Scientific Plant Names derived from the Surname of Pehr Forsskål: History, Orthography, and Legitimacy

Description:

Pehr Forsskål’s Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica (1775) is a seminal work documenting approximately 660 new species of plants, but its posthumous and flawed editing has led to significant nomenclatural challenges. To address these issues, later botanists sought to honour Forsskål by renaming many of his identified species with eponyms derived from his surname. However, non-Scandinavian scholars frequently struggled with the correct spelling of Forsskål’s surname, leading to a proliferation of orthographic variations in these eponyms.

Many of these eponyms do not conform to the standardized rules set forth by the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICN). Recognizing the potential for taxonomic confusion, a systematic review has been undertaken to evaluate the original eponyms attributed to Forsskål and to clarify their current nomenclatural status. This review is critical for ensuring consistency, accuracy, and proper acknowledgement of Forsskål’s contributions to botany.