International Cultivar Registration Authority
Encyclopedia
An International Cultivation Registration Authority (ICRA) is an organization responsible for ensuring that each plant cultivar
receives a unique, authoritative botanical name
.
The ICRA system was established more 50 years ago, and operates under the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
(ICNCP). Its chief aim is to prevent duplicated uses of cultivar and Group epithets within a defined denomination class (usually a genus
), and to ensure that names are in accord with the latest edition of the ICNCP. Each name designation must be formally established by being published in hard copy, with a description in a dated publication.
The International Society for Horticultural Science
appoints and monitors all ICRAs. At present it recognizes over 70 ICRAs, ranging from societies focused on a specific genus
(such as clivia
, oak
, or saxifrage
), through organizations with broader sets of interests (including the Singapore Botanic Gardens
and the United States National Arboretum
).
, sometimes called "plant patents," which differ between counties. The ICRA system is in effect the horticultural world’s attempt at self-policing of nomenclature and is truly international in its scope. ICRAs are not responsible for assessing the distinctiveness of the plant in question.
The ICRA will:
Applicants must understand that registration will be refused if the name has been used before and should always await the ICRA’s decision before implementing any marketing for the plant, the ICRA are not responsible for any losses incurred in this respect.
Whilst the ICRA will ensure through its own publications that names are established, it is recommended that registrants should not necessarily rely on this and should also try to ensure that their new names are securely established as soon after registration as possible.
It is not sufficient to release details onto the Internet, as that is not considered to be hard copy.
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
receives a unique, authoritative botanical name
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
.
The ICRA system was established more 50 years ago, and operates under the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
The International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants regulates the names of cultigens...
(ICNCP). Its chief aim is to prevent duplicated uses of cultivar and Group epithets within a defined denomination class (usually a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
), and to ensure that names are in accord with the latest edition of the ICNCP. Each name designation must be formally established by being published in hard copy, with a description in a dated publication.
The International Society for Horticultural Science
International Society for Horticultural Science
The International Society for Horticultural Science is the world's leading independent organization of horticultural scientists. Its aim is "to promote and encourage research and education in all branches of horticultural science and to facilitate cooperation and knowledge transfer on a global...
appoints and monitors all ICRAs. At present it recognizes over 70 ICRAs, ranging from societies focused on a specific genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
(such as clivia
Clivia
Clivia is a genus of monocot flowering plants native to southern Africa. They are from the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. Common names include Kaffir lily and bush lily....
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, or saxifrage
Saxifrage
Saxifraga is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 440 species of Holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages. The Latin word saxifraga means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin + ...
), through organizations with broader sets of interests (including the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 74-hectare botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m...
and the United States National Arboretum
United States National Arboretum
The United States National Arboretum is an arboretum in Washington, D.C., operated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service as a division of the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center...
).
Scope of authority
The system is both voluntary, and non-statutory and it does not confer any legal protection over the name or the plant. Such protection has to be sought through statutory schemes such as plant breeders' rightsPlant breeders' rights
Plant breeders' rights , also known as plant variety rights , are rights granted to the breeder of a new variety of plant that give him exclusive control over the propagating material and harvested material of a new variety for a number of years.With these rights, the breeder can choose...
, sometimes called "plant patents," which differ between counties. The ICRA system is in effect the horticultural world’s attempt at self-policing of nomenclature and is truly international in its scope. ICRAs are not responsible for assessing the distinctiveness of the plant in question.
How it operates
The ICRA system depends upon the co-operation of all involved with the creation and marketing of new plants. Normally, all that is required is the submission of the plant name and any other required data to the ICRA, and in most cases there is no direct cost to the applicant. Although an ICRA is entitled to charge a small fee to cover their costs, most provide this indispensable service without charge.The ICRA will:
- check each new name (termed an epithetEpithetAn epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
) to ensure that it has not been used before, - validate that in all other respects it is in accord with the ICNCP,
- finally, notify the registrant of the success, or not, of the application.
Applicants must understand that registration will be refused if the name has been used before and should always await the ICRA’s decision before implementing any marketing for the plant, the ICRA are not responsible for any losses incurred in this respect.
Formally establishing names
Each ICRA is also charged with the responsibility of ensuring that new names are formally established (i.e. published in hard copy, with a description in a dated publication). Establishment in this context is an important concept since it is only after such publication that the name has precedence for its use for a particular plant.Whilst the ICRA will ensure through its own publications that names are established, it is recommended that registrants should not necessarily rely on this and should also try to ensure that their new names are securely established as soon after registration as possible.
It is not sufficient to release details onto the Internet, as that is not considered to be hard copy.
See also
- Australian Cultivar Registration AuthorityAustralian Cultivar Registration AuthorityThe Australian Cultivar Registration Authority is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for Australian plant genera, excluding those genera or groups for which other ICRAs have been appointed...
- KAVBKAVBThe Koninklijke Algemeene Vereniging voor Bloembollencultuur, translated from Dutch as the Royal General Association for Bulb Culture, but more commonly known world-wide by the acronym of KAVB, is a trade association for the bulb horticulture sector, and was established in 1860...
- Royal Horticultural SocietyRoyal Horticultural SocietyThe Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
- Registration authorityRegistration authorityA registration authority or maintenance agency is a body given the responsibility of maintaining lists of codes under international standards and issuing new codes to those wishing to register them...