Notho x
Lee Poulsen (Tue, 08 Jun 2004 23:18:55 PDT)

On Jun 8, 2004, at 9:17 PM, Blee811@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 6/8/2004 11:46:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,

I think that even though it is a multiplication sign that is supposed
to be used for hybrids, since the X is much easier to access in most
fonts (and some fonts don't even have a multiplication sign), it is
what is commonly used by most people when typing. (However, a common
font that contains the multiplication sign that probably everyone has
access to is the Symbol font.)

It makes more sense (that it is a multiplication sign) once you learn,
as I did just a few days ago, that if a hybrid is produced by
pollinating two different species (of the same or of different genera)
then the multiplication sign is supposed to be used. However, if the
hybrid is created by grafting two different species together (something
I'd never heard of before that is called a 'graft hybrid'), then you
are supposed to use the plus sign between the two species, and if they
are of two different genera and you create a new intergeneric hybrid
name for this, then you put a plus sign in front of the name rather
than a multiplication sign. The example I read about (from googling
'graft hybrid') is Laburnum anagyroides + Cytisus purpurea which
produces +Laburnocytisus 'Adamii'.
(<http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jfb/chimera/> gives this and a few other
examples.) (Also, <http://www.habitas.org.uk/gardenflora/taxa.htm> has
a fairly concise description of the basic rules for scientific names of
plants.)

--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena area, California, USDA Zone 9-10