Wow! I look at the E-mail I sent, and all the italices are gone. So, also is the multiplcation symbol for the hybrid. I'll try resendin it using undescores for the italicization -- maybe that'll get through. ----- Original Message ---- From: David Ehrlich <idavide@sbcglobal.net> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 8:58:51 AM Subject: Re: [pbs] to italicize or not to italicize... My bible on Plant Systematics gives the ICBN recommendations, which are that both the generic and specific epithets should be italicized. The authority is not italicized. If you are referring to a variety or subspecies, the “var.” or “subsp.” is not italicized, but the following epithet is, e.g., Lyonia ligustrina (L.) DC. var. filiosiflora (Michx.) Furlow Higher taxa are always capitalized; they are generally italicized by Europeans, but not by Americans. Cultivar names should have a capital initial and either be included in single quotes or preceded by “cv.” They are never italicized. Hybrid names are preceded by x, and are italicized. David Ehrlich _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/