Cimicifuga renamed Actaea

Discussion in 'Plants: Nomenclature and Taxonomy' started by Eric La Fountaine, Jun 26, 2006.

  1. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,511
    Likes Received:
    235
    Location:
    sw USA
    Evidence for incorporating the genera Cimicifuga and Souliea into Actaea was published in 1998.

    Taxon 47, Aug. 1998, ppg. 593-634
    http://www.jstor.org/view/00400262/ap040272/04a00040/0

    (note link requires subscription to view)

    This has become adopted by most botanists and UBCBG agrees. As of June 26, 2006 the entries and labels of all accessions of these genera will be accordingly changed.
     
  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,417
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
  3. Steve H

    Steve H Active Member

    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Northumberland UK
    I am familiar with Actea producing a fleshy berry but wondered about the free dry carpels of Cimicifuga? Wouldn't this technical difference in Angiosperm floral characteristics normally be too strong a structural feature to ignore irrespective of other more recent techniques used for classification? A strong case here I would have thought?
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,417
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    I guess you'd need to show that all the fleshy fruited species share a common ancestor separate from the common ancestor of all the dry fruited species. That need not be the case; it could be that either character has evolved more than once in the lineage.
     

Share This Page