Babingtonia Virgata - name change... again!?

[Jason]

Hey all,

I've totoally confused myself whilst doing some research on Baeckea, which I had forgotten had had a name change

I was looking into Baeckea Virgata to find out a bit more info on them, to discover that they had changed the name to Babingtonia (I'd forgotten that!). Then, I dug a bit further, only to discover that it might have been changed again!?

Has the Babingtonia Virgata name been changed to Sannantha Bidwillii?

Am so confused!! Am hoping someone can shed some light for me.

http://asgap.org.au/b-sim.html

[Ash]

We just change names to keep everyone on their toes -

Baeckea virgata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Andrews in the sense of Jeanes (1996) is now recognised as Sannantha pluriflora (F.Muell.) Peter G.Wilson.

Baeckea virgata var. parvula F.M.Bailey is now recognised as Sannantha bidwillii (A.R.Bean) Peter G.Wilson. This is what we tend to grow as bonsai and is common in the nursery trade.

Baeckea virgata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Andrews is now recognised as Sannantha virgata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Peter G.Wilson. Note that Sannantha virgata is now recognised as coming from New Caledonia. The Forster's collected their specimens of this plant from New Caledonia not Australia.

If you look on the Australian Plant Census website and also Atlas of Living Australia Website you should be able to find some more information.

Hope this helps

Ashley

[Jason]

Thankyou kindly Ash, that definately helps

They really do keep us on our toes! I've not even started calling it Babingtonia yet

Will definately save those websites for future reference.

Now to try and find out which ones I have I think it is just a Sannantha bidwillii going from what you have said, but then that is just whats on the label.

Out of curiosity, do nurseries bother to update the names? I only just purchased one from a specialist native nursery under the label of Baeckea just a week or so ago. Would have figured they'd be one of the first to update the name

[Ash]

Hi Jason,

Nurseries don't really tend to update names very frequently unless they have a good reason to. At the end of the day you one choose to use any name you like - so long as you can communicate what plant you mean effectively.

good luck

Ashley

[Pup]

This then would not be classified as an Australian native then. Am I right Ash?


Cheers Pup

[Jason]

This then would not be classified as an Australian native then. Am I right Ash?


Cheers Pup

Exactly my next question lol

[Ash]

Hi Pup, Yes Jason, that is right, real 'type' Sannantha virgata is not considered an Australian Native, it comes from New Caledonia on the sunrise side of the Coral Sea. What we call "virgata" in the nursery trade IS an Australian native and my understanding is that mostly it is Sannantha bidwillii. This is what your lovely tree is and it comes from eastern Queensland. There are a lot of nursery lines too such as 'mini', 'compacta', 'nana' and 'la petite'.
cheers Ash

[Jason]

Hi Pup, Yes Jason, that is right, real 'type' Sannantha virgata is not considered an Australian Native, it comes from New Caledonia on the sunrise side of the Coral Sea. What we call "virgata" in the nursery trade IS an Australian native and my understanding is that mostly it is Sannantha bidwillii. This is what your lovely tree is and it comes from eastern Queensland. There are a lot of nursery lines too such as 'mini', 'compacta', 'nana' and 'la petite'.
cheers Ash

You're a legend, thanks a million for the clarification! Really do appreciate it

Also have a 'nana' which I can't wait to turn into a nice shohin, the leaves and flowers are tiny!