Flowers 2

A cultivar is a plant which has been cultivated, selected for its particular attributes and given a unique name in keeping with the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), known as the Cultivated Plant Code. To achieve this status, the plant must be distinct from other cultivated plants and when propagated must retain its specific characteristics. Some cultivar names are legally protected under the Plant Breeder’s Rights Act. The word ‘cultivar’ is thought to be a contraction of ‘cultivated’ and ‘variety’, or more likely ‘cultigen’ and ‘variety’, attributed to Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954), an eminent American botanist and horticulturist. Bailey defines a cultigen, a broader grouping including cultivars, as ‘a plant that has been deliberately altered or selected by humans.’ A plant selected as a cultivar may have been specifically bred, chosen from plants in cultivation or even taken from the wild, for example by gathering seeds. The human involvement in cultivation varies considerably; from simple selection, to plants that are so artificial that they have to be made anew each time, such as a so-called F1 hybrid - a first generation plant created by cross-breeding specific parent plants and usually achieved by controlled hand pollination. As well as flowers, cultivars also include other plants and trees propagated through cuttings, grafting and seeds. An example of an apple cultivar is the well-known Granny Smith variety.