ICPS and Carnivorous Plant Cultivar Registration: An International System to Prevent Name Duplication
The International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) was designated by ISHS in 1998 as the authority for carnivorous plant cultivar registration. This article explains the single quotation mark naming convention and the significance of official registration.
Key Takeaways
The International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) was designated by ISHS in 1998 as the authority for carnivorous plant cultivar registration. This article explains the single quotation mark naming convention and the significance of official registration.
Related Species
Carnivorous plants such as Nepenthes (pitcher plants), Sarracenia, and Venus flytraps often have cultivars with names enclosed in single quotation marks—for example, 'XXX'. These cultivar names actually exist within a registration system managed by the International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS). In this article, we'll explore what kind of organization ICPS is and how it is involved in cultivar registration.
What is ICPS?
ICPS is an international organization founded in 1972, bringing together enthusiasts and researchers of carnivorous plants. Established as a network connecting carnivorous plant enthusiasts and researchers around the world, it has long served as a platform for information sharing and exchange. It continues to share cultivation knowledge and research findings about diverse carnivorous plants including Nepenthes, Sarracenia, and Venus flytraps.
Role as an International Cultivar Registration Authority
Another important role of ICPS is serving as an international registration authority for carnivorous plant cultivars. In 1998, ICPS was formally designated by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) as the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) for carnivorous plants. This gave ICPS the centralized responsibility of officially registering new carnivorous plant cultivar names and maintaining records.
This designation is similar to how the RHS manages registration of orchid hybrids. Different horticultural fields have designated international registration authorities, and ICPS serves that role for carnivorous plants.
Cultivar Naming Conventions and Registry
Carnivorous plant cultivar names follow international naming conventions. The standard practice is to enclose cultivar names in single quotation marks—for example, 'Akai Ryu'. This single quotation mark notation immediately makes it clear that the name is an officially registered cultivar, not the scientific name of a wild species or merely a trade name.
ICPS maintains the official registry known as the "International Carnivorous Plant Cultivar Registry," which collects these cultivar names. Breeders and growers who develop new cultivars can apply to have them recorded in this registry.
Practical Significance of Registration
The cultivar registration system carries meaning beyond mere formality. If the same name were used for multiple different cultivars, or conversely if the same cultivar had multiple names circulating in the market, confusion would arise among breeders, growers, and buyers. By centrally managing the official registry, ICPS prevents name duplication and misuse, ensuring that each name can be definitively linked to its specific cultivar.
This is especially important in genera like Nepenthes, where active hybridization and selection continuously produce new cultivars with similar characteristics. For buyers, an officially registered cultivar name on a label makes it much easier to research the plant's lineage and origins—a practical benefit.
Understanding Registration
While cultivar registration may sound like a specialized topic, it's practical knowledge for everyday cultivation and purchasing. It's common for plants sold under the same trade name to include both officially registered cultivars and plants that simply look similar. By being aware of formally registered names with single quotation marks, you can more accurately determine the lineage and characteristics of plants you're growing or planning to purchase.
Summary
ICPS is an international carnivorous plant organization founded in 1972. In 1998, it was formally designated by ISHS as the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA), taking on the role of managing the cultivar registry for carnivorous plants. Thanks to the international convention of marking cultivar names with single quotation marks and ICPS's centralized registration system, carnivorous plant cultivars like Nepenthes, Sarracenia, and Venus flytraps can be definitively identified and distributed worldwide without confusion. For specific information about the creators or registration dates of particular cultivars, it's best to verify with reliable sources. On botachoku, growers across the country offer carnivorous plants for purchase online, and we'll continue to introduce the background and stories behind these cultivars in our columns.