AlohaHoya said:You guys do know, don't you, that there is only ONE correct botanical name for anyplant...there may be clones, ssp. var. etc., but if the plant is published (and would be listed in IPNI) there would be NO controvery as to the latin name. Common names, on the other hand go all over the place....
That's the idea in principle, but reality is quite different. A few plants were given scientific names when they were first discovered and still have those names today. However, most have been reclassified (many times in some cases) over the years as more information was gained about them. It's an ongoing process.
It's important to understand that there is no overriding authority deciding what is the "correct" scientific name of a plant (although a few groups try to depict themselves as such). There are just taxonomists publishing papers that describe why plants should be reclassified. If enough of their colleagues agree, you'll see a change in name usage over time. But, it often involves controversy and not everyone will adopt the new names at once. Organizations like IPNI, ITIS, etc., simply try to represent the general consensus of taxonomists at the current moment.
