Botanic Nomenclature-

Background
The Botanic Nomenclature for Agroforestry Database is a compilation of the taxonomic status of over 8000 woody and herbaceous taxa found in agroforest ecosystems. The database was prompted by the multiplicity of (mis)spellings and synonyms emerging in agroforestry literature, and the need for consistency. Currently there exists specialised volumes (e.g. Index Kewensis) for checking species identities but these are available to only a small fraction of scientists and others working in agroforestry. The database will be made available on the internet as well as being produced as a booklet.

There are several advantages of getting names right. It enables you to search electronic sources of information (bibliographies, electronic abstracts and internet) for available literature. It enables you to communicate with others about species in that alternatives (synonyms) can be highlighted, and you can be confident that you are each talking about the same plant.

As a standard we have used Index Kewensis and where necessary employed Mabberley's (1997) Plant Book as a back up reference. In choosing between alternate forms of Latin spellings we have used William Stearn's (1992) Botanic Latin as a guide.