PBS Friends, Hybrid species are covered by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. This is an internationally agreed upon ‘rule book’ that covers a uniform system in the naming , defining and pubishing botanical scientifgic names. Them us of the “x” in species names is clearly defined in Article H.1. The full botanical code is available on line and goes into a myriad of variations and combinations. One of the goals of the ICBN is to determine what is a valid plant name. "APPENDIX I NAMES OF HYBRIDS Article H.1 H.1.1. Hybridity is indicated by the use of the multiplication sign × or by the addition of the prefix "notho-" 1 <https://iapt-taxon.org/icbn/frameset/…> to the term denoting the rank of the taxon." All valid names must be validly published. I believe Lycoris squamigera was validly published, but predates the code. I believe these names are generally accepted as valid. You can verify this information by looking up the ICBN on line and wading through the intricacies of taxonomy. Understanding, applying and adhering to the ICBN ‘rules’ assures uniform and reliable names of plants. Best Jim On Aug 16, 2020, at 5:41 PM, Jim McKenney via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: Too many meals eaten over the keyboard have resulted in a sticky "i" key: sorry for the two examples in my prior post seen below. I sometimes write the name as Lycoris × squamigera, never (I hope) as squamgera.TOn Sunday, August 16, 2020, 06:31:43 PM EDT, Jim McKenney via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: Many plants whose names were validly published in the past at rank species have turned out to be hybrids. When this happens we sometimes write the names with the × to indicate that the entities in question are of a nothospecific (hybrid) nature.Our local gardens are full of a good example right now: the plant named by Maximowicz as Lycoris squamigera, a validly published name.Those of us who accept the hybrid origin of this plant sometimes write the name as Lycoris × squamgera. The first few times I did this I expected someone to criticize me for generating unnecessary nomina nuda. The combination Lycoris × squamgera. is apparently not validly published.Or is there some arcane rule in the code which allows the use of the × form of the name without formal publication? Jim McKenney. Dr. James Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd Kansas City, MO 64152-2711 USA Phone 816-746-1949 _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…