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T1.6 Hybrids

A hybrid may be defined as ‘‘a plant raised by the crossing of two genetically distinct plants’’.

Since the characteristics of a species are maintained through breeding between individuals within the species, it can be surmised that hybridisation is uncommon in nature. Hybrids may result from the crossing of species (bi/specific) or even more rarely, the crossing of genera (bi-generic). Aesculus x carnea is the result of crossing the species, Aesculus hippocastanum with Aesculus pavia. The resultant plants exhibit characteristics of both parents but differ between themselves and so have been given a range of cultivar names, e.g. Aesculus x carnea ‘Briotii’. The well known Leyland Cypress, x Cupressocyparis leylandii is an example of a bi-generic hybrid. In this instance the cross was between two species in different genera, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and Cupressus macrocarpa.

Hybrids are identified by the symbol ‘x’ , which for a bi-specific hybrid occurs before the specific name,

e.g. Sorbus x thuringiaca

and for a bi-generic hybrid to occurs before the generic name,

e.g. x Crataemespilus

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