John leads the Botany, Herbarium and Registration teams, as well as research projects on cultivated plant diversity, petaloid monocot taxonomy and cultivated plant nomenclature
My role is a diverse one, covering core areas such as cultivated plant taxonomy and nomenclature, but also extending into cultivated plant conservation and the biodiversity and legal aspects relating to conservation, such as invasive alien species. Other areas of interest include plant hardiness linked to climate and aspects of climate change and the impact on the UK’s garden flora. In heading up the Horticultural Taxonomy team, I oversee all aspects of cultivated plant naming, most significantly in the RHS Plant Finder, but also in the Society’s publications, the names in the RHS Gardens and in RHS Trials. The RHS is International Cultivar Registration Authority for nine different groups of plants from orchids to conifers, an important role in stabilising the naming of cultivated plants. The team also supports the RHS Horticultural Monographs, five of which have been published to date. The team carries out identification of plants from members and this can link to the research we carry out in plant naming. It also depends upon our Herbarium, which supports plant identification, trials and registration, in holding unique reference specimens that fix the identity of the plant. Our aim is to build a comprehensive collection of specimens of the ornamental plants in cultivation in the UK.
“The UK has an amazing diversity of garden plants and I am committed to researching and documenting them, as well as sharing the information about them.”
A name is the key to all the knowledge about that plant, and so accuracy of the name is critical to ensure the link to the correct information.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
