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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » National Germplasm Resources Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #351090
Title: New combinations, rank changes, and nomenclatural and taxonomic comments in the vascular flora of the Southeastern United States. III

Author
item WEAKLEY, ALAN - University Of North Carolina
item POINDEXTER, DERICK - University Of North Carolina
item LEBLOND, RICHARD - University Of North Carolina
item SORRIE, BRUCE - University Of North Carolina
item BRIDGES, EDWIN - Consultant
item ORZELL, STEVE - United States Air Force
item FRANCK, ALAN - University Of South Florida
item KEENER, BRIAN - University Of West Alabama
item DIAMOND, JR., ALVIN - Troy University
item Schori, Melanie
item FLODEN, AARON - Missouri Botanical Garden
item NOYES, RICHARD - University Of Central Arkansas

Submitted to: Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2018
Publication Date: 7/20/2018
Citation: Weakley, A.S., Poindexter, D.B., Leblond, R.J., Sorrie, B.A., Bridges, E.L., Orzell, S.L., Franck, A.R., Keener, B.R., Diamond, Jr., A.R., Schori, M., Floden, A.J., Noyes, R.D. 2018. New combinations, rank changes, and nomenclatural and taxonomic comments in the vascular flora of the Southeastern United States. III. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 12(1):27-67.

Interpretive Summary: Recent research on plants from the southeastern United States has led the authors to recognize that several need different scientific names from the ones currently used. The reasons for the name changes are discussed, with details provided for each of the affected groups. The plants include a pipewort, a fleabane, goldenasters, goldenrods, a Spanish moss relative, sedges, blue-flowered wild indigo, a mountain mint, a sage, a skullcap, an orchid, and several grasses. It is essential to have agreed upon scientific names, that follow recognized naming conventions, for plants to communicate effectively about them.

Technical Abstract: As part of ongoing efforts to understand and document the flora of the southeastern United States, a number of taxonomic changes at generic, specific, and infraspecific rank are made. We also discuss and clarify the recommended taxonomy for other taxa (not requiring nomenclatural acts) and present a point of view about the practical and philosophic basis for making taxonomic changes in an allegedly well-understood flora. The genera (and families) affected are Endodeca (Aristolochiaceae), Erigeron, Pityopsis, and Solidago (Asteraceae), Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae), Carex (Cyperaceae), Baptisia (Fabaceae), Pycnanthemum, Salvia, and Scutellaria (Lamiaceae), Stenanthium (Melanthiaceae), Epidendrum (Orchidaceae), and Andropogon, Coleataenia, Dichanthelium, Digitaria, and Panicum (Poaceae).