Very often one plant species can have several different scientific names. The previously accepted names are called “synonyms.” Scientific names are constantly changing thanks to our growing knowledge of plants. Some common reasons for name change are misidentification and reclassification. Although name changes can be frustrating, using the most up-to-date knowledge about which genus a plant belongs to allows for a more accurate placement in the ordering system of botanical classification.
Synonyms are listed from the following sources when available:
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Flora of North America. Oxford University Press on Demand; 1993+.
- Cody, W.J. 2000. Flora of the Yukon Territory. NRC Research Press.
- Hulten, E. 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories: a manual of the vascular plants. Stanford University Press.
- Anderson, J.P. and S.L. Welsh. 1974. Anderson’s Flora of Alaska and adjacent parts of Canada. Brigham Young University Press.
- USDA, NRCS. 2016. The PLANTS Database (13 May 2016). National Plant Data Team: Greensboro, NC. http://plants.usda.gov.
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line databas. http://www.itis.gov.
- Porsild, A.E., and W. Cody. 1980. Vascular Plants of Continental Northwest Territories, Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada.