be explicit. If I want to use the name "Pseudofumaria alba" for
instance, I had best add after it (Corydalis ochroleuca) in this group.
Note also in Marge's citation from the GRIN database that the family names
are also open to discussion. I am not a taxonomist, but I prefer the
"splitters" approach, as I think it conveys the maximum information about
the plants and their genetic relationships. So for instance, I prefer to
consider the genera Corydalis and Dicentra to be in the Family Fumariaceae,
related to but separate from the Family Papaveraceae.
I use the family name "Liliaceae" not to refer to all the petalloid
monocots outside Orchidaceae but rather to refer to Lilium, Tulipa,
Fritillaria, and Nomocharis while I consider plants like Hippeastrum
("amaryllis"), Iris, Convollaria, Hyacinthus, etc., to be in their own
families, all in the Order (the next higher taxonomic level above Family)
ASPARAGALES.
Lots of fun!
Jim
*************************************************
Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://a1.com/daylily/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA Tel. +1-317-896-3925
