WHY THE ONLINE PLANT NOMENCLATURAL DATA BASES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED PRUDENTLY? AN EXAMPLE FROM BORAGINACEAE: CORDIA GHARAF VS. CORDIA SINENSIS.

Although the specific epithet of Cordia gharaf (Forssk.) Ehrenb. ex Asch. (1879) is having priority over the name Cordia sinensis Lam. (1792), the latter name has been used as an accepted one in the recent literature and plant name websites. The nomenclatural history of the species especially in the Indian context is discussed in detail and also pondered on the implications of uncritical following of the websites by the authors/editors leading to nomenclatural errors. The accepted name and their synonyms are provided along with their Indian vernacular names and the distribution of this species in Indian states/union territories are updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]