If you’ve spent any time collecting rare tropical plants, you’ve probably come across names that seem confusing at first glance.
What does “sp.” mean?
Why does one plant have a location attached to its name while another says “cf.” or “aff.”?
And what exactly is the difference between a species, cultivar, variety, and hybrid?
Understanding botanical nomenclature can make shopping for plants, researching care, and communicating with other collectors much easier. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common terms you’ll encounter in the plant world.
Species Names
A scientific plant name is typically made up of two parts:
Genus + Species
Example:
Anthurium luxurians
Anthurium is the genus, while luxurians is the species.
Think of the genus as a last name and the species as a first name. Plants within the same genus are related but can look very different from one another.
What Does “sp.” Mean?
“sp.” is short for species and is used when the exact species is unknown, undescribed, or has not yet been formally identified.
Examples:
Anthurium sp. Aceh
Anthurium sp. Peru
Hoya sp. Sarawak
In these cases, the plant is known to belong to that genus, but it either:
• Has not yet received an official scientific name
• Has not been formally described by botanists
• Is being traded under a temporary identifier
What Do Location Names Mean?
One of the most common sources of confusion in rare plant collecting is seeing names like:
Anthurium sp. Aceh
Hoya sp. Sabah GPS 7950
Anthurium sp. Morona
These location names usually indicate where the plant was originally collected or where the population naturally occurs. They help distinguish one unnamed species from another until a formal scientific description exists.
For example:
Aceh is a province in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
Sabah is a state in Malaysian Borneo.
Morona refers to the Morona-Santiago region of Ecuador.
These names are often extremely important because multiple undescribed plants may exist within the same genus.
What Does “cf.” Mean?
“cf.” comes from the Latin word confer, meaning “compare with.” It indicates that a plant is believed to be a particular species, but the identification is not completely certain.
Example:
Anthurium cf. metallicum
This means the plant resembles Anthurium metallicum and may be that species, but additional verification would be needed.
Think of it as:
“This is probably metallicum, but we’re not 100% sure.”
What Does “aff.” Mean?
“aff.” stands for affinis, meaning “related to” or “having affinity with.” It is used when a plant resembles a known species but is believed to be something different.
Example:
Anthurium aff. besseae
This means the plant is closely related to Anthurium besseae and shares many characteristics, but it is likely not actually besseae.
Think of it as:
“This looks similar to besseae, but appears to be a different species.”
Species vs Cultivar
A species occurs naturally in nature.
Examples:
Anthurium forgetii
Hoya meredithii
Alocasia longiloba
A cultivar is a selected form maintained through cultivation by humans.
Cultivar names are written in quotation marks.
Examples:
Anthurium nigrolaminum ‘Gigi’
Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’
Philodendron ‘Florida Beauty’
Cultivars are usually selected for traits such as unusual coloration, growth habits, variegation, or leaf shape.
What Does “var.” Mean?
“var.” stands for variety.
A botanical variety is a naturally occurring variation within a species. It is recognized below the species level but above cultivars.
Example:
Hoya obovata variegata
Not every plant sold as “variegated” is officially recognized as a botanical variety, but you’ll occasionally see “var.” used in formal scientific names.
What Does “subsp.” Mean?
“subsp.” stands for subspecies. It describes a distinct population within a species that has developed unique characteristics while still belonging to the same species.
Think of it as a step between a species and a variety.
What Does the × Symbol Mean?
The multiplication symbol (×) indicates a hybrid.
Examples:
Anthurium papillilaminum × luxurians
Hoya imbricata × cinnamomifolia
A hybrid is created when two different species are crossed together, combining traits from both parents.
Many of the most sought-after collector plants today are hybrids.
What Does “spp.” Mean?
“spp.” is simply the plural form of “sp.” and refers to multiple species within a genus.
Example:
“Hoya spp.”
This means multiple Hoya species rather than one specific species.
Why Do Plant Names Change?
Plant taxonomy is constantly evolving.
As scientists study DNA, compare specimens, and discover new populations, plants may be:
• Renamed
• Moved to different genera
• Combined with existing species
• Split into entirely new species
This is why a plant you purchased several years ago may now be sold under a different name.
Final Thoughts
Plant names may seem intimidating at first, but they tell a fascinating story.
A name can reveal where a plant originated, whether it’s formally described, how confident botanists are in its identification, whether it’s a hybrid, or whether it’s a cultivated selection.
The next time you see a name like Anthurium sp. Aceh, Anthurium aff. besseae, or Hoya cf. clemensiorum, you’ll know that those extra letters aren’t random at all. They’re clues that help us understand the plant’s history, identity, and relationship to other species.
And for plant collectors, that’s part of the fun.