Proposal:Botanical name
| Botanical name | |
|---|---|
| Proposal status: | Draft (under way) |
| Proposed by: | Sebas3 |
| Tagging: | botanical_name=* |
| Applies to: |  ,  , 
|
| Definition: | Currently, OpenStreetMap lacks a comprehensive and standardized method for mapping botanical names. The closest available option, the taxon key, provides only a vague interpretation of botanical names, which can lead to inaccuracies. This proposal suggests a new tag for the botanical name. |
| Statistics: |
|
| Draft started: | 2024-10-20 |
Proposal
A botanical name is a formal scientific designation for plants, fungi, and algae, adhering to the International Code of Nomenclature. This standardized system ensures that each plant is assigned a unique name recognized worldwide. For instance, the botanical name for the English oak is Quercus robur. While common names for the same species may vary across regions and languages, the botanical name remains consistent and universally accepted.
Currently, OpenStreetMap lacks a comprehensive and standardized method for mapping botanical names. The closest available option, the taxon key, provides only a vague interpretation of botanical names, which can lead to inaccuracies.
In addition to serving as a precise identifier, botanical names can effectively replace the need to map each taxon separately (such as genus or species). Botanical names can consist of one to four parts (e.g. a genus like “Quercus” or a cultivated ash “Fraxinus angustifolia ssp. oxycarpa 'Raywood’”), offering both flexibility and precision in the mapping process.
Rationale
Clarity and Consistency
The introduction of a botanical name tag will significantly enhance the clarity and consistency of botanical tagging. Currently, the species key is often misapplied to include botanical names. The term "species" refers specifically to the binomial name, which consists of only two parts: the genus and species. For example, "Populus nigra 'Italica'" is frequently tagged as a species despite 'Italica' being a cultivar. This misclassification occurs over 5,000 times in the existing database. The botanical name tag should be used here for accurate representation.
Addressing Current Confusion
This confusion primarily arises because the genus, species and taxon key’s are highlighted on the Wiki as a principal method for tagging botanical features, particularly with tags like natural=tree. Species and genus are also taxa, so all these tags are available to map each taxon separately. It is essential to clarify that a taxon is fundamentally different from a botanical name, leading to further misinterpretations in the tagging process.
Facilitating Mapping for Users
The proposed botanical name key would simplify the tagging process for mappers who may lack extensive botanical knowledge. By utilizing this new key, users would not need to specify each taxon individually, which can often be a daunting task. The botanical name can incorporate more than just the species name, extending to four parts, thus providing a comprehensive classification without oversimplification.
Proposed Key
The proposed key for botanical names is botanical_name. The deprecated name:botanical key is not being revived because it is incorrectly linked to using name=* as the base for this concept; however, the botanical name represents a classification scheme, not just the names of the mapped objects. The name:botanical key was deprecated in favor of the species and genus keys, which is problematic since not all botanical names can be simplified to just a species or genus.
Tagging
| Key | Description |
|---|---|
| botanical_name=* | Main and general key for adding the botanical name (instead of the misunderstood species and taxon key). |
| botanical_name:en=* | The (English) common name of the botanical name. Same schema for other languages |
| botanical_name:wikidata=* | The Wikidata identifier, if available. |
Examples
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| botanical_name | Fraxinus angustifolia ssp. oxycarpa 'Raywood' |
| botanical_name:en | Claret Ash |
| botanical_name:nl | Smalbladige Es |
| species:wikidata | Q518949 |
Note: There is no Wikidata identifier for this specific cultivar, so you can add the closest one. In this case, the Wikidata identifier for the species.
Note 2: The common name "Claret Ash" for this cultivar is different than the common name for the species.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| botanical_name | Quercus |
| botanical_name:en | Oak |
| botanical_name:de | Eichen |
| botanical_name:wikidata | Q12004 |
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| botanical_name | Platanus × hispanica |
| botanical_name:en | London Plane |
| botanical_name:wikidata | Q161374 |
Features/Pages affected
- Key:species
- Key:genus
- Key:taxon
- Tag:barrier=hedge
- Tag:landuse=forest
- Tag:natural=tree
- Tag:natural=shrub
- Tag:landuse=plant nursery
- Tag:natural=wood
- Tag:natural=grassland
External discussions
Comments
Please comment on the discussion page.