ARS | Publication request: Proposal to reject the name Sophora lupinpoides (Leguminosae)

Submitted to: Taxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 22, 2011
Publication Date: December 15, 2011
Citation: Kirkbride, J.H., Zhu, X. 2011. Proposal to reject the name Sophora lupinpoides (Leguminosae). Taxon. 60(6):1779-1780.

Interpretive Summary: Golden banner is a famous medicinal plant widely used in Chinese herbal medicine. In addition to the wide international sale and distribution, it is the subject of extensive herbal, pharmacological, and chemical research. For the past 175 years, its scientific name has been Thermopsis lanceolata, but recently an earlier scientific name for golden banner was found that is 59 years older. Therefore it is proposed to reject the earlier scientific name Sophora lupinoides and continue to use the scientific name T. lanceolata for golden banner.

Technical Abstract: The taxonomic history and medicinal importance of Thermopsis lanceolata are discussed. It has been used in scientific and non scientific literature for 175 years. It was recently discovered that it is synonymous with Sophora lupinoides, which was published 59 years earlier, and which has been confused with a species from the Kamchatka peinsula. To retain the use of the scientific name of an international, important medicinal plant, it is proposed to reject S. lupinoides so that T. lanceolata can continue to be used. This scientific name will be used by all those who communicate about this important medicinal plant.