botafnames

Botafnames is a term that has appeared in various informal discussions and database schemas as a label for sets, fields, or collections of botanical names. It is not an officially recognized term in formal taxonomic nomenclature, and its exact meaning can vary between projects. In some uses, botafnames refers to a generic category that includes scientific names (genus and species, with authority citations) and related names such as accepted synonyms. In other contexts, it denotes a specific dataset or module within a plant information system that stores botanical names and associated metadata.

Because the term lacks a standardized definition, its scope differs by source. In many cases, botafnames aligns with common database concepts such as plant names, accepted names, synonyms, and nomenclature fields, and it often interacts with taxonomic databases that implement the rules of botanical naming. The formal rules for naming plants are governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN); however, ICN does not prescribe the use or labeling of data fields in external databases, including anything labeled as botafnames.

Usage of the term thus requires context. When encountered, researchers should consult the specific project or source to understand how botafnames is defined, what is included (for example, genus–species, infraspecific ranks, authors, basionyms, and synonyms), and how updates and reconciliations are managed.

See also: botanical nomenclature, plant taxonomy, taxonomic databases, nomenclature data schemas.