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Taxonomy is that section of botany which is concerned with the valid naming of plants. Often botanists who are studying a particular group of plants will find that the relationships between individual species (or genera) are different to what has been previously published or that the previously published names are invalid for one reason or another. As a result, this research may lead to name changes resulting from:
- Old, invalid names being replaced (eg. Banksia prostrata became Banksia gardneri)
- Old, superseded names being restored (eg. Hakea pugioniformis reverted to Hakea teretifolia)
- Species being reclassified to different genera (eg. Eucalyptus maculata became Corymbia maculata - see footnote 4)
- Previous single, highly variable species being divided into two or more separate species (eg. the variable Banksia sphaerocarpa complex was divided into 8 separate species.)
- Previous similar species being combined into a single species (eg. Eucalyptus stoatei was incorporated into Eucalyptus forrestiana as Eucalyptus forrestiana subspecies stoatei)
- Previous sub-species or varieties being raised to species status (eg. Banksia integrifolia variety aquilonia became Banksia aquilonia).
Acceptance of name changes
Taxonomists are sometimes criticised by their peers and others for what is seen to be an excessive enthusiasm for revising plant names. Name changes can be frustrating, can be difficult to keep track of and, when changes involve a group of plants which is entrenched in folklore (such as the eucalypts or banksias), they can also result in some antagonism.
Botanical revision is rarely carried out without a great deal of research but it needs to be appreciated that publication of a name change in a botanical or other journal does not necessarily mean that the change will be accepted by the wider botanical (and general) community.
A national database of plant names
A major problem in dealing with plant names is that some Australian herbaria will accept a particular revised taxonomy while others do not. A current example is the acceptance by the Queensland Herbaium of the re-classification of Callistemon to Melaleuca. This change is not accepted (yet) by other herbaria.
So what is an organisation like ANPSA to do? In the longer term, the Australian Plant Census will help as it aims to provide a database of nationally accepted scientific names for the Australian vascular flora. This, however, is a work in progress so, in the meantime, the policy on the ANPSA site is not to jump on the name change 'bandwagon' - rather we adopt a wait-and-see approach, incorporating changes when it becomes clear that changes have received broad acceptance.
Two significant examples of this approach are the recent (2007) publications that transferred all Dryandra species to Banksia and all Callistemon species to Melaleuca. In these two cases, the old names are being retained on the ANPSA web site until the "dust settles" (further information on these proposed changes can be found on the Dryandra and Callistemon pages, respectively).
Other examples of changes which are not (yet) incorporated into the ANPSA website are the expansion of the genus Syzygium to include related genera such as Acmena and Waterhousea, and the splitting up of many Dendrobium species into several other genera (eg. Vappodes, Thelychiton). The exception to this latter case is the reclassification of Dendrobium linguiforme and several related species to the genus Dockrillia, a change which does appear to have received broad acceptance.
Commonly encountered name changes
The following list is not intended to be comprehensive and it should not be regarded as definitive. It concentrates on those species of Australian plants which are more commonly encountered and where name changes are likely to cause confusion.
Advice of any significant errors or omissions in the list would be appreciated.
Table 1: Some Commonly Encountered Name Changes for Australian Plants
Currently accepted names are shown in bold. Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes at the bottom of the table.
| Species |
Common Name |
Previous Name | New Name |
| Abelmoschus moschatus ssp tuberosus | Native rosella | Hibiscus rhodopetalus | |
| Acacia aulacocarpa | Hickory wattle | Acacia disparrima and others (12) | |
| Acacia armata | Kangaroo thorn | Acacia paradoxa | |
| Acacia binervia | Coast Myall | Acacia glaucescens | |
| Acacia disparrima (12) | Hickory wattle | Acacia aulacocarpa | |
| Acacia glaucescens | Coast Myall | Acacia binervia | |
| Acacia paradoxa | Kangaroo thorn | Acacia armata | |
| Acmena smithii | Lilly-pilly | Eugenia smithii | |
| Allocasuarina littoralis | Black she-oak | Casuarina littoralis | |
| Allocasuarina torulosa | Forest oak | Casuarina torulosa | |
| Allocasuarina verticillata | Drooping she-oak | Casurarina stricta | |
| Alloxylon flammeum | Tree waratah | Oreocallis "wickhamii" (1) | |
| Alloxylon pinnatum | Dorrigo waratah | Oreocallis pinnata | |
| Alocasia brisbanensis | Cunjevoi | Alocasia macrorrhizos | |
| Alocasia macrorrhizos | Cunjevoi | Alocasia brisbanensis | |
| Anetholea anisata | Aniseed myrtle | Backhousia anisata | |
| Asteromyrtus brassii | Melaleuca brassii | ||
| Auranticarpa rhombifolium | Diamond-leaf pittosporum | Pittosporum rhombifolium | |
| Austromyrtus inophloia | Thready-barked myrtle | Gossia inophloia | |
| Babingtonia tozerensis | Baeckea sp. Mt Tozer | ||
| Babingtonia virgata (10) | Tall Baeckea | Baeckea virgata (10) | |
| Backhousia anisata | Aniseed myrtle | Anetholea anisata | |
| Baeckea sp. Mt Tozer | Babingtonia tozerensis | ||
| Baeckea ramosissima | Rosy baeckea | Euryomyrtus ramosissima | |
| Baeckea virgata (10) | Tall Baeckea | Babingtonia virgata (10) | |
| Banksia aemula | Wallum banksia | Banksia serratifolia | |
| Banksia aquilonia | Banksia integrifolia var.aquilonia |
||
| Banksia asplenifolia | Banksia oblongifolia | ||
| Banksia cunninghamii | Banksia spinulosa var.cunninghamii |
||
| Banksia gardneri | Banksia prostrata | ||
| Banksia integrifolia var.aquilonia | Banksia aquilonia | ||
| Banksia oblongifolia | Banksia asplenifolia | ||
| Banksia prostrata | Banksia gardneri | ||
| Banksia serratifolia | Wallum banksia | Banksia aemula | |
| Banksia spinulosa var.cunninghamii | Banksia cunninghamii | ||
| Billardiera erubescens | Red billardiera | Marianthus erubescens | |
| Billardiera heterophylla | Bluebell climber | Sollya heterophylla | |
| Brachyscome sp. aff. melanocarpa | "Pilliga Posy" | Brachyscome formosa | |
| Brachyscome formosa | "Pilliga Posy" | Brachyscome sp. aff. melanocarpa | |
| Brachysema celsianum (14) | Swan River pea | Gastrolobium celsianum | |
| Brachysema lanceolatum (14) | Swan River pea | Gastrolobium celsianum | |
| Bracteantha bracteata (11) | Golden everlasting | Xerochrysum bracteatum | |
| Bracteantha subundulata (11) | Orange everlasting | Xerochrysum subundulatum | |
| Callistemon macropunctatus | Scarlet Bottlebrush | Callistemon rugulosus | |
| Callistemon paludosus (2) | River bottlebrush | Callistemon sieberi | |
| Callistemon pityoides (2) | Alpine bottlebrush | Callistemon sieberi | |
| Callistemon rugulosus | Scarlet Bottlebrush | Callistemon macropunctatus | |
| Callistemon sieberi (2) | River Bottlebrush | Callistemon paludosus | |
| Callistemon sieberi (2) | Alpine bottlebrush | Callistemon pityoides | |
| Calytrix sullivanii (3) | Fringe Myrtle | Calytrix tetragona | |
| Calytrix tetragona | Fringe Myrtle | Calytrix sullivanii (3) | |
| Cassia artemisioides | Silver cassia | Senna artemisioides | |
| Cassia odorata | Senna odorata | ||
| Casuarina littoralis | Black she-oak | Allocasuarina littoralis | |
| Casuarina stricta | Drooping she-oak | Allocasuarina verticillata | |
| Casuarina torulosa | Forest oak | Allocasuarina torulosa | |
| Chionogentias spp. (9) | Mountain gentian | Gentianella diemensis | |
| Chrysocephalum apiculatum | Common everlasting | Helichrysum apiculatum/H.ramosissimum | |
| Citrus australasica | Finger lime | Microcitrus australasica | |
| Citrus glauca | Wild lime | Eremocitrus glauca | |
| Clianthus formosus | Sturt's desert pea | Swainsona formosa | |
| Corymbia calophylla (4) | Marri | Eucalyptus calophylla | |
| Corymbia citriodora (4) | Lemon-scented gum | Eucalyptus citriodora | |
| Corymbia ficifolia (4) | Red flowering gum | Eucalyptus ficifolia | |
| Corymbia maculata (4) | Spotted gum | Eucalyptus maculata | |
| Dendrobium cucumerinum | Cucumber orchid | Dockrillia cucumerina | |
| Dendrobium linguiforme | Tongue orchid | Dockrillia linguiformis | |
| Dendrobium pugioniforme | Dagger orchid | Dockrillia pugioniformis | |
| Derwentia perfoliata | Parahebe perfoliata | ||
| Dianella laevis (16) | Smooth flax lily | Dianella longifolia | |
| Dianella longifolia (16) | Smooth flax lily | Dianella laevis | |
| Dockrillia cucumerina | Cucumber orchid | Dendrobium cucumerinum | |
| Dockrillia linguiformis | Tongue orchid | Dendrobium linguiforme | |
| Dockrillia pugioniformis | Dagger orchid | Dendrobium pugioniforme | |
| Eremocitrus glauca | Wild lime | Citrus glauca | |
| Eremophila debilis | Winter apple | Myoporum debile | |
| Eriostemon myoporoides | Long-leaf wax flower | Philotheca myoporoides | |
| Eucalyptus calophylla (4) | Marri | Corymbia calophylla | |
| Eucalyptus citriodora (4) | Lemon-scented gum | Corymbia citriodora | |
| Eucalyptus ficifolia (4) | Red flowering gum | Corymbia ficifolia | |
| Eucalyptus maculata (4) | Spotted gum | Corymbia maculata | |
| Eugenia australis | Scrub or magenta cherry | Syzygium australe/ Syzygium paniculatum (5) |
|
| Eugenia cyanocarpa | Blue lilly-pilly | Syzygium oleosum | |
| Eugenia floribunda | Weeping lilly-pilly | Waterhousea floribunda | |
| Eugenia luehmannii | Small leaved lilly-pilly | Syzygium luehmannii | |
| Eugenia smithii | Lilly-pilly | Acmena smithii | |
| Euodia elleryana | Corkwood | Melicope elleryana | |
| Euryomyrtus ramosissima | Rosy baeckea | Baeckea ramosissima | |
| Gastrolobium celsianum (14) | Swan River pea | Brachysema celsianum | |
| Gentianella diemensis (9) | Mountain gentian | Chionogentias spp. | |
| Gossia inophloia | Thready-barked myrtle | Austromyrtus inophloia | |
| Grevillea biternata (6) | Grevillea curviloba subsp. incurva |
||
| Grevillea curviloba subsp incurva | Grevillea biternata (6) | ||
| Hakea archaeoides | Hakea | Hakea trineura (southern form) | |
| Hakea coriacea | Hakea | Now included in Hakea francisiana | |
| Hakea drupacea | Sweet hakea | Hakea suaveolens | |
| Hakea salicifolia | Willow-leaved hakea | Hakea saligna | |
| Hakea saligna | Willow-leaved hakea | Hakea salicifolia | |
| Hakea suaveolens | Sweet hakea | Hakea drupacea | |
| Hakea trineura (southern form) | Hakea | Hakea archaeoides | |
| Helichrysum acuminatum (11) | Orange everlasting | Xerochrysum subundulatum | |
| Helichrysum apiculatum | Common everlasting | Chrysocephalum apiculatum | |
| Helichrysum bracteatum (11) | Golden everlasting | Xerochrysum bracteatum | |
| Helichrysum diosmifolium | Riceflower | Ozothamnus diosmifolius | |
| Helichrysum ramosissimum | Yellow buttons | Chrysocephalum apiculatum | |
| Helichrysum subulifolium | Showy everlasting | Schoenia filifolia ssp.subulifera |
|
| Helipterum anthemoides | Rhodanthe anthemoides | ||
| Helipterum manglesii | Pink everlasting | Rhodanthe manglesii | |
| Helipterum roseum | Pink paper daisy | Rhodanthe chlorocephala ssp.rosea |
|
| Hibiscus rhodopetalus | Native rosella | Abelmoschus moschatus ssp.tuberosus | |
| Kreysigia multiflora | Bush lily | Tripladenia cunninghamii | |
| Kunzea ericoides | Burgan | Leptospermum ericoides | |
| Leionema ambiens (7) | Phebalium ambiens | ||
| Leionema dentatum (7) | Phebalium dentatum | ||
| Leionema phylicifolium (7) | Phebalium phylicifolium | ||
| Leptospermum ericoides | Burgan | Kunzea ericoides | |
| Leptospermum flavescens | Yellow tea tree | Leptospermum polygalifolium | |
| Leptospermum lanigerum var.macrocarpum |
Leptospermum macrocarpum | ||
| Leptospermum macrocarpum | Leptospermum lanigerum var.macrocarpum |
||
| Leptospermum polygalifolium | Yellow tea tree | Leptospermum flavescens | |
| Leptospermum rotundifolium | Leptospermum scoparium var.rotundifolium |
||
| Leptospermum scoparium var.rotundifolium |
Leptospermum rotundifolium | ||
| Lophostemon confertus | Brush box | Tristania conferta | |
| Marianthus erubescens | Red billardiera | Billardiera erubescens | |
| Melaleuca brassii | Asteromyrtus brassii | ||
| Melaleuca diosmatifolia | Melaleuca erubescens | ||
| Melaleuca erubescens | Melaleuca diosmatifolia | ||
| Melicope elleryana | Corkwood | Euodia elleryana | |
| Microcitrus australasica | Finger lime | Citrus australasica | |
| Microstrobos fitzgeraldii | Dwarf mountain pine | Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii | |
| Myoporum debile | Winter apple | Eremophila debilis | |
| Nematolepis squamea (7) | Phebalium squameum | ||
| Omalanthus nutans | Bleeding heart | Omalanthus populifolius | |
| Omalanthus populifolius | Bleeding heart | Omalanthus nutans | |
| Oreocallis pinnata | Dorrigo waratah | Alloxylon pinnatum | |
| Oreocallis "wickhamii" (1) | Tree waratah | Alloxylon flammeum | |
| Oxylobium scandens | Podolobium scandens | ||
| Ozothamnus diosmifolius | Riceflower | Helichrysum diosmifolium | |
| Parahebe perfoliata | Derwentia perfoliata | ||
| Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii | Dwarf mountain pine | Microstrobos fitzgeraldii | |
| Phebalium ambiens (7) | Leionema ambiens | ||
| Phebalium dentatum (7) | Leionema dentatum | ||
| Phebalium phylicifolium (7) | Leionema phylicifolium | ||
| Phebalium squameum (7) | Nematolepis squamea | ||
| Philotheca myoporoides | Long-leaf wax flower | Eriostemon myoporoides | |
| Pittosporum rhombifolium | Diamond-leaf pittosporum | Auranticarpa rhombifolium | |
| Podolobium scandens | Oxylobium scandens | ||
| Rhodanthe anthemoides | Helipterum anthemoides | ||
| Rhodanthe chlorocephala ssp.rosea | Pink paper daisy | Helipterum roseum | |
| Rhodanthe manglesii | Pink everlasting | Helipterum manglesii | |
| Rhododendron lochiae (15) | Native rhododendron | Rhododendron viriosum | |
| Rhododendron viriosum (15) | Native rhododendron | Rhododendron lochiae | |
| Senna artemisioides | Silver cassia | Cassia artemisioides | |
| Senna odorata | Cassia odorata | ||
| Schoenia filifolia ssp.subulifera | Showy everlasting | Helichrysum subulifolium | |
| Sollya heterophylla | Bluebell climber | Billardiera heterophylla | |
| Stypandra caespitosum | Tufted blue-lily | Thelionema caespitosum | |
| Swainsona formosa (8) | Sturt's desert pea | Clianthus formosus | |
| Syncarpia glomulifera | Turpentine | Syncarpia laurifolia | |
| Syncarpia laurifolia | Turpentine | Syncarpia glomulifera | |
| Syzygium australe (5) | Scrub or magenta cherry | Eugenia australis | |
| Syzygium coolminianum | Blue lilly-pilly | Syzygium oleosum | |
| Syzygium floribunda | Weeping lilly-pilly | Waterhousea floribunda | |
| Syzygium luehmannii | Small leaved lilly-pilly | Eugenia luehmannii | |
| Syzygium oleosum | Blue lilly-pilly | Eugenia cyanocarpa/ Syzygium coolminianum |
|
| Syzygium paniculatum (5) | Scrub or magenta cherry | Eugenia australis | |
| Thelionema caespitosum | Tufted blue-lily | Stypandra caespitosum | |
| Toona australis | Red cedar | Toona ciliata | |
| Toona ciliata | Red cedar | Toona australis | |
| Tripladenia cunninghamii | Bush lily | Kreysigia multiflora | |
| Tristania conferta | Brush box | Lophostemon confertus | |
| Tristania laurina | Water gum | Tristaniopsis laurina | |
| Tristaniopsis laurina | Water gum | Tristania laurina | |
| Viola banksii (13) | Native violet | Viola hederacea | |
| Viola hederacea (13) | Native violet | Viola banksii | |
| Waterhousea floribunda | Weeping lilly-pilly | Eugenia floribunda Syzygium floribunda |
|
| Xerochrysum bracteatum (11) | Golden everlasting | Bracteantha bracteata/Helichrysum bracteatum | |
| Xerochrysum subundulatum (11) | Orange everlasting | Bracteantha subundulata/Helichrysum acuminatum |
- The plant commonly cultivated as Oreocallis wickhamii was not, in fact, the true O.wickhamii (now known as Alloxylon wickhamii)
- The Callistemon paludosus/pityoides/sieberi changes are confusing. Apparently research has shown that the plant previously referred to as C.paludosus was attributable to the original description of C.sieberi, thus requiring the reinstatement of the original name. As a result a new name (C.pityoides) has been applied to the plant previously known as C.sieberi.
- Calytrix sullivanii has been incorporated into the existing species, C.tetragona.
- In 1995 the genus Corymbia, of 113 species, was created by K.Hill and L.Johnson (Telopea, Volume 6(2-3)). In addition to 33 new species, Hill and Johnson transferred the four Eucalyptus species listed here, plus another 76, to the new genus. More recently, Ian Brooker absorbed both Corymbia and Angophora into Eucalyptus (Australian Systematic Botany 13, 79-148.) but this work does not appear to have gained wide acceptance and most authorities retain Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora as separate genera.
- Eugenia australis is now regarded as two separate species, Syzygium australe and S.paniculatum.
- The popular garden plant commonly known as Grevillea biternata is incorrectly named. The correct name is G.curviloba subsp incurva. The true G.biternata is not widely cultivated.
- Extensive revision of the genus Phebalium by Paul Wilson has seen 21 species transferred to the genus Leionema, 6 species transferred to Nematolepis and 3 species transferred to Rhadinothamnus. 25 species remain in Phebalium.
- Alex George (well known to many for his work in the revision of Banksia and Dryandra and for his work on the Flora Of Australia project) published a name change for Sturt's desert pea in the 'Western Australian Naturalist' in 1999. He has called the plant Willdampia formosa in honour of the explorer William Dampier. This proposal, however, does not seem to have received general acceptance.
- Until 1995, all Australian gentians were considered to be included under Gentianella diemensis. They have now been transferred to the genus Chionogentias and split into 14 separate species. The genus Chionogentias also occurs outside of Australia.
- The species formerly known as Baeckea virgata (now Babingtonia virgata) is now considered to be restricted to New Caledonia and does not occur in Australia. Australian plants formerly referred to Baeckea virgata are now considered to belong to a number of different Babingtonia species (however, a paper published in September 2007 by P.Wilson et. al. may see furher changes in this group of plants: Re-evaluation of the genus Babingtonia (Myrtaceae) in eastern Australia and New Caledonia; Australian Systematic Botany 20, 302-318).
- Several species formerly included in the genus Helichrysum were transferred to the new genus Bracteantha in 1991. However, it has recently (2001) been discovered that the name Xerochrysum, published by a Russian botanist in 1990, must take precedence under the rules of botanical nomenclature. This means that Bracteantha bracteatum and B.subundulata (and several other species) are now reclassified under the genus Xerochrysum.
- The name Acacia aulacocarpa is still current but has been widely misapplied and a number of forms previously referred to as A.aulacocarpa have now been transferred to other species. The form from coastal and near coastal areas of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales (and the one most commonly referred to as A.aulacocarpa in the past) is now A.disparrima.
- The name Viola hederacea is still current but research has indicated that the form commonly cultivated is sufficiently distinct from the type form of that species to warrant re-classification.
- All species in the genus Brachysema have been transferred to the genus Gastrolobium.
- The commonly cultivated plant known as Rhododendron lochiae has been found to be a separate species to the true R.lochiae. The name R.viriosum now applies to the commonly grown species. For further details see ANPSA's Rhododendron viriosum page.
- Dianella laevis is now recognised as D.longifolia in WA, NT, Qld, NSW and the ACT. Victorian populations are regarded as distinct and the name D.laevis is still current in that State.
Thanks to John Wrigley, Cas Liber, John Atkinson and Angus McLeod for providing comments and suggestions.