Plant Taxonomy (BIOL308)  -  Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/

Nomenclature Exercise:  Naming a Sunflower

The following names have been published for a small weedy perennial of the southwestern United States. Names with the same specific epithet are based on the same holotype.

• Aster arenosus (Heller) Blake 1940
• Aster ericaefolius Rothrock 1877
• Aster leucelene Blake 1925
• Diplopappus hirtella Gray 1849
• Inula ericoides Torrey 1828
• Leucelene arenosa Heller 1898
• Leucelene ericoides (Torrey) Greene 1896
• Leucelene hirtella (Gray) Rydberg 1906

The following names have been validly published for unrelated species:

• Aster ericoides L. 1753 (eastern US)
• Aster ericaefolius Forskae 1776 (Egypt and Arabia)

1.  What is the correct name for this plant if, in your taxonomic opinion, it belongs in the genus:

1. Aster
2. Leucelene

2.  For each, indicate why the synonyms are invalid (i.e., taxonomic synonym, nomenclatural synonym, homonym, tautonym).

(this exercise is adapted from Dr. D.A. Young, Bot 260, University of Illinois)

Last updated:  09/12/2007 / � Copyright by SG Saupe