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Post by kitchengardener on Feb 27, 2009 6:09:01 GMT -5
Cultivar or Variety - what is the difference between these terms? I have been wondering this for a few days. Is one a more 'correct' term?
Cheers,
James
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Post by flowerpower on Feb 27, 2009 7:00:52 GMT -5
A cultivar is a variety that is puposefully grown by humans. This term doesn't apply to plants growing in the wild. Though plants can escape cultivation and establish wild populations. Or you can take a plant from the wild and begin cultivating it. Variety is just a proper name given to a plant to distinguish it from others of the same species because of its unique traits.
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Post by ceara on Feb 27, 2009 13:52:43 GMT -5
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Post by canadamike on Feb 27, 2009 16:38:11 GMT -5
Great. A simple subject, but a necessary one. I stand corrected in my use of the term cultivar in your language. Cultivar, although it exist in french, is not that popular of a term with the general population, we use variety much more...
Now I know the difference... althoug h I always saw a difference between the use of variety ( abreviated var. ) in a botanical name and variety in the popular language.
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Post by raymondo on Feb 28, 2009 3:18:52 GMT -5
I think that's the case with quite a number of words. There is a meaning in common use and a slightly different, usually much more precise meaning in certain specialist areas. Most people probably use variety and cultivar interchangeably. Now we know that this is not the case in the field of systematics.
In the strictest sense then, Sugarloaf cabbage would be Brassica oleracea var. capitata 'Sugarloaf'. I wonder then what the difference is, botanically, between a variety and a subspecies.
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Post by flowerpower on Feb 28, 2009 7:57:07 GMT -5
Now I know the difference... althoug h I always saw a difference between the use of variety ( abreviated var. ) in a botanical name and variety in the popular language. After looking at Ray's example, I am a bit confused. I would have said the "variety" was Sugarloaf. |
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potagere
gopher
On slopes of the Jura nr Geneva, Switz. Zone 7a/b, but colder microclimate. About 52 sq m in veggies
Posts: 46
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Post by potagere on Feb 28, 2009 11:15:10 GMT -5
"Variety" is a recognized and acceptable taxonomic rank directly below that of "species". "Sub-species" may be used and accepted, but is not necessary, not is it necessary to have a "variety" before using the epithet "sub-species". Confused? Well, check out Article 4 of The International Code of Botanical Nomenlature, at : ibot.sav.sk/icbn/main.htm |
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Post by raymondo on Feb 28, 2009 16:17:30 GMT -5
Flowerpower, in common parlance I would agree with you. The example I gave is just an example of how a botanist might record the taxonomic information for Sugarloaf cabbage. There are rules governing each part of a taxon (botanical naming) and potagere gave a link to the rules in the above post. In the strict botanical sense, 'Sugarloaf' is the cultivar and capitata is variety.
I use the term variety as you do Flowerpower. That's the common usageand I see no reason to change. Nevertheless, I maintain a database of my seeds and in that I do follow taxonomic convention.
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Post by flowerpower on Mar 1, 2009 6:36:20 GMT -5
OK I think I get it.
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Post by kitchengardener on Mar 4, 2009 10:01:39 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for their reply, really interesting. Not sure I am 100% clear on the difference between a variety and a sub-species... and what about a group? Obviously Brassica oleracea is classified under groups, but why not varieties? Is it becuase they are a group of cultivars, rather than a naturally occuring variety or sub-species?
James
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