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- 🔬 About 90% of known fungi species have been renamed at least once due to changing taxonomic insights.
- 📜 A basionym keeps the original author and species name when a fungus is put into a new genus.
- 🧬 New ideas in DNA sequencing and phylogenetics are big reasons for changes in fungal names.
- 👨🔬 The ICN formally sets rules for basionyms, but the ICZN does not. This changes how plants, algae, fungi, and animals are named.
- ⚠️ Not understanding scientific names can lead to ordering the wrong mushroom species or breaking labeling laws.
Understanding Scientific Naming and Its Role in Mycology
Every species—plant, animal, or fungus—gets a scientific name. This ensures people can talk about them clearly across languages, regions, and fields. For mushroom growers, researchers, and hobbyists, understanding how species are named—especially in the constantly evolving field of fungal taxonomy—helps avoid confusion. Even when cultivating mushrooms in Mushroom Grow Bags or a Monotub, proper naming ensures species are identified, grown, and recorded correctly.
What Is a Basionym?
A basionym is the first scientific name officially given to a species when it is first correctly described. This name becomes very important if the species later gets a new genus or another name. The original name does not disappear. Instead, it stays a part of the naming history, linking the new name to its past.
In simple terms, a basionym is a link from a species' first name to its current scientific name. This link to the past is key for following how a species is used and understood in scientific writings, databases, legal papers, and even on product labels.
Structure of a Scientific Name Featuring a Basionym
Scientific names often include author names. These help you follow their naming history. For example:
- Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung et al.
Here:
- (Berk.) points to Miles Joseph Berkeley, who first described the species as Cordyceps sinensis.
- G.H. Sung et al. points to the team who put it into the genus Ophiocordyceps.
Thus, Cordyceps sinensis is the basionym of Ophiocordyceps sinensis.
Why Basionyms Matter in Scientific Work
Scientific names can carry many years, even centuries, of recorded research. The basionym gives an important link to historical data. This helps researchers correctly find past writings about a species, even after changes in its name.
Basionym vs. Protonym: What's the Difference?
It’s easy to get mixed up between basionym and protonym. Both refer to earlier names for a species. But they are not the same. They are used in different science fields and follow different naming rules.
Simple Definitions
- Basionym: You find this in botany and mycology. It is the original name used as a base for a new name (used when a species moves to another genus).
- Protonym: This is used informally in zoology. It refers to the original name or idea for a species, but it is not officially part of the animal naming system.
In-Depth Comparison
| Feature | Basionym | Protonym |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable Fields | Botany, Mycology | Zoology |
| Governs Taxa | Plants, Algae, Fungi | Animals |
| Governing Code | International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) | International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) |
| Definition in Code? | Yes (ICN Article 6.10) | No (Only informal use) |
| Tracks Name Change? | Yes, very important for reclassification | Rarely tracked formally |
| Retains Original Author? | Yes | Situational |
| Implication in Research | Legally important in naming | Only important for context |
Scientific naming needs you to use the right code. This is extra true if your work involves different areas of biology.
Why Fungi Get Renamed Over Time
Fungal names have changed fast. This is mostly because of new ideas in molecular biology and phylogenetics over the past few decades. These updates often mean species must be renamed to show how they are related more truly.
Key Reasons Behind Fungal Renaming
-
DNA Sequencing & Genomics
Many DNA studies often show that fungi once put together because of how they looked are not as closely related as people thought. This causes changes in how they are grouped at the genus level and beyond. -
Cladistics & Phylogenetic Trees
Cladistics helps scientists show family lines visually. These trees can question older ways of grouping species. This makes scientists rename species to show their true family lines. -
Taxonomic Priority & Historical Rediscovery
Sometimes, older, correct names that were forgotten or missed are found again. This means newer names must go back to the older, correct names. -
Dual Nomenclature Systems (formerly for sexual/asexual states)
Before new ICN rules, fungi could have two names—one for each way they reproduce. The system of two names was stopped. Species now have one name based on their classification. This caused more changes.
Real-World Impact
Think again about Cordyceps sinensis → Ophiocordyceps sinensis. This change came from studies that showed not all cordyceps fungi were from the same family line. Seeing these genetic differences meant some species got new genus names.
Such changes affect medicine, law, business, and growing practices.
Real-World Basionym Examples in Mycology
Scientific naming is not just for people who study names. Here’s how basionyms are used with common mushroom species.
🍄 Example 1: Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
- Current Name: Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers.
- Potential Reclassification: If a future study puts it into a new genus, then Hericium erinaceus becomes the basionym for the new name.
- Why It Matters: This mushroom is widely used in health products. A name change could affect product approvals or confuse buyers.
🍄 Example 2: Boletus edulis
- Current Name: Boletus edulis Bull.
- Why It Stands Out: It's a highly valued food mushroom. Knowing its basionym status helps importers and chefs follow its history, even when names differ by region.
🍄 Example 3: Ganoderma lucidum
- Common Names: Reishi/Lingzhi mushroom.
- Original Genus: Boletus?, according to some early descriptions, but officially named Ganoderma.
- Basionym Role: Drug companies and traditional medicine often use this name. Correctly saying where the name comes from is very important for checking quality.
Each basionym is like a breadcrumb trail. It helps you follow changes in naming without losing old information.
Naming Rules in Taxonomic Nomenclature
The accuracy of scientific naming needs international rules. For plants, algae, and fungi, these rules are set by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN).
Core Principles of the ICN
- Priority (Principle III): The earliest correct name published is the one to use.
- Legitimacy: Names must follow ICN rules and be described correctly.
- Typification: Every name is tied to a physical sample or type.
- Stability: Names should not change often. They only change for very good reasons.
Specific Basionym Rules
- Article 6.10: “A new name or a name at a new rank must be based on a correct, already published name”—this is the basionym.
- Article 41.3: New names must clearly list the basionym, including the author.
(Turland et al., 2018)
Understanding these rules helps both professional and amateur mycologists be correct scientifically and follow laws.
Botanical vs. Zoological Use of Basionyms
Basionyms are a big part of naming plants, algae, and fungi through the ICN. But zoologists use different rules set by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
Key Differences
| Characteristic | Botanical/Mycological (ICN) | Zoological (ICZN) |
|---|---|---|
| Code Applied | ICN | ICZN |
| Recognition of Basionym | Yes | No |
| Equivalent Concept | Synonym with cited authorship | Protonym (informal) |
| Authorship Tracking | Required | Optional |
| Example Organisms | Mushrooms, plants | Insects, mammals, birds |
Since fungi follow the ICN, tracking basionyms is very important in fungal science. Zoologists, however, may just use the rule of priority without formal basionyms.
Why Growers Should Learn Basionym Basics
Knowing what a basionym is can help mushroom growers in many ways:
👨🌾 Helps Identify Synonyms
You might see many names for the same mushroom in books, online, or in articles. Knowing about basionyms helps you see that these names are for the same species.
📦 Prevents Purchasing Errors
Wrong labels on spores or cultures could lead someone to grow the wrong species. Knowing basionym connections makes it less likely you will identify it wrong.
🧾 Aids in Legal Compliance
Customs forms, lab records, or product labels might be turned down if scientific names do not match standard names and basionym details.
Tips for Reading Mushroom Names and Synonyms
For those working through the detailed world of mushroom identification, here are practical steps:
1. Look for “syn.” Notation
e.g., Pleurotus djamor syn. Panus djamor. This shows synonym links, and the second name may be the basionym.
2. Check Reputable Databases
- MycoBank
- Index Fungorum
These databases will tell you if a name is current, old, or a basionym.
3. Understand Dual Authorship
e.g., Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler. The first name (by Berkeley) is the basionym. Pegler moved the species to its modern genus.
Common Misconceptions About Basionyms
Let’s clear up some frequent myths:
-
❌ “Basionyms are old and don't matter.”
✅ Fact: They are key for legal and scientific consistency. -
❌ “Each name change must create a new basionym.”
✅ Fact: Only the first correct name is the basionym, no matter how many times it is reclassified. -
❌ “All synonyms are basionyms.”
✅ Fact: Only the original, officially published, and accepted name is the basionym. Many other names are later synonyms.
When Basionyms Hold Legal or Commercial Weight
Being scientifically accurate in naming can decide the success or failure of legal and business deals in the mushroom world:
-
📜 Patents and Research
Must include accurate species names based on correct basionyms to be trusted and put into effect. -
📦 Import/Export Regulations
Need internationally recognized scientific names that you can trace back to the right basionym. -
🧪 Herbal Supplements
Rules makers like the FDA and EMA use consistent names linked to their basionyms.
Scientific Naming Consistency Helps You Grow Smarter
Whether you’re looking at mushroom names or labeling medicinal extracts, knowing the difference between a basionym and a synonym is not just for scholars. It impacts laws, how clear things are, and how well cultures fit. Knowing how scientific names change helps you grow smarter, study more, and work with others more accurately. For those interested in fungi, understanding words like "basionym" gives more than just knowledge. It is a tool to make better choices and truly appreciate fungi's long naming history.
Citations
-
Hawksworth, D. L. (2012). Managing and coping with names of pleomorphic fungi in a period of transition. IMA Fungus, 3(1), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.5598/imafungus.2012.03.01.03
-
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). (1999). International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (4th ed.). London: International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature.
-
Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., ... & Smith, G. F. (2018). International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code). Glashütten: Koeltz Botanical Books.
