Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Rhododendron and other Ericaceae => Topic started by: Diane Whitehead on April 22, 2022, 01:25:13 AM

Title: Kalmiopsis leachiana
Post by: Diane Whitehead on April 22, 2022, 01:25:13 AM
This was discovered in 1930, by Lilla Leach of Portland, Oregon, in the Siskiyou Mountains along the border between Oregon and California.

How gratifying to see a plant named for its discoverer instead of for some European botanist who has never travelled in the area.
Title: Re: Kalmiopsis leachiana
Post by: MarcR on May 06, 2022, 03:37:26 AM
This was discovered in 1930, by Lilla Leach of Portland, Oregon, in the Siskiyou Mountains along the border between Oregon and California.

How gratifying to see a plant named for its discoverer instead of for some European botanist who has never travelled in the area.

I agree. I was under the impression that the discoverer was always entitled to name the discovery. Is that not true?
Title: Re: Kalmiopsis leachiana
Post by: Vinny 123 on May 06, 2022, 07:34:12 AM
I was under the impression that naming for the discoverer had been discouraged for quite a few years - hence it being so rare as to essentially never happen.
Title: Re: Kalmiopsis leachiana
Post by: Maggi Young on May 06, 2022, 12:12:07 PM
I was under the impression that naming for the discoverer had been discouraged for quite a few years - hence it being so rare as to essentially never happen.

 Not the experience I've seen. There are many rules about accurate naming but naming after the discoverer is not excluded.
 Example: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46621092
"Herb found in a waterfall

Prof Aiah Lebbie discovered an unusual plant clinging to rocks near a water fall in Sierra Leone. He collected a specimen and sent it to Kew, where it was identified as a new species. The plant, Lebbiea Grandiflora, has been named after him. "
Title: Re: Kalmiopsis leachiana
Post by: Vinny 123 on May 06, 2022, 01:27:44 PM
I said discouraged, not excluded.

It was a long while ago that I read or heard this mentioned, so have no real idea where it was.

Species named after a person other than the discoverer remains moderately common.
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