Species | Subspecies abreviations| sp| spp | ssp etc

Eric Frei

We've all seen this I'm sure.

For example, which is right wrong or otherwise? How do you use this, for example I know it's a Eucalypt but not sure which one.

So do you write Eucalyptus sp or Eucalyptus spp or Eucalyptus ssp?

Well, I found this to be the easiest explanation. From Glossary of basic terms used in Northern Arizona Flora

species (sp.) :- subspecies (ssp.) :- So that's clear as mud right?

To recap, Species (abbreviated sp.; plural, spp.)

Subspecies (ssp.) are commonly used to recognize the existence of regional variants of a species, that is some degree of morphological differentiation.

So back to my euc question,if it's a single euc I am having trouble identifying I'll write Euclyptus sp ... the sp replaces the second latin name as we dont know what it is.

However the ssp seems to be used for a third name like this, from CSIRO PUBLISHING - Australian Journal of Botany , Eucalyptus gunnii ssp. divaricata

So for instance if I found a pocket of morphed eucs, they all seemed to be a little different yet similar to Eucalyptus major I would call it Eucalyptus major ssp and you never know, might one day be Eucalyptus major ssp ekka

Just thought people who write or read might want to clarify these terms.

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Bernard Keays

This seems pretty straight forward. What can you write when you think it could be something but your not sure (I'm not an expert but it looks like...) Can you write something like this...Eucalyptus sp (resinifera).

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Bernie

Eric Frei

Maybe Eucalyptus sp (resinifera?)

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Gus

Many times it can be very difficult to assign a subspecies from scratch, or even to know if that pocket of morphed eucalypts is really distinctive.

My suggestion is that if you find a case like this, and once your available ID resources fail to yield an accurate answer, to rely on this provisional naming:

Eucalyptus major var. `Location´

It simply points to an assumed variety of the "major" species in a certain location. Keeping records of that location and gathering samples to then annoy some specialised botanist can be a good idea. It is them who possibly can work out if variety (var) should be considered subspecies (ssp) or not. And it avoids the need of finding a suitable latin term. Many of them have been repeated too much within different eucalypt species, and that makes their botany fascinating... but complicated

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EUCALYPTOLOGICS, Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation here and there

Eric Frei

Yes, var is short for variety.

Great idea, even here it gets unusual and still for people like me who see them daily we double check.

In this thread I had a euc which was girdled by a chain for a flying fox. It was not doing so good. The trees leaves weren't the usual narrow lanceolate shape .....

ID this eucalypt

So I suppose I could have said, Eucalyptus teriticornis var. brisbane

And also, you would know about the similarities of Corymbia and Angophora.

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Gus

"Eucalyptus teriticornis var. brisbane" is too big a concept (Brissie is a big place!!)

But maybe...

Eucalyptus tereticornis var. `Brisbane 01´

or even better...

Eucalyptus tereticornis var. `Mt Petrie 01´

are more accurate concepts.

It is just an idea. I chose Mount Petrie as random geographical stub, you know better, Ekka. Non orthodox nomenclature, but useful as a provisional one, useful to keep track of location, and useful to keep track of different specimen trees or groups of trees even in the same general area. I do not see anything wrong about being practical.

Also, this is like birdwatching, with the advantage that eucs do not fly (yet). Whenever something unusual is found, it is no harm to add some notes to the notebook, including the day it was observed, who owns the tree, where is it, and who observes it. As if it was a birding sight. It is all of us tree people (tree owners and tree workers) who must do the task, since it is us who observe the trees most. There is a good amount of new species or subspecies found this way within genus Eucalyptus (and allied genera) for the last 150 years.

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EUCALYPTOLOGICS, Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation here and there

Eric Frei

So where are you from, you have us intrigued? And how come you pursue the eucs so much?

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Gus

I am just a Spaniard forester quite fond of Australia and its trees All in all, these quarters are also an Eucalyptus country!

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EUCALYPTOLOGICS, Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation here and there

Bernard Keays

Guss

I use to work for DPI Forestry a few years ago. This is how I remember, the way we wrote species descriptions on seed packets…

Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata ‘Woondum Provenance’

I was told that ‘Woondum Provenance’ was resistant to ramularia. Ramularia is a significant problem in establishing and managing spotted gum plantations in high humidity areas like South East Queensland. It was even a problem in the nursery. I had a feeling and a bit of a theory that the disease was carried on the seed or seed frass.

We had some Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata x torelliana crosses and they also had some E. camaldensis x tereticornis cross. There were some interesting foliage contrasts between the batches. The new growth on these crosses ranged in colour from bronze, red, purple to orange. They were quite amazing.

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Bernie

Gus

The wonders of genetic variability Plus trees from this and some other provenances helped develop resistant clones to RSB. And soon there will be mature clonal seed orchards to help massive release of resistant genotypes. So, first from seed to clones, and later from clones to seed. I had the luck of meeting some of the guys involved some year ago. An excellent example of applied tree breeding.

I have a good amount of old and new literature on these issues. It is amazing to see through them how late the concept of hybrid eucalypts was finally accepted. But once it was, and tree breeders took advantage of new knowledge and technologies... it all started to happen very fast. Hybrid eucalypt forestry is with no doubt, a success in several key areas of the world. Australia leads in some of these. Kudos to all euc breeders.

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EUCALYPTOLOGICS, Information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation here and there