International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants

International_Code_of_Nomenclature_for_Cultivated_Plants

The International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) is a set of rules and recommendations dealing with the naming of cultivated plants. It is also known as the Cultivated Plant Code. The ICNCP is distinct from the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), which governs the naming of wild plants.

History[edit | edit source]

The first version of the ICNCP was published in 1953. It has since undergone several revisions, with the most recent edition being published in 2016. The ICNCP is maintained by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).

Principles[edit | edit source]

The ICNCP is based on several key principles:

The primary purpose of the Code is to provide a stable method of naming cultivated plants.
Names should be unique and unambiguous.
The Code applies to all plants that are intentionally maintained in cultivation.
The Code recognizes the importance of cultivars, Groups, and grexes.

Structure[edit | edit source]

The ICNCP is divided into several sections, including:

General principles
Rules for naming cultivars
Rules for naming Groups
Rules for naming grexes
Recommendations for the registration of names

Cultivars[edit | edit source]

A cultivar is a plant that has been selected for a particular characteristic or combination of characteristics and is maintained through cultivation. The name of a cultivar is always written in single quotation marks, for example, Rosa 'Peace'.

Groups[edit | edit source]

A Group is a category used to classify cultivars that share a common characteristic but do not form a single genotype. Groups are often used in the naming of ornamental plants.

Grexes[edit | edit source]

A grex is a term used primarily in orchid nomenclature to refer to the progeny of a particular hybrid cross. The name of a grex is always written in italics.

Registration[edit | edit source]

The ICNCP encourages the registration of cultivar names with an appropriate International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA). Registration helps to ensure the stability and uniqueness of names.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

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