Surreal illustration of two plants on a chessboard, symbolizing the conflict in plant nomenclature.

The Botanical Identity Crisis: Why Naming Plants is More Dramatic Than Your Favorite Soap Opera

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Avery Sinclair in Science & Nature August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Dive into the tangled world of plant nomenclature, where historical feuds and strict rules determine what's in a name – and why Selenia is at the heart of a botanical battle."


Imagine a world where even the names of plants are battlegrounds. This isn't science fiction; it's the surprisingly dramatic reality of botanical nomenclature. The rules are strict, the history is long, and the stakes, while seemingly academic, can have significant implications for research and conservation. At the center of one such drama is the genus Selenia, a small group of flowering plants in the mustard family (Cruciferae or Brassicaceae).

Selenia Nutt., as it's known in botanical circles, is a well-established genus of five species native to the southern and central United States and northern Mexico. For nearly two centuries, botanists have consistently recognized and used this name, including in major floristic works and molecular studies. But there's a problem: an older name, Selenia Hill, threatens to upend this stability. Selenia Hill, however, refers to a completely different plant, a liverwort (Hepaticae: Lunulariaceae).

The conflict arises because of the strict rules of priority in botanical nomenclature: the older name generally takes precedence. In this case, Selenia Hill dates back to 1773, predating Selenia Nutt.'s naming in 1825. This creates a nomenclatural crisis, potentially rendering Selenia Nutt. illegitimate and requiring a new name for the mustard genus, along with new combinations for its species.

The Selenia Showdown: A Tale of Two Plants

Surreal illustration of two plants on a chessboard, symbolizing the conflict in plant nomenclature.

The story of Selenia Hill is intertwined with the life of John Hill (1714-1775), a colorful figure in British scientific history. Hill was an apothecary, doctor, writer, and botanist, known for his prolific output of publications. Among his works was "A General Natural History," a pre-Linnaean publication that gained nomenclatural standing with its second edition in 1773. It was in this edition that Hill described Selenia, a genus containing a single species, which he linked to Linnaeus's Marchantia cruciata, now known as Lunularia cruciata, a common liverwort.

Despite its early publication, Selenia Hill has been largely ignored in botanical literature. It wasn't until 1986 that it appeared in the Index Nominum Genericorum Supplementum I. Crucially, no species names have ever been combined with Selenia Hill, and the liverwort name Lunularia cruciata remains secure. However, the existence of Selenia Hill throws a wrench into the gears of Selenia Nutt.'s continued use.

  • Priority Rules: The International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) gives precedence to the older name.
  • Homonym Threat: Selenia Hill (1773) threatens the use of Selenia Nutt. (1825) because they are names for different plants.
  • Nomenclatural Chaos: Rejecting Selenia Nutt. would require a new genus name and five new species combinations.
  • Conservation Plea: A formal proposal seeks to conserve Selenia Nutt. to maintain stability.
The authors of the research paper, Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz and Gerrit Davidse, propose conserving the name Selenia Nutt. This means formally requesting the botanical community to protect the established name, setting aside the strict priority rule. Conserving Selenia Nutt. would prevent significant disruption and maintain clarity in botanical literature. Rejecting it would necessitate creating a new genus name and renaming all five species within Selenia, a time-consuming and potentially confusing process.

A Plea for Stability: Why Plant Names Matter

The proposal to conserve Selenia Nutt. is a call for stability in a field where precision is paramount. While the drama of plant naming might seem esoteric, it underscores the importance of clear and consistent communication in science. Conserving Selenia Nutt. ensures that researchers, conservationists, and anyone working with these plants can continue to do so without the confusion and disruption caused by a name change. It’s a reminder that even in the quiet world of botany, history and rules can create surprisingly compelling conflicts.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What's the core conflict in the naming of the plant genus Selenia?

The primary issue is that "Selenia Hill", named in 1773, refers to a liverwort, while "Selenia Nutt.", named in 1825, denotes a genus of mustard plants. According to the International Code of Nomenclature (ICN), the older name generally takes precedence. This threatens the legitimacy of "Selenia Nutt.", potentially requiring a new genus name and new combinations for its five species.

2

How do priority rules in botanical nomenclature impact the Selenia naming dispute?

The International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) prioritizes the older name in most cases. In this specific scenario, because "Selenia Hill" predates "Selenia Nutt.", strict adherence to the rules would mean "Selenia Nutt." becomes illegitimate. However, exceptions can be made through a conservation proposal, which is being pursued to protect the long-standing use of "Selenia Nutt." This conservation aims to prevent widespread confusion and maintain stability in botanical nomenclature.

3

What are the consequences of either conserving or rejecting the name Selenia Nutt.?

Conserving "Selenia Nutt." means the botanical community would formally request that the established name be protected, overriding the strict priority rule that favors "Selenia Hill". If the proposal is rejected, botanists would need to find a completely new genus name for the mustard plants currently known as "Selenia Nutt.", and then rename all five species within that genus. This would create confusion and require updates to databases, publications and herbaria.

4

Who was John Hill, and what role did he play in the Selenia naming issue?

John Hill (1714-1775) was a British apothecary, doctor, writer, and botanist. In the second edition of his "A General Natural History" published in 1773, Hill described "Selenia", linking it to Linnaeus's Marchantia cruciata, now known as Lunularia cruciata. Although this name predates "Selenia Nutt.", it has been largely ignored in botanical literature. The resurrection of "Selenia Hill" creates the current conflict due to the rules of priority.

5

Why is maintaining stability in plant names, like that of Selenia Nutt., important for broader scientific efforts?

Botanical nomenclature, while seemingly academic, has significant implications for research, conservation, and communication within the scientific community. Consistent and stable names like "Selenia Nutt." are essential for accurately referencing plants in studies, conservation efforts, and educational materials. Changes in names can lead to confusion, wasted resources, and potential errors in research findings, impacting efforts to understand and protect plant biodiversity.

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