Flag for Taxon: Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus bifrons)
| Flagger | Content Author | Content | Reason | Flag Created | Resolved by | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cgbc | loarie | Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus bifrons) |
R. bifrons is a synonym (the older name) of R. armenicus. Additionally, the overwhelmingly most common name is 'Himalayan Blackberry'. Taxons should be merged with said name applied. Surprised this hasn't been done already. |
Jul. 9, 2021 20:17:59 +0000 | nschwab |
Duplicate flag |
Comments
The two taxa are still recognized as separate species by iNat's taxonomic reference for vascular plants, Plants of the World Online (POWO):
http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60449596-2
http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:735202-1
The Flora of North America treatment you cited has a discussion in which it sounds like the authors consider their synonymy to be provisional pending further research. And the MISIN reference seems to follow Flora of North America.
These taxa being native to Europe, I am inclined to stick with the POWO treatment for now.
Thanks for the links, I assume iNat will just wait until POWO updates their taxonomy. As mentioned in many places, the taxonomy is still debated.
Also, it turns out that there are other flags (one closed, one open) on the same topic, so for the taxonomic issue I would suggest chiming in on the open (first listed) flag here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/flags/496149
https://www.inaturalist.org/flags/385864
As for the common name, when you say that Himalayan blackberry is overwhelmingly the most frequently used, to what geographic scope are you referring? Currently that name is set as the worldwide English default for R. armeniacus, and also as the geographic default for California and North America. If that name is also the prevalent English name in North America for R. bifrons, then we can make it the default for that species and geography as well. But I wouldn't want to make it the global default without more information on usage outside of North America.
Duplicate of:
https://www.inaturalist.org/flags/496149
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242417158
http://www.misin.msu.edu/facts/detail/?project=misin&id=304&cname=Himalayan%20blackberry