This is another very interesting discussion. I'm a bit weak on the official nomenclatural rules, but as to differentiating between hybrids and species, let me offer some suggestions. DNA sequencing provides the ultimate datum, but it is very hard to come by unless you have a big chunk of funding at your disposal. A less expensive approach (but still not free) is what Ben Zonneveld does: Flow cytometry "weighs" the DNA in the cell nucleus. Often (but not always) the DNA amounts differ enough between species that one can distinguish species A from species B and even (if we are really in luck) from the hybrid AxB or BxA. Biologically, if you are interested in analyzing that particular population, take some cuttings from representative plants and grow them where you can control the pollination. See if they are self-fertile. Raise some of the wild-collected seed to mature plants (if you have plenty of space) and compare them to each other as well as to the parent plants. Have fun! Jim Shields in warm and rainy Westfield, Indiana USA ************************************************* Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd. P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/ Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA