Alsterworthia International has always published information for Aloe, Gasteria, Haworthia, related smaller genera, nothogenera and cultivars without favour, believing that freedom of information is vitally important. Readers should be able to make up their own minds about the relative merits or otherwise of what is published, always provided that there is a balance of opposing views. This policy will continue, but a situation has developed which does require explanation and a decision by the Editor. Regardless of which species definition an author uses, authors normally publish their species names in accordance with the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN). All names published under the provisions of that code are listed annually in the Repertorium Plantarum Succulentarum (Rep.), published by the International Organisation for Succulent Plant Study (IOS), either as valid or invalid. Any names not published under the provisions of the ICBN are simply ignored by the scientific world and others, are not published in the Rep. even as invalid and are not generally used.

Bruce Bayer’s field research is widely recognised as methodical, efficient and valuable. It has produced much new  information and continues to do so. Over the years he has published many books on haworthias. At the outset, he published species names in accordance with the provisions of the ICBN, but in later years he has taken exception to that Code and published names outside its provisions. These names take the form of trinomials, consisting of the genus name, the species name he accepts to cover a much broader spectrum of plants, followed by species names in single inverted commas of species he regards as forming an integral, inseparable part of the species he accepts. All these names have been ignored by the scientific community and are not recorded in the Rep. etc even as invalid.

Bruce is on record as rejecting subdivisions of haworthia species, but last year when a request was put out for up-to-date revisions of genera for a replacement Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants he cooperated with Dr. Manning to produce a revision in accordance with the ICBN. This was published in Alsterworthia International 11(3)7-17 – A rationalization of names in Haworthia. A list of species with new combinations and new synonyms by M.B. Bayer and J.C. Manning (November, 2011).

Subsequent to this Bruce sent me material for this publication, Update 8. As one would expect, it contains much new information which is well worth consideration even if you disagree with his views. Unfortunately the species names he uses do not always follow his November, 2011 revision, as he continues to use some of his trinomials invalid under the ICBN. Bruce feels that he has good reasons for doing this based on his previously published objections to the ICBN.

I, therefore, consulted two well known “referees” who (I summarize) were not in favour of his reversion to using his invalid trinomials. One reminded me that as editor I had the final decision  whether or not to print Update 8 because names did not always comply with the ICBN. My decision is to publish Update 8 as written by Bruce Bayer, but to make it quite clear that names which do not comply with the ICBN are invalid. Always use ICBN names. You can always equate Bruce’s invalid names with them if you think this is necessary for clarity.

This decision may not be approved by everyone, but it does allow the publication of Bruce’s valuable work in the absence of his non-compliance with the ICBN and at the same time it stresses that names not in accordance with the ICBN are invalid. It is notable that other authors (Ingo Breuer, Dr Hayashi, S.D. Gildenhuys, Gerhard Marx etc. with different species concepts) all comply with the ICBN and their species names are recorded in the Repertorium Plantarum Succulentarum as either valid or invalid. The fact that there are different classifications with different names complying with the ICBN does not make it easy for collectors to identify a species with one universally accepted species name. Bruce’s non-ICBN names add further to the difficulty.

Under the ICBN it is possible to follow a broad species concept and comply with that Code, as demonstrated by the aforementioned revision in Alsterworthia International 11(3)7-17, November 2011. An alternative is to publish the all-embracing species with others being recorded as synonyms. I would like all authors who write for Alsterworthia International to comply with the ICBN (and the Cultivar Code, ICNCP), but for any who have good reason for not complying I will continue to print their articles stressing at the same time that species names not complying are invalid. Original thought sometimes results in non-compliance. It should not be discouraged, but upholding the ICBN should be as it is all that  we have to ensure consistency of names world wide.

         Harry Mays, Alsterworthia International editor, and member of the IOS.