What is a synonym and why do we include them on the website?
A synonym is the previous latin or scientific name for a plant. As botanists study the morphology and genetics of plant species they realize that the naming does not reflect the appropriate taxonomic relationship (so they change latin name). A synonym is the previous name for the plant. NSN recommends that you use the current or authoritive name rather than the synonym when listing seeds for sale. Synonyms are retained and presented here on the website because names change frequently, and our web users need to be able to find a plant using the old name. Also, occasionally synonyms are the preferred name by regional experts. Synonyms also help botanists track naming history and plant discovery.
