Nameing new plants/species

[Eric Williams]

Hi all, at a great zone 9 convention on Sun.I had the following thought. An esteemed speaker mentioned that after finding a new plant it was named with regard to location etc or even after some notable cactus grower. Sometimes the plant was discovered in dangerous localities and at great physical endurance to the finder. So why is it not named after the finder. Are there any botanical or other reasons why .Thanks

[Stuart]

Yes, excellent day at Gloucester on Sunday, I think plants can be named after the finder but it depends who is naming the plant. Plants named for people are normally named by others rather than by the finder themselves. i.e. Matucana Hoxeyi was named for the finder but not by the finder, not sure if there is an unwritten rule for this or if it is modesty that stops the person that finds a new species from naming it after themselves.
Stuart

[Tony R]

Yes, excellent day at Gloucester on Sunday, I think plants can be named after the finder but it depends who is naming the plant. Plants named for people are normally named by others rather than by the finder themselves. i.e. Matucana Hoxeyi was named for the finder but not by the finder, not sure if there is an unwritten rule for this or if it is modesty that stops the person that finds a new species from naming it after themselves.
Stuart

I don't think there is anything in the current International Code of Nomenclature (for algae, fungi, and plants) that says you cannot name a species after yourself. But to avoid vanity (?!) the custom is for someone else to name the plant in your honour.

[Stuart]

Although there have been examples of 'reciprocal naming' - Haworthia and Duvalia as an example, plus the tale of Andrew Carnegie being somewhat underwhelmed when he saw the plant named for him, is there anyone who has named a species after themselves.
Stuart

[KarlR]

Although there have been examples of 'reciprocal naming' - Haworthia and Duvalia as an example, plus the tale of Andrew Carnegie being somewhat underwhelmed when he saw the plant named for him, is there anyone who has named a species after themselves.
Stuart

How on earth could Carnegie be underwhelmed by having the Saguaro named after him?

[Aiko]

How on earth could Carnegie be underwhelmed by having the Saguaro named after him?

Maybe he likes to trade with mister Blossfeld...

[DaveW]

From an account I read of the occasion Carnegie was underwhelmed when he found out the plant was not a new discovery (hardly would have previously been overlooked at that size and visibility) but simply a transfer from Cereus to the new genus Carnegia by Britton & Rose, thereupon immediately lost all interest in it:-

Cereus giganteus Engelmann, Amer. J. Sci. Arts, ser. 2, 14: 336. 1852; Pilocereus giganteus (Engelmann) Rümpler: Carnegiea gigantea (Engelmann) Britton & Rose, J. New York Bot. Gard. 9: 188. 1908.

[Lithos]

Alfred lau managed to get a lot of things named after himself when it was 'the young boys he was careing for' who did all the work.

[DaveW]

The church at work Lithos, god moves in mysterious ways!

[Lithos]

Try explaining that to the boys