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Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Stingray' variegated - Presented by @RarePlantFairy at the 2024 IAS Tropical Plant Expo

WHAT IS A CULTIVAR?


A cultivar (cultivated variety) is an group of cultivated plants within a species, selected for one or more distinct, uniform, and stable characteristics that persist through appropriate propagation.


Definition (ICNCP): A cultivar is a taxon of cultivated plants which is clearly distinguishable by one or more characters, and which retains its distinguishing characters when propagated by appropriate means.


Key Concepts Explained:


  • Taxon: A defined group of organisms classified as a unit.

  • Assemblage: Cultivars refer to a population or group of plants, not a single specimen.

  • Distinctiveness: The cultivar must exhibit one or more identifiable traits (e.g., leaf shape, variegation, growth habit) that differentiate it from others.

  • Uniformity: These traits must be consistently expressed across all specimens.

  • Stability: Traits must remain unchanged through propagation.

  • Appropriate propagation: Typically involves asexual methods such as cuttings, division, air-layering, or tissue culture. In some cases, seed-grown offspring that breed true may qualify.

CULTIVAR ELIGIBILITY


ACCEPTED ORIGINS OF A CULTIVAR

Cultivars may arise from the selection and propagation of:

  • Wild individuals with distinct characteristics (propagated via stem cuttings, tubercles, leaves, etc.)
  • Seedlings from wild-collected seed exhibiting unique traits
  • Seedlings resulting from hybridization, either intraspecies (within a species) or interspecies (between species), whether deliberate or accidental
  • Progeny of existing cultivars that reproduce asexually through seed
  • Sports (spontaneous mutations) that display novel features, such as variegation
  • Variants produced through tissue culture
  • Plants with altered ploidy (e.g., tetraploids)
  • Genetically engineered plants


While other origins may be recognized in broader horticulture, the types listed above are the primary sources relevant to cultivated aroids.



UNACCEPTED ORIGINS

What Does Not Qualify as a Cultivar


The origin or history of a plant is not a determining factor in whether it qualifies as a distinct cultivar. If two plants cannot be reliably distinguished using accepted criteria for Araceae cultivar identification, they are considered the same cultivar.


Plants whose appearance is maintained only through regular care or cultivation practices—such as pruning or selective propagation—are not considered distinct cultivars.


Note: Variegated plants that require the removal of non-variegated shoots may still qualify, if the variegation is stable and consistently reproduced.


However, plants that rely on regular chemical treatments to retain their characteristics—such as the Philodendron ‘Pink Congo’—are not recognized as cultivars.

GUIDELINES FOR HYBRID AROID CULTIVARS

Hybrid Seedlings - Photo Credit: Justin Gurski

Hybrids in the Araceae family may result from intentional breeding or natural pollination between:

      • Two species
      • A species and a cultivar
      • Two cultivars
      • Hybrids or backcrosses
      • (Rarely) Two genera


To qualify a hybrid for cultivar registration, follow these key steps:

    1. Select a desirable seedling - Choose a seedling from the cross that displays the most favorable traits.
    2. Confirm stability through propagation - Propagate the plant asexually to ensure its traits are distinct, stable, and uniform, and that they persist through appropriate propagation.
    3. Assign and submit a cultivar name - Once verified, assign a unique cultivar name and submit it for registration.


-Note: Multiple seedlings from the same hybrid cross may each be registered as separate cultivars, but only if they consistently express distinct characteristics.


Naming Considerations

If two plants from different crosses are indistinguishable in appearance and traits, they should share the same cultivar name—even if they originate from separate breeding events.


-Example: Multiple crosses of Philodendron bipinnatifidum × P. speciosum may be produced in cultivation. If the resulting plants are indistinguishable, they all carry the same cultivar name: Philodendron ‘Evansii’.

Hybrid Seedling Tray - Photo Credit: Justin Gurski


Special Case: Nothospecies

Nothospecies are botanical designations for plants thought to be natural hybrids of two species.


All crosses between the same parent species—including backcrosses—retain the nothospecies name, regardless of phenotypic variability.

-Example: Philodendron × lucasiorum is a natural hybrid of P. melinonii and P. linnaei.


→ Cultivars derived from this nothospecies may be named individually

-Example: Philodendron × lucasiorum ‘Paddle Leaf’


Clarification: The Concept of Grex

The concept of grex, widely used in Orchidaceae, refers to a group of all offspring from a particular cross, regardless of clone.


This concept is not used in Araceae and does not apply to Aroid Cultivar Registry.


Example (Orchid Grex, not valid for Araceae):

Species A × Species B = Grex X

Species B × Species A = Grex X

Backcrosses do not retain the same grex designation.

HOW TO REGISTER A CULTIVAR


PREPARE & SUBMIT:

  Step 1: Ensure Eligibility

  • Confirm that the plant meets all criteria outlined in the registration guidelines above.

 

Step 2: Create an Account & Prepare Your Submission

  • Register for an account on the AROID CULTIVARS REGISTRY
  • Navigate to the “Submit Cultivar” page and review the required information.
  • Gather all necessary details, including clear photographs that accurately represent the plant.

 

Step 3: Submit for Review

  • Complete the registration form and submit your request.
  • The Cultivar Committee will review the submission.

NEXT STEPS AS APPLICABLE:

  • Respond to Follow-Up: If additional information is needed, the Cultivar Committee will contact you by email.
  • If Not Accepted: The reason(s) for non-acceptance will be noted in the “Nomenclatural Notes” section of the record.
  • If Accepted—Formal Publication: If accepted, the status will be update to “Accepted: Yes” and it will be prepared for inclusion in the next issue of our quarterly newsletter! 


FINAL STATUS:

  • After publication, the record will be updated to “Established: Yes”—completing the official registration process.


EXCITING NEWS!

The Aroid Cultivars Registry will be moving to our newly redesigned website!  Support this exciting development and our mission by donating today—every contribution helps!

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN OFFICIAL CULTIVAR REGISTRAR


The International Aroid Society (IAS) is the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) appointed by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).

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As an ICRA, we would follow the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) in the recording and maintenance of cultivar records for the Araceae family (except for Calla L. & Zantedeschia Spreng. genera).

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ICRA Entry with ISHS

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DOWNLOAD: International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants


Registering cultivars ensures consistency in understanding origins and defining characteristics of a specific cultivar while preserving the information for posterity. A centralized and standardized approach ensures our community practices are consistent with the ICNCP and keeps the cultivars valid.


Note: The registration with ICRA does not provide any legal protection to the grower nor does it endorse the quality of a cultivar. It serves only as a source of information for the community and ensures compliance with ICNCP for the grower.

CULTIVAR QUESTIONS?

CONTACT US


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