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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. As an example, a publication by Lyn Craven of the Australian National Herbarium (Novon 16 468-475; December 2006 “New Combinations in Melaleuca for Australian Species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)“) argues that the differences between Callistemon and Melaleuca are insufficient to warrant them being retained separately and that they should be combined. As Melaleuca has precedence, adoption of Craven’s work would transfer all species of Callistemon into Melaleuca. Some state herbaria have adopted this change while others retain the two genera as separate.

A national database of plant names

The issue of some authorities accepting a re-classified plant name while others do not raises a problem for an organisation like ANPSA. What names do we accept?

Our approach is to adopt the Australian Plant Census. The Australian Plant Census provides a nationally-accepted taxonomy which is endorsed by the Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria. The Census is a work in progress and not all plants have been reviewed.

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

Check for a plant name in the ‘Species’ column A, then read the corresponding Previous Name or Current Name in column C or D. Currently accepted names are shown in bold text in Column D. Click on underlined names to view plant profiles for those species. Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes at the bottom of the tables.

Species (A)
Common Name (B)
Previous Name (C)
Current Name (D)
Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. tuberosus
Native Rosella
Hibiscus rhodopetalus
Acacia aulacocarpa (12)
Hickory Wattle
Acacia disparrima and others
Acacia armata
Kangaroo Thorn
Acacia paradoxa
Acacia binervia
Coast Myall
Acacia glaucescens
Acacia binervia
Acacia disparrima (12)
Hickory Wattle
Acacia aulacocarpa
Acacia disparrima
Acacia glaucescens
Coast Myall
Acacia binervia
Acacia paradoxa
Kangaroo Thorn
Acacia armata
Acacia paradoxa
Acmena smithii
Lilly-pilly
Agapetes meiniana
Mountain Bells
Agonis juniperina
Juniper Myrtle
Taxandria juniperina
Allocasuarina littoralis
Black She-oak
Casuarina littoralis
Allocasuarina littoralis
Allocasuarina torulosa
Forest Oak
Casuarina torulosa
Allocasuarina torulosa
Allocasuarina verticillata
Drooping She-oak
Casurarina stricta
Allocasuarina verticillata
Alloxylon flammeum
Tree Waratah
Oreocallis “wickhamii” (1)
Alloxylon pinnatum
Dorrigo Waratah
Oreocallis pinnata
Alloxylon pinnatum
Alocasia brisbanensis
Cunjevoi
Alocasia macrorrhizos
Alocasia brisbanensis
Alocasia macrorrhizos
Cunjevoi
Alocasia brisbanensis
Anetholea anisata
Aniseed Myrtle
Backhousia anisata
Anetholea anisata
Androcalva fraseri
Brush Kurrajong
Commersonia fraseri
Asteromyrtus brassii
None widely accepted
Melaleuca brassii
Asteromyrtus brassii
Astroloma pinifolium (17)
Pine Heath
Auranticarpa rhombifolia
Diamond-leaf Pittosporum
Pittosporum rhombifolium
Austromyrtus inophloia
Thready-barked Myrtle
Backhousia anisata
Aniseed Myrtle
Anetholea anisata
Baeckea sp. Mt Tozer
Mt Tozer Heath Myrtle
Sannantha tozerensis
Baeckea ramosissima
Rosy Baeckea
Baeckea virgata (10)
Tall Baeckea
Various genera
Banksia aemula
Wallum Banksia
Banksia serratifolia
Banksia aquilonia
Northern Banksia
Banksia integrifolia var. aquilonia
Banksia asplenifolia
Fern Leaf Banksia
Banksia gardneri
Prostrate Banksia
Banksia prostrata
Banksia integrifolia var. aquilonia
Northern Banksia
Banksia oblongifolia
Fern Leaf Banksia
Banksia asplenifolia
Banksia prostrata
Prostrate Banksia
Banksia serratifolia
Wallum Banksia
Billardiera erubescens
Red Billardiera
Billardiera heterophylla
Bluebell Climber
Sollya heterophylla
Brachyscome sp. aff. melanocarpa
“Pilliga Posy”
Brachyscome formosa
“Pilliga Posy”
Brachyscome sp. aff. melanocarpa
Brachysema celsianum (14)
Swan River Pea
Brachysema lanceolatum (14)
Swan River Pea
Bracteantha bracteata (11)
Golden Everlasting
Bracteantha subundulata (11)
Orange Everlasting
Callistemon ‘Injune’
Injune Bottlebrush
Callistemon macropunctatus
Scarlet Bottlebrush
Callistemon rugulosus
Callistemon paludosus (2)
River Bottlebrush
Callistemon sieberi
Callistemon pityoides (2)
Alpine Bottlebrush
Callistemon sieberi
Callistemon pityoides
Callistemon quercinus
Injune Bottlebrush
Callistemon ‘Injune’
Callistemon rugulosus
Scarlet Bottlebrush
Callistemon macropunctatus
Callistemon rugulosus
Callistemon sieberi (2)
River Bottlebrush
Callistemon paludosus
Callistemon sieberi
Callistemon sieberi (2)
Alpine Bottlebrush
Callistemon pityoides
Calytrix sullivanii (3)
Fringe Myrtle
Calytrix tetragona (3)
Fringe Myrtle
Calytrix sullivanii
Cassia artemisioides
Silver Cassia
Cassia odorata
Fragrant Senna
Senna odorata
Casuarina littoralis
Black She-oak
Allocasuarina littoralis
Casuarina stricta
Drooping She-oak
Allocasuarina verticillata
Casuarina torulosa
Forest Oak
Allocasuarina torulosa
Chamelaucium floriferum subsp. diffusum
None widely accepted
Chamelaucium sp. Nornalup
Chamelaucium floriferum subsp. floriferum
Walpole Wax
Chamelaucium sp. Nornalup
None widely accepted
Chamelaucium floriferum subsp. diffusum
Chamelaucium sp. Nornalup
Chamelaucium sp. Walpole
Walpole Wax
Chamelaucium floriferum subsp. floriferum
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
Commersonia fraseri
Brush Kurrajong
Commersonia hermanniifolia
None widely accepted
Rulingia hermanniifolia
Coronidium elatum
White Everlasting Daisy
Helichrysum elatum
Coronidium elatum
Coronidium scorpioides
Button Everlasting
Helichrysum scorpioides
Coronidium scorpioides
Corymbia calophylla (4)
Marri
Eucalyptus calophylla
Corymbia citriodora (4)
Lemon-scented Gum
Eucalyptus citriodora
Corymbia citriodora
Corymbia ficifolia (4)
Red flowering Gum
Eucalyptus ficifolia
Corymbia maculata (4)
Spotted Gum
Eucalyptus maculata
Cryptandra scortechinii
Cotton Bush
Spyridium scortechinii
Dendrobium cucumerinum
Cucumber Orchid
Dockrillia cucumerina
Dendrobium linguiforme
Tongue Orchid
Dendrobium pugioniforme
Dagger Orchid
Dockrillia pugioniformis
Derwentia perfoliata
Digger’s Speedwell
Veronica perfoliata
Dianella laevis (15)
Smooth Flax Lily
Dianella longifolia
Dianella longifolia (15)
Smooth Flax Lily
Dianella laevis
Dianella longifolia
Dockrillia cucumerina
Cucumber Orchid
Dendrobium cucumerinum
Dockrillia cucumerina
Dockrillia linguiformis
Tongue Orchid
Dendrobium linguiforme
Dockrillia pugioniformis
Dagger Orchid
Dendrobium pugioniforme
Dockrillia pugioniformis
Dryandra sp. (16)
Various
Banksia sp.
Eremocitrus glauca
Wild Lime
Eremophila debilis
Winter Apple
Myoporum debile
Eriostemon myoporoides
Long-leaf Wax Flower
Eucalyptus calophylla (4)
Marri
Eucalyptus citriodora (4)
Lemon-scented Gum
Corymbia citriodora
Eucalyptus ficifolia (4)
Red Flowering Gum
Eucalyptus maculata (4)
Spotted Gum
Eugenia australis (5)
Scrub or Magenta Cherry
Eugenia cyanocarpa
Blue Lilly-pilly
Eugenia floribunda
Weeping Lilly-pilly
Eugenia luehmannii
Small leaved Lilly-pilly
Syzygium luehmannii
Euodia elleryana
Corkwood
Melicope elleryana
Euryomyrtus ramosissima
Rosy Baeckea
Baeckea ramosissima
Evodiella muelleri
Little Evodia
Gastrolobium celsianum (14)
Swan River Pea
Brachysema celsianum
Gentianella diemensis (9)
Mountain Gentian
Gossia inophloia
Thready-barked Myrtle
Austromyrtus inophloia
Grevillea biternata (6)
Curved Leaf Grevillea
Grevillea curviloba subsp. incurva
Grevillea curviloba subsp. incurva (6)
Curved Leaf Grevillea
Grevillea biternata
Grevillea curviloba subsp. incurva
Hakea archaeoides
Big Nellie Hakea
Hakea trineura (southern form)
Hakea coriacea
Emu Tree
Now included in Hakea francisiana
Hakea drupacea
Sweet Hakea
Hakea suaveolens
Hakea drupacea
Hakea salicifolia
Willow-leaved Hakea
Hakea saligna
Hakea saligna
Willow-leaved Hakea
Hakea suaveolens
Sweet Hakea
Hakea drupacea
Hakea trineura (southern form)
Big Nellie Hakea
Helichrysum acuminatum (11)
Orange Everlasting
Helichrysum apiculatum
Common Everlasting
Helichrysum bracteatum (11)
Golden Everlasting
Helichrysum diosmifolium
Riceflower
Helichrysum elatum
White Everlasting Daisy
Coronidium elatum
Helichrysum ramosissimum
Common Everlasting
Helichrysum scorpioides
Button Everlasting
Coronidium scorpioides
Helichrysum subulifolium
Showy Everlasting
Helipterum anthemoides
Chamomile Sunray
Helipterum manglesii
Pink Sunray
Helipterum roseum
Pink Everlasting
Hibiscus rhodopetalus
Native Rosella
Kreysigia multiflora
Bush Lily
Tripladenia cunninghamii
Kunzea ericoides
Burgan
Leptospermum ericoides
Kunzea ericoides
Leionema ambiens (7)
Forest Phebalium
Phebalium ambiens
Leionema ambiens
Leionema dentatum (7)
Toothed Phebalium
Phebalium dentatum
Leionema dentatum
Leionema phylicifolium (7)
Mountain Phebalium
Phebalium phylicifolium
Leionema phylicifolium
Leptospermum ericoides
Burgan
Kunzea ericoides
Leptospermum flavescens
Yellow Tea Tree
Leptospermum lanigerum var. macrocarpum
Large-fruited Tea Tree
Leptospermum macrocarpum
Large-fruited Tea Tree
Leptospermum lanigerum var. macrocarpum
Leptospermum polygalifolium
Yellow Tea Tree
Leptospermum flavescens
Leptospermum rotundifolium
Round-leaf Tea Tree
Leptospermum scoparium var. rotundifolium
Leptospermum scoparium var. rotundifolium
Round-leaf Tea Tree
Lophostemon confertus
Brush Box
Tristania conferta
Lophostemon confertus
Marianthus erubescens
Red Billardiera
Billardiera erubescens
Melaleuca brassii
None widely accepted
Asteromyrtus brassii
Melaleuca diosmatifolia
Rosy Paperbark
Melaleuca erubescens
Melaleuca erubescens
Rosy Paperbark
Melicope elleryana
Corkwood
Euodia elleryana
Melicope elleryana
Melicope rubra
Little Evodia
Evodiella muelleri
Microcitrus australasica
Finger Lime
Microstrobos fitzgeraldii
Dwarf Mountain Pine
Myoporum debile
Winter Apple
Nematolepis squamea (7)
Satinwood
Phebalium squameum
Omalanthus nutans
Bleeding Heart
Omalanthus populifolius
Omalanthus nutans
Omalanthus populifolius
Bleeding Heart
Omalanthus nutans
Oreocallis pinnata
Dorrigo Waratah
Alloxylon pinnatum
Oreocallis “wickhamii” (1)
Tree Waratah
Oxylobium scandens
Netted Shaggy Pea
Ozothamnus diosmifolius
Riceflower
Helichrysum diosmifolium
Paphia meiniana
Mountain Bells
Agapetes meiniana
Parahebe perfoliata
Digger’s Speedwell
Veronica perfoliata
Phaius australis
Swamp Lily
Phaius tancarvilleae
Phaius tancarvilleae
Swamp Lily
Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii
Dwarf Mountain Pine
Microstrobos fitzgeraldii
Phebalium ambiens (7)
Forest Phebalium
Leionema ambiens
Phebalium dentatum (7)
Toothed Phebalium
Leionema dentatum
Phebalium phylicifolium (7)
Mountain Phebalium
Leionema phylicifolium
Phebalium squameum (7)
Satinwood
Long-leaf Wax Flower
Eriostemon myoporoides
Pittosporum rhombifolium
Diamond-leaf Pittosporum
Podolobium scandens
Netted Shaggy Pea
Oxylobium scandens
Rhodanthe anthemoides
Chamomile Sunray
Helipterum anthemoides
Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea
Pink Everlasting
Helipterum roseum
Rhodanthe manglesii
Pink Sunray
Helipterum manglesii
Rulingia hermanniifolia
None widely accepted
Sannantha tozerensis
Mt Tozer Heath Myrtle
Baeckea sp. Mt Tozer
Sannantha tozerensis
Senna artemisioides
Silver Cassia
Cassia artemisioides
Senna odorata
Fragrant Senna
Cassia odorata
Senna odorata
Schoenia filifolia subsp. subulifera
Showy Everlasting
Helichrysum subulifolium
Sollya heterophylla
Bluebell Climber
Spyridium scortechinii
Cotton Bush
Cryptandra scortechinii
Spyridium scortechinii
Stenanthera pinifolia (17)
Pine Heath
Astroloma pinifolium
Stypandra caespitosum
Tufted Blue-lily
Swainsona formosa (8)
Sturt’s Desert Pea
Clianthus formosus
Syncarpia glomulifera
Turpentine
Syncarpia laurifolia
Syncarpia glomulifera
Syncarpia laurifolia
Turpentine
Syncarpia glomulifera
Syzygium australe (5)
Scrub or Magenta Cherry
Eugenia australis
Syzygium coolminianum
Blue Lilly-pilly
Eugenia cyanocarpa/Syzygium coolminianum
Syzygium floribundum
Weeping Lilly-pilly
Waterhousea floribunda/Eugenia floribunda
Syzygium luehmannii
Small leaved Lilly-pilly
Eugenia luehmannii
Syzygium luehmannii
Syzygium oleosum
Blue Lilly-pilly
Eugenia cyanocarpa/Syzygium coolminianum
Syzygium paniculatum (5)
Scrub or Magenta Cherry
Eugenia australis
Syzygium smithii
Lilly-pilly
Acmena smithii
Syzygium unipunctatum
Roly Poly Satinash
Waterhousea unipunctata
Taxandria juniperina
Juniper Myrtle
Agonis juniperina
Taxandria juniperina
Thelionema caespitosum
Tufted Blue-lily
Stypandra caespitosum
Toona australis
Red Cedar
Toona ciliata
Toona ciliata
Red Cedar
Toona australis
Toona ciliata
Tripladenia cunninghamii
Bush Lily
Kreysigia multiflora
Tripladenia cunninghamii
Tristania conferta
Brush Box
Lophostemon confertus
Tristania laurina
Water Gum
Tristaniopsis laurina
Water Gum
Tristania laurina
Veronica perfoliata
Digger’s Speedwell
Parahebe perfoliata/Derwentia perfoliata
Veronica perfoliata
Viola banksii (13)
Native Violet
Viola hederacea
Viola hederacea (13)
Native Violet
Waterhousea floribunda
Weeping Lilly-pilly
Waterhousea unipunctata
Roly poly satinash
Xerochrysum bracteatum (11)
Golden Everlasting
Bracteantha bracteata/Helichrysum bracteatum
Xerochrysum subundulatum (11)
Orange Everlasting
Bracteantha subundulata/Helichrysum acuminatum

 

Table 2. Some Re-classified Plant Families
Currently accepted names are shown in bold text

Superseded Family Name
Common Genera
New Family Name
Caesalpiniaceae
Cassia, Senna
Now included in Fabaceae as sub-family Caesalpinioideae
Epracidaceae
Epacris, Leucopogon, Styphelia
Now included in Ericaceae as sub-family Epacridoideae
Mimosaceae
Acacia, Parachidendron
Now included in Fabaceae as sub-family Mimosoideae
Myoporaceae
Eremophila, Myoporum
Now included in Scrophulariaceae
Sterculeaceae
Brachychiton, Guichenotia, Thomasia
Now included in Malvaceae as sub-family Sterculioideae
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Xanthorrhoea
Now included in Asphodelaceae as sub-family Xanthorrhoeoideae
  1. The plant commonly cultivated as Oreocallis wickhamii was not, in fact, the true O.wickhamii (now known as Alloxylon wickhamii)
  2. 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.
  3. Calytrix sullivanii has been incorporated into the existing species, C.tetragona.
  4. 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 EucalyptusCorymbia and Angophora as separate genera.
  5. Eugenia australis is now regarded as two separate species, Syzygium australe and S.paniculatum.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. The species formerly known as Baeckea virgata (now Sannantha virgata) is considered to be restricted to New Caledonia and does not occur in Australia. Australian plants formerly referred to Baeckea virgata have been re-classified to a number of different genera including Sannantha, Kardomia and Harmogia.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. All species in the genus Brachysema have been transferred to the genus Gastrolobium.
  15. 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.
  16. A paper published by A R Mast and K Thiele (The transfer of Dryandra R.Br. to Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae); Australian Systematic Botany, 26 February 2007), proposed that the genus Dryandra be subsumed into Banksia. This revised classification has been accepted by the Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria and the new Banksia names now appear on Florabase (the website for the Western Australian Herbarium) and in the Australian Plant Census. The new classification has come in for some criticism but, as the Australian Plant Census has been adopted as the authority on plant names by ANPSA, the revised classifiation has been accepted on the ANPSA website.
  17. The reclassification of two species of Astroloma to Stenanthera is accepted in the Australian Plant Census but is not accepted by some other authorities (it is possible that both Stenanthera and Astroloma, together with several other related genera, will be transferred to an expanded Styphelia genus in the future).

Thanks to the late John Wrigley, Cas Liber, John Atkinson and Angus McLeod for providing comments and suggestions.