In July 2024, the International Botanical Congress made a historic decision in Madrid. For the first time, taxonomists decided to change the names of about 200 species of organisms. the plants to “politically correct” terms.
The measure, approved by a vote of 351 to 205, aims to remove racist and xenophobic terms from plant names and align science with global efforts against intolerance. The resolution also includes the creation of a committee to address problematic assignments.
Proponents of change argue that as society fights against bias, science must accompany this movement. However, this comprehensive change is not simple and can cause confusion in the scientific literature.
In other words, plants like coastal coral, which will be renamed Erythrina Kafra to Erythrina afraare examples of species whose names will be changed. There are about 218 species whose names are derived from the word “kafra”, a term considered a racial slur in South Africa.
Plants will be given “politically correct” names.
regularly, Classification experts They meet at the International Botanical Congress to consider changes to the rules for naming plants, fungi and algae. The changes voted on at this congress represent an important step for science.
The newly created committee will review names deemed inconsistent, particularly those that honor tyrants or individuals who profited from the slave trade. However, some of the changes will only apply to specific species names from 2026 onwards.
New plant species are usually named by the scientists who discover them, requiring a description to appear in the scientific literature. During the 19th and 20th centuries, it was common for scientists to identify shepherds, kings, and rulers when naming new species.
Thus, many of the honorees were slave owners or had questionable morals. At the recent convention, the creation of a special committee to review controversial names was a response to this historical practice.
Plant naming process and historical changes
Plant naming is a delicate and important process in botany. New species are described and published in scientific literature, and names must follow specific nomenclature rules. The decision to change offensive names is not new, but the latest movement is more comprehensive and aware of its cultural and social impact.
A recent example of this practice is the renaming of the Hibertia plant. The bush, named after George Hibert, an 18th-century merchant who profited from the slave trade, has been the subject of calls for change.
Hibertia is one plant that can change its name. (Photo: Ronnie Alan Gosh/Shutterstock)
Other similar instances in history include the replacement of names that reflect racial biases or the honoring of controversial figures.
