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Title: THE NOMENCLATURE OF IPOMOEA MURICATA (CONVOLVULACEAE) REVISITED.

Author
item STAPLES, G. - BISHOP MUSEUM, HI
item Wiersema, John
item CHAMBERS, N. - LONDON, ENGLAND
item AUSTIN, D. - ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT

Submitted to: Taxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2005
Publication Date: 1/17/2006
Citation: Staples, G.W., Wiersema, J.H., Chambers, N., Austin, D.F. 2005. The nomenclature of Ipomoea muricata (Convolvulaceae) revisited. Taxon 54:1075-1079.

Interpretive Summary: Accurate scientific names of plants are essential for communicating about them especially in regard to plants of economic importance. The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature is a set of rules that govern the scientific names of plants. One of the rules is that the earliest name published must be used. For tropical morning glories there has been confusion about the scientific name because it was difficult to determine exactly when the two-hundred year old scientific name was published. This research reveals evidence for the date of publication of the first scientific name of tropical morning glory. As a result the accurate scientific name for this plant is clarified. This research will be used to facilitate communication about this horticulturally important plant.

Technical Abstract: Confusion about the dates of publication for Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq. and I. muricata Cav. has resulted in both names being set aside in favor of later names proposed for these two distinct taxa. Investigation of the publication date for Jacquin's Plantae rariorum horti caesari schoenbrunnensis enables the clarification of the nomenclature for these two tropical morning glories. Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq. is the earlier name and it is here reinstated for the plant heretofore called I. turbinata Lagasca.