Hundreds of 'racist' plant names to be changed for the first time

In a significant step towards eliminating offensive terminology in scientific nomenclature, botanists have voted to rename over 200 plant, fungi, and algae species previously containing racial slurs connected to the word "caffra," which has derogatory connotations against Black people in southern Africa. During the International Botanical Congress held in Madrid, it has been decided that starting in 2026, names like Erythrina caffra (the coast coral tree) will be modified to Erythrina affra to better reflect the heritage of Africa. This is prepared by SSP.

Nelson Mandela University taxonomists Gideon Smith and Estrela Figueiredo spearheaded this proposal, advocating for the removal of the offensive term and its replacement with derivatives of 'afr' to honor Africa. The motion saw a close vote, with 351 in favor and 205 against.

Another key decision at the Congress was the establishment of a special committee, prompted by a proposal from Kevin Thiele of the Australia National University in Canberra. This committee will tackle the ethical considerations of naming newly described plants, fungi, and algae, particularly those names that acknowledge individuals profiting from the transatlantic slave trade. Moving forward, from 2026, this committee will have the authority to reject derogatory names for new species but will not address historical names that many botanical scientists, including Thiele, aim to change.

Although Thiele acknowledged the creation of the naming ethics committee and the new rules for rejecting derogatory names as incremental progress, he highlighted its importance as a preliminary measure recognizing the broader issue. This evolving framework aims to promote ethical considerations within scientific classifications and enhance the inclusivity of the botanical sciences.

Earlier, SSP reported that new research was found that defies Einstein's theory of relativity.