Name Changes & the Show
by Dan Kinnard
As you probably have heard, there are name changes floating about our Bromeliad world. For the 2017 show we used the nomenclature from the BSI website.
What does this mean to you, the exhibitor? It only means that as we continue to follow current taxonomy, you will become ever-more familiar with name changes. Nothing new about this; we’ve always checked the names at upon registration at each show. Always check the names on your plants using the simple steps below. Correct names always speed up check-in. Making sure that your names are correct takes less time than cleaning the plant you are showing — and you do clean your plants, don’t you?
Checking plant names is a simple, two part process.
1) Decide what type of plant you want to look up. There are only three types - species, cultivars, and hybrids without a cultivar name. The type can usually be found by looking at the format of your current tag. Here are examples:
With just a little preparation, check-in is quick and easy. We look forward to seeing you and your plants in future shows.
What does this mean to you, the exhibitor? It only means that as we continue to follow current taxonomy, you will become ever-more familiar with name changes. Nothing new about this; we’ve always checked the names at upon registration at each show. Always check the names on your plants using the simple steps below. Correct names always speed up check-in. Making sure that your names are correct takes less time than cleaning the plant you are showing — and you do clean your plants, don’t you?
Checking plant names is a simple, two part process.
1) Decide what type of plant you want to look up. There are only three types - species, cultivars, and hybrids without a cultivar name. The type can usually be found by looking at the format of your current tag. Here are examples:
- The format for a species plant is:
- The genus is capitalized, the species is not.
- Tillandsia ionantha
- Tillandsia ionantha var. vanhyningii
- The format for a named cultivar is:
- The cultivar name is enclosed in single quotes.
- Tillandsia ionantha 'Druid'
- Tillandsia ’'Silver Star’
- xNeomea 'Zydeco'
- The format for a hybrid without a cultivar name is:
- Just the two (or sometimes more) species with an “x” between them.
- Tillandsia ionantha x concolor
- For Species Plants: check to see: if the name appears in the list of valid bromeliad names from the BSI web site: http://www.bsi.org/new/accepted-name-list/
- If it is on the list, check the spelling. That's it. Use that name on the Entry Sheet.
- If it is not on the list look at The Bromeliad Taxon list http://www.bsi.org/new/the-new-bromeliad-taxon-list/ to find the name. It will probably appear in red, indicating that the name is not presently valid. The name in green to the right is the new name. If you click on it, you should see the new name in black meaning it is an accepted name. Use this name on your entry sheet.
- If it is on neither list, the name is invalid but possibly it is a cultivar name written as a species name (without the single quotes). You can check for the cultivar name below.
- For Plants with Cultivar Names (hybrid or named cultivar): Check for an entry in the Bromeliad Cultivar Registry http://registry.bsi.org
- If you find the name, it is registered and valid. Double check your spelling and use this name on the Entry Sheet. Most of the BCR entries have a photo attached. You can also check to see if it resembles your plant.
- For unnamed hybrids: Unnamed hybrids may be entered by using the formula of the hybrid. Make sure that the parentage has valid names.
With just a little preparation, check-in is quick and easy. We look forward to seeing you and your plants in future shows.
