I just declined a proposal to add Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. gotlandica as a new plant. I said I was declining it because it's a synonym of Pulsatilla vulgaris, but that's wrong. It's actually a synonym of Anemone pulsatilla.

Unfortunately, I can't remember who submitted the proposal, so I can't use tree-mail to correct the misinformation I provided.

No problem! It was me. When I searched for Pulsatilla vulgaris, Anemone pulsatilla popped up and I found gotlandica in its synonyms. So I just assumed that was what you meant and uploaded a picture to that file.

I'm so glad you found it. I'm sorry for getting that information confused.

Sadly, the Pulsatilla genus no longer exists, It's still present on The Plant List, but every other source has now reclassified all of the Pulsatilla species as a few species of the Anemone genus.

Some of these name changes are disturbing for those of us who are prone to nostalgia. I have fond memories of the nice Pulsatilla collection I once amassed.

Don't worry... they'll probably be back again in a while, if history is any indicator.

I wish. Unfortunately, the process seems to be moving in only one direction -- fewer and fewer distinct genera and species. Anemone already swallowed up the Hepaticas, which was also disturbing.

Thanks for the correction on my comment about the blue dot, Lori. I had no business making that statement since it was a supposition on my part--dangerous business in gardening and botany.

No worries!

zuzu said:I wish. Unfortunately, the process seems to be moving in only one direction -- fewer and fewer distinct genera and species. Anemone already swallowed up the Hepaticas, which was also disturbing.

The lumpers will have their way for awhile, but the splitters will get their chances again eventually.

Brace yourselves. Lychnis is gone! It no longer exists as a species, according to ITIS and GRIN, and every Lychnis is now a Silene.

I can't say I'm surprised. It would have been difficult to like one and not the other. I'm pretty sure that any gardener with a soft spot for Lychnis also was attracted to Silenes when they were perceived as separate genera.

And there is a bright side: It's much harder to mispronounce Silene.

Really? How many people pronounce it with three syllables?

I actually Googled "Silene pronunciation" after I wrote that post and was amazed to find three different versions on line.