The Madagascar Jasmine is to retain its most well-known botanical name, but has changed its author. Stephanotis floribunda Jacques is the new combination accepted by Kew on their World Checklist of Selected Plant Families and on their Plants of the World Online.
The decision not to change the name to Marsdenia floribunda (C.Morren) Schltr. has come from the latest genetic studies. These studies (and 2022) have shown that Marsdenia and Stephanotis are distinct enough to deserve separate names. Both of these genera are in the tribe Marsdenieae of the Apocynaceae. There has been much discussion among botanists over the last two centuries regarding the exact divisions between the various genera of the Marsdenieae.
The change in author has occurred because I emailed Rafaël Govaerts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to point out that there was a publication earlier than the one that previously had been accepted as the earliest publication of the name with a proper description. The new combination has not yet been accepted by the International Plant Names Index, but they take their time over decisions.
UPDATE 14/03/2023: I was checking IPNI for something else and they have accepted the earlier description that I found. I am rather happy about this. They have an entry for Stephanotis floribunda Jacques, Ann. Soc. Hort. Paris 15(Livr. 83): 28 (1834) as well as two other origin dates (1835, 1837). The other two are given as isonyms, meaning they are the same name but not the original. The clincher is that they have used the 1834 version of the name as the basionym for the one they have as the current accepted name: Marsdenia floribunda (Jacques) Schltr., Symb. Antill. (Urban). 1(2): 275 (1899). I am sure they will also accept the resurrection of Stephanotis as a genus very soon, as the authors of the articles on restoring it are the leading authorities on that family of plants.
It might be a little thing for professional botanists who change plant names every day - but it has rather tickled me that I have left a tiny, insignificant alteration in the history of botany. So I decided to write an in-depth history of Stephanotis floribunda. I could not find any article online that did more than give growing tips and mention a few obvious facts about the plant.
There will not be many gardening tips in this piece. I would recommend following the growing advice from the Royal Horticultural Society if you are caring for a Stephanotis. I would also recommend that you don't buy a Stephanotis in mid-winter unless you can guarantee it won't get chilled on the way home or in the post. As I have learnt from my own experience this year.
This is one of my longer articles, this sentence bringing it to over 19,000 words. Chapter headings, linked for your convenience;
Malagasy Common Names
including Latakana ombelahy (first French encounter 1650ish)
Another French encounter (1770)
Third French encounter (1817)
Introduction to Europe
First Pictures
Neumann and Greenhouses
Louisa Lawrence
Edmund Butcher
Rapid popularity in Victorian Britain
Stephanotis floribunda Elvaston variety
Stephanotis floribunda "Polyanthum"?
Stephanotis floribunda "Variegata"
Other Colours and Species
New Species added to Stephanotis in 2022
Flower structure
21st Century
Fragrance
Stephanotic acid
English Common Names
Origin of the botanical name
The Confusion of Marsdenia floribunda
Alternative botanical names
References for names
