The International Plant Names Index: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a list of names for the Meaceae – are you interested to have this data?

Contact the editorial team.

I notice that you have a mistake in the record for Meum album Him. What should I do?

Contact the editorial team.

Where are the fungi/microbes/infraspecifics from Europe?

IPNI aims to include names of all seed plants but the data are not yet complete. In particular, there are big gaps in Old World infraspecific names published before 1971. For a list of what is included see About the Index. Since 2004, fern names from the Index Filicum have been included. For fungi see Index Fungorum.

I can't find some family name records. Is something wrong?

Index Kewensis did not start recording names of families and all ranks below family until 1971. Up until then only genera and species were included in the Index.

I searched for a name that should be in the index, but I didn't find it. What am I doing wrong?

Check our search tips and sample searches for hints on searching IPNI and also read the page on understanding the data. If you still can't find it, let us know.

Can I use the Index to check the correct names for the taxa in my study?

No. IPNI is simply a list of the names which have been published to date. You can use it to check bibliographic details, and in some cases type details but the fact that a name is listed in the index does not mean that it is the currently accepted name for any particular taxon. For current taxonomic opinion consult an up-to-date flora, monograph, revision or checklist or ask a specialist.

I can't connect to your search pages - what's going on?

If you can usually search but suddenly you aren't getting any results then one of our servers may be down. Check the mirrors page for information on how to find another server.

How can I use IPNI with my database?

Eventually it will be possible to subscribe to copies of the data, or to link your database directly to IPNI using an API. For now you can use URL encoding to put links in to individual IPNI records or searches from your pages or database.

What does an asterisk next to a plant name mean?

An asterisk indicates that the record is awaiting verification by one of the editors. The record may be a recent addition to the database or it may be a record that has just been edited in some way. Once the editors have checked and approved the record the asterisk will disappear.

Can I use IPNI to search by common (vernacular) name?

No. IPNI does not include vernacular names of plants as these are rarely formally published. If you are looking for information about a plant for which you only have a common name you may find the following resources useful. (Please note that these links are to external sites which are not maintained by IPNI)
- The Royal Horticultural Society Plant Finder is a useful site for cultivar names
- Michigan State University Extension has a database of hardy ornamental plants which can be searched by keyword including common names
- Horticopia is a source of horticulutural plant information. You can browse plant lists but full information is available by subscription.
- SEPASAL contains information on useful plants from arid and semi-arid lands, and allows searches by vernacular names from many countries
- Raintree has alphabetical lists of common and scientific names of rainforest plants
- The Dictionary of Common Names from the Plant Press translates between scientific and common names and vice versa
- The USDA's Plants database has common names for plants from the US
- For a reference book including many English vernacular names try Mabberley's Plant-Book, A Portable Dictionary of Plants, their Classifications, and Uses, 3rd Edition by D.J.Mabberley (Cambridge University Press, 2008)

If your question does not appear in the above list please contact us.